Window narrows for FERC to suggest reliability tools 

Source: Rod Kuckro and Emily Holden, E&E reporters • Posted: Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Time is running short for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to weigh in on how to address reliability concerns arising from state compliance with U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan, although the industry seems to be coalescing around tools that might be needed.

One FERC watcher thinks EPA will send the plan to the White House Office of Management and Budget by the end of this month, leaving little time for the agency to develop a consensus. Still, others predict that EPA’s expectation of publishing the rule in “midsummer” could mean late July or August.

FERC Commissioner Colette Honorable said last week that the agency will send suggestions to EPA soon.

“I’m certain we will do so promptly because we all want to have the ability to provide this advice and counsel to the EPA in time for them to consider it as they put the final touches on the final Clean Power Plan,” Honorable said.

FERC likely will not make recommendations until after Thursday’s monthly meeting, which was moved up a week because of safety concerns about planned protests.

Go to E&E’s Power Plan Hub to read more and to see news and documents related to the latest Clean Power Plan developments.