The utility industry has a reputation for being stodgy and slow to innovate and change. Yet one of its main regulators is quite different. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has often taken the lead when it comes to embracing technology and adopting new ways of connecting with the public. From electronic filing to webcasts…

By: Gatsheena Beauplan
What is the Quadrennial Energy Review? The QER enables the federal government to translate policy goals into a set of analytically based, integrated actions for over a four-year time period. As directed by the President, the QER is envisioned as a focused, actionable document designed to provide policymakers, industry, investors and other…

Industry Wide Collaboration to Drive Solar Costs Down Through Efficient Data Exchange By: Gatsheena Beauplan  The Orange ButtonSM initiative has launched! As part of the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot initiative, the Orange Button initiative is designed to standardize data across the solar project lifecycle, enhance data quality, and make solar transactions more efficient.  By creating solar…

The Public Utilities Commission of California (CPUC) recently introduced a draft regulatory incentive proposal addressing issues regarding the utilities’ business models, financial interests and role with respect to distributed energy resources (DER) deployment. Given the potential magnitude of this rulemaking to the utilities’ business models, I suggest that utilities and other stakeholders nationwide follow this…

In accordance with President Obama’s 2014 Memorandum establishing the Quadrennial Energy Review (QER), the Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced it will begin the second installment of the Quadrennial Energy Review (QER 1.2) aimed at developing findings and policy recommendations to help guide the modernization of the nation’s electric grid. According to DOE’s briefing memorandum…

It’s a great day for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and supporters of demand response. Today, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION v. ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY ASSOCIATION ET AL., upholding the FERC’s authority to regulate wholesale demand response as well as FERCs method of compensating demand response…

Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will hold a Technical Conference to discuss policy issues related to the reliability of the Bulk-Power System from 10 a.m. –  4 p.m. The Commission will also accept written comments regarding the matters discussed at the technical conference. The Commission states that written comments regarding the matters discussed…