February 24, 2025

FERC & Federal

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is an independent regulatory agency that oversees the transmission of electricity, natural gas and oil in interstate commerce, as well as regulating hydroelectric dams and natural gas facilities. 

NREL
DOE Awards $26M to Clean Energy Technology Projects
The Department of Energy says it will fund eight projects to demonstrate how solar, wind, storage and other clean energy resources can support the grid.
© RTO Insider LLC
Senators Praise Phillips, FERC’s Output at Oversight Hearing
All four FERC commissioners testified at an oversight hearing on Thursday, with senators praising its recent approval of natural gas infrastructure.
Puget Sound Energy
Wash. Sabotage Suspect Pleads Guilty
One of two men charged with attacking electric substations in Washington state over the Christmas holiday has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges.
David Maiolo, CC BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia
Congressional Republicans Seek Changes to Biden’s Energy Policies
Congressional Republicans stepped up attacks on the Biden Administration's energy policies this week, attempting to leverage the debt ceiling to force change.
Matthew T. Rader, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
FERC Denies Rehearing of Cold Weather Standard
FERC said last week that “by operation of law” it would not reconsider its approval of one of NERC’s new cold weather reliability standards.
FERC
FERC Issues Cyber Incentives Order
FERC took the last step in fulfilling its obligation to encourage voluntary investments in cybersecurity by electric utilities, as directed by Congress in 2021.
FBI
NERC Says Changes Coming to Physical Security Standards
NERC will consider changes to its reliability standard for physical security in response to the threat of violence against grid assets.
Travis Goodspeed, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Stakeholder Soapbox: Biden’s Cyber Strategy Risks Demonizing Biggest Ally: The Private Sector
Biden's cybersecurity strategy may backfire by alienating tech companies that should be the government's allies, commentator Shahid Mahdi says.
Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
PJM Hit With $140K Penalty for NERC Violations
PJM will pay $140,000 to ReliabilityFirst as part of a settlement for violations of NERC reliability standards at several facilities, including 2 nuclear sites.
NERC
Stakeholder Soapbox: New FERC Stance Needed to Improve Winter Storm Readiness
FERC must look beyond reliability standards to boost electric industry winter readiness, says R Street Institute's Michael Giberson.

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