By Suzanne Herel

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — PJM plans to respond by Friday to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s questions about its Capacity Performance proposal, Executive Vice President for Markets Andy Ott told the Market Implementation Committee Wednesday.

On March 31, FERC said PJM’s proposal to increase capacity resources’ compliance penalties and rewards was deficient and gave the RTO 30 days to provide additional information (ER15-623). (See FERC: PJM Capacity Performance Filing ‘Deficient.’)

The RTO is expediting its response in hopes of getting quick clarity into the rules that will govern its upcoming Base Residual Auction so that stakeholders have time to prepare, Ott said.

On Tuesday, PJM asked FERC to delay the May 11-15 BRA (ER15-1470). The RTO requested that the commission act on its request by April 24, with comments due by April 14. PJM’s filing Tuesday asked for permission to delay the BRA until 30 to 75 days after a commission order on the merits of the proposal, but no later than the week of Aug. 10-14.

If FERC does not respond by April 24, PJM will withdraw its waiver request and conduct the auction under current Tariff requirements in May.

“We’re trying to get a signal from FERC as to which approach we should take,” Ott said. “We’re looking for certainty.”

“Delaying the auction is not something we’ve done lightly,” he added.