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New Report on Maintaining Reliability While Integrating Green Power Resources

New Report on Maintaining Reliability While Integrating Green Power Resources

This post was written by attorney Roland Hall.

As the amount of wind and solar generation continues to increase, utilities are growing increasingly concerned about how to economically and efficiently maintain system reliability while integrating such variable energy resources.  Because of California’s high renewable portfolio target (33 percent by 2020), California has become the focus of studies and reports investigating how system operations will be affected by such a large mix of variable resources.  An interesting report addressing this topic was released earlier this month.  The report is a joint report by NERC (the North American Electric Reliability Association) and the California ISO (CAISO), which operates the transmission grid for most of California.  View the report by clicking here.    Read More »New Report on Maintaining Reliability While Integrating Green Power Resources

New California Law Addresses Solar Net Metering Issues

New California Law Addresses Solar Net Metering Issues

A recent change in California state law provides an interesting and useful case study of the ongoing clashes across the country among utilities, renewable energy groups, solar manufacturers and consumer groups regarding solar net metering, utility rates and renewable energy programs.   The complex new law, a result of multiple compromises, has been portrayed as a victory for solar advocates, utilities, and consumers.  Although the purpose of the change is rooted in California’s energy crisis in 2000-2001, the positions taken by the different groups throughout the process and the resulting compromises may be indicative of what will occur in similar battles in other states.Read More »New California Law Addresses Solar Net Metering Issues

D.C. Circuit Upholds FERC Orders Challenged by Virtual Marketers

A group of virtual marketers challenged FERC orders concerning the disbursement of surplus funds collected for transmission-loss charges.  The case discusses the distinction between virtual marketers and participants who physically transmit electricity for purposes of wholeslae power transmission charges.Read More »D.C. Circuit Upholds FERC Orders Challenged by Virtual Marketers