Maine Contests FERC Order

Intervention by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission might be a welcome hand of goodwill in California, but in Maine it feels like a slap on the face. In a motion filed with FERC on Dec. 22, the Maine Public Utilities Commission sought an emergency stay of FERC’s Dec. 15, 2000 order, directing regional power grid coordinator ISO New England to adopt a 5,000 percent increase in the charge for installed capability deficiencies.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission charged FERC’s order would cost Maine consumers as much as $100 million in increased power costs. The Massachusetts Attorney General, Maine Senator Susan Collins and Vermont and Rhode Island consumer advocates filed similar motions or sent FERC letters supporting Maine’s position.

According to the Public Utilities Commission of Maine, FERC’s order intended to provide incentives to power suppliers to add generation, but the size of the price increase and its application cannot be justified.