Transmission

PPC strives to keep its members informed about transmission issues, including rates, resources and efforts to form a regional transmission organization. 
Information about PPC’s past participation in transmission-related forums can be found in the Transmission Archives. 

Recent Transmission Information

PPC Files Comments on ColumbiaGrid...Click here to read comments and click here to view Transmission attachment

• WECC Registration and Compliance with Mandatory Reliability Standards
  • NERC/WECC Entity Registration - BPA FAQs click HERE
• North American Electric Reliability Council Registration Criteria
• Congestion Management Steering Committee August Final Report
• FERC Comments of the Public Power Council on the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• FERC Reply Comments of the Public Power Council on the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• FERC Order Certifying NERC as the Electric Organization and Ordering Compliance Filing
• FERC Preventing Undue Discrimination and Preference in Transmission Service - Notice of Proposal Rulemaking

FERC Issues Proposed New Tariff and Regulations for Reform of the pro forma Open-Access Transmission Tariff.  On May 19, 2006, FERC issued its proposed new tariff and regulations for reform of the pro forma Open-Access Transmission Tariff.  By amending the pro forma OATT, FERC intends to remove opportunities for discrimination that, in its view, are made possible by the current pro forma OATT.  FERC proposes reforms in five major areas:

• Impose greater consistency among utilities in the calculation of Available Transmission Capacity; 
• Require public and open transmission system planning processes at the local and regional levels; 
• Facilitate the integration of new, intermittent generation; 
• Provide greater access to information that is relevant to transmission system use and access; and 
• Provide greater clarity as to roll-over rights, rights to "redirect" transmission rights and other provisions of the current pro forma OATT.

To view the full text of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, including the proposed pro forma OATT, click here. You can also view FERC's Fact Sheet which summarizes the proposed changes.

Comparative Analysis of RTO / ISO Operating Costs.  This group of charts shows existing and proposed RTOs and their soaring operational costs.  Charts were created by Margot Lutzenhiser.  Please contact Kevin O'Meara for more information. 

WECC gives presentation on Entity Registration Under EPAct 2005.  Louise McCarren, CEO of WECC, spoke to the Executive Committee about registration.  View her presentation here.

PPC Comments to FERC Regarding Incentives for Transmission Investment.  In its January 11, 2006 filing on FERC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, PPC asserted that FERC should provide only enough of an incentive as is necessary to secure adequate and appropriate transmission investment.  Any more would produce an unjustified and unnecessary cost to ratepayers.  PPC also emphasized that utilities joining regional transmission organizations should receive the same – but not more – incentives as non-joining utilities.  Read the filing here.  For more information, contact us.

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