New England is still awaiting results of Monday’s capacity auction, and the wait could go on longer than usual as ISO-NE has to wait for federal action to announce them (ER22-355-001).

The grid operator on Wednesday asked FERC to take expedited action on a rehearing request from NTE Energy in regards to the Killingly Energy Center. A court ruling on Friday ordering ISO-NE to allow the under-development Connecticut gas-fired power plant into Forward Capacity Auction 16 has added a large amount of uncertainty to the process.

The RTO moved to terminate Killingly’s capacity supply obligation in November, a decision that was upheld by FERC in January. But the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that FERC must answer NTE’s request for rehearing before the termination can be enforced. (See Killingly Stays Alive After DC Circuit Halts FERC’s Termination Order.)

“Expedited action is necessary so that ISO-NE may provide to New England stakeholders and file with the commission the results of Forward Capacity Auction 16,” the RTO said in a filing to FERC on Tuesday. “Prompt resolution of the continuing uncertainty regarding the status of Killingly will also enable the ISO and market participants to conduct qualification activities related to FCA 17, which is scheduled to be conducted in February 2023.”

The RTO asked FERC to issue an order responding to NTE’s rehearing request by Thursday.