FERC Issues NOPR Proposing Revisions to Pro Forma SGIA
On March 17, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC" or the "Commission") issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ("NOPR") that would modify the pro forma Small Generator Interconnection Agreement ("SGIA") originally set forth in Order No. 2006. Specifically, FERC's proposed modifications would require small generating facilities interconnecting through the SGIA to ride through abnormal frequency and voltage events rather than disconnecting. Because FERC already imposes such requirements on large generators under the Large Generator Interconnection Agreement, FERC stated that the proposed revisions address its concerns that it is unduly discriminatory to only impose such requirements on large generating facilities and not small generating facilities. [Read more →]
FERC Grants Waiver of PURPA Mandatory Purchase and Sell Obligations to Twenty-Two of Twenty-Eight Heartland Utility Members
On March 17, 2016, FERC granted in part and denied in part a petition for waiver of the obligation to purchase energy and capacity from qualifying facilities ("QFs") filed by Heartland Consumers Power District ("Heartland") under section 292.402 of FERC's Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act ("PURPA") regulations. Heartland's petition for waiver—filed on behalf of its municipal customers in Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota—sought waiver of its customers' obligations to purchase energy and capacity made available to them by QFs. [Read more →]
FERC Approves Reliability Standard Aimed at Relay Performance
On March 17, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC" or the "Commission") issued an order approving Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 (Relay Performance During Stable Power Swings). According to the Commission, PRC-026-1 is "designed to ensure that applicable entities use protective relay systems that can differentiate between faults and stable power swings." The Commission also approved the proposed violation risk factors, violation severity levels, and implementation plan for PRC-026-1. Under the approved implementation plan, Requirement R1 of PRC-026-1 will become effective 12 months after Commission approval, and Requirements R2, R3, and R4 will become effective 36 months after Commission approval. [Read more →]
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
