FERC on Friday granted ISO-NE another six months to file a long-term fuel security mechanism, the second extension since its original order last July (EL18-182). The new deadline is April 15, 2020.

ISO-NE in January filed a motion requesting an extension of the original July 1 deadline, which the commission granted, extending the deadline to Oct. 15. On July 31, the New England States Committee on Electricity filed a motion requesting an additional six months to allow ISO-NE and the region to work through issues related to the RTO’s proposed mechanism.

Several commenters, including Energy New England, the Environmental Defense Fund and National Grid, supported the motion, while ISO-NE, the New England Power Pool, Repsol Energy North America and Verso Corp. told the commission they took no position on the request.

The New England Power Generators Association opposed the request, insisting the commission issue an order on the proposal by Sept. 26, “before key deadlines lapse for the next scheduled Forward Capacity Auction, FCA 14.”

“Sept. 26 is a key date because it is the final day before the start of the submission window to finalize static delist bids in FCA 14,” NEPGA said. “By that date, generation resources must decide whether to delist or not. Basic market fundamentals — such as whether fuel security resources will be required to offer at zero or submit cost-based offers — must be established by that date.”

In the alternative, NEPGA said, FERC should at least issue an order by Jan. 31, 2020, just days before FCA 14 is scheduled to start. “In no event should an order be delayed beyond Jan. 31, 2020,” it said.

FERC did not respond to NEPGA’s arguments.

— Michael Kuser