News 
2006
| Statement: February 2, 2006 |  View Printable PDF Version |
| Docket Numbers: RM06-8 & AD05-7 |
Commissioner Kelly's statement on long-term transmission rights NOPR
"This NOPR implements Congress' directive, under EPAct 2005 section 1233(b), requiring FERC to exercise its authority in a manner that facilitates the planning and expansion of transmission facilities to meet the reasonable needs of load-serving entities to satisfy their service obligations and enable them to secure firm transmission rights on a long-term basis for associated long-term power supply arrangements
"The NOPR parallels the statutory language by requiring that RTOs make long-term rights available sufficient to support load obligations served by long-term resources.
"I fully support this effort.
"I recognize that this effort may be complicated by the fact that the current RTO markets were not specifically designed to support long-term transmission rights or, for that matter, long-term power supply arrangements.
"Nevertheless, there is nothing inherently unreasonable about the business model of entities who prefer to rely on such long-term arrangements to serve their load.
"Essentially, they have chosen to trade off a certain amount economic efficiency for the enhanced reliability and price certainty of long-term arrangements.
"Provision of electricity is an important service, certainly important enough to justify such a trade-off for those who prefer to make it and are willing to pay the associated economic cost.
"Accordingly, I am pleased that Congress directed this action and I am pleased that we are carrying it out today.
"Many thanks to staff for its hard work preparing this document."
| View Printable PDF Version |
