A delegation of Northeast Public Power Association (NEPPA) members came to Washington, DC, this week to meet with members of the Northeast congressional delegation to discuss concerns over the lack of accountability by ISO-NE. The group also sought to solicit support for legislation that will encourage FERC to insist that all RTOs/ISOs be consumer-focused, which Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Tom Allen (D-ME) have expressed interest in introducing.
The delegation included: Ted Garille, NEPPA President and General Manager, Rhode Island Public Utility District (RI-PUD); Barbara Grimes, General Manager, Burlington Electric Department (BED); Maurice Scully, General Manager, Connecticut Municipal Energy Electric Cooperative (CMEEC); Sharon Staz, General Manager, Kennebunk Light and Power District (KLPD);Glenn Steiger, General Manager, Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC); Ray Gosney, Vice President, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC); and Pat Hyland, NEPPA Executive Director. Lori Pickford of Morgan Meguire accompanied the group. Scott Strauss of Spiegel McDiarmid, representing CMEEC and MMWEC, also participated in select meetings.
The group had scheduled meetings September 25-26 with Sen. Sanders and Reps. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Allen, as well as staff to Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), John Kerry (D-MA), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Sununu (R-NH), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA). In addition, the group met with Leon Lowery, committee staff to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.