On Thursday, January 25, Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) requested support from other New England Senators on a letter to FERC Chairman Kelliher expressing concern about the Commission's action on a New England (NE) incentive rate case. In the NE case, FERC overturned an Administrative Law Judge's opinion and allowed an additional 100-basis point "adder" to transmission owners to build new transmission in the region. In December, FERC acted on a "national" rule (Order No. 679-A) that includes additional consumer protections whereby the transmission owner must show there is a sufficient "nexus" (i.e. that the incentive is needed to address "demonstrable risks or challenges") in building the proposed transmission facility.
In the letter, Lieberman and Snowe point out that consumers in NE states may not benefit from the changes set forth in the National rule and urge the Commission to reconsider and reverse its approval of the 100 basis point "adder" at issue in New England case. The Senators say, "We believe reversal would provide ‘substantive parity' for New England electric consumers, who deserve to benefit equally with all other consumers in the country from the Commission's decision to enhance the consumer protections in the transmission incentive rule."
The letter is a result of coordinated efforts made by a delegation of NEPPA members, including Glenn Steiger (MMWEC), Brian Forshaw (CMEEC) and Steve Kaminski (NHEC), who came to Washington D.C. on January 23 & 24h to meet with New England Senate offices on this issue. Lori Pickford of Morgan Meguire and Scott Strauss of Spiegel & McDiarmid join the group. Efforts are underway to garner additional signatures on the Lieberman-Snowe letter.