FERC, NERC combine on outage inquiry
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff and Gerry Cauley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation NERC, announced that they are combining the efforts of their separate inquiries into the causes of the electric outages and natural gas delivery disruptions that occurred in the Southwest, during an unusual cold spell in early February of this year.
FERC and NERC have been sharing information but conducting separate inquiries into the matter. FERC and NERC staffs will issue a joint report on findings and recommendations and present them to the Commission and to the NERC Board of Trustees.
The Federal Power Act of 2005 gives FERC authority to oversee the reliability of the nationÂ’s bulk electric system. FERC has designated NERC as the organization that develops and enforces mandatory reliability standards.
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Ontario prepares to extend disconnect moratoriums for residential electricity customers
TORONTO - The Ontario government is preparing to announce relief for residential electricity users struggling because of the COVID-19 emergency, according to sources.
Sources close to those discussions say a decision has been made to lengthen the existing five-month disconnect moratorium by an additional three months.
News releases about the moratorium extension are currently being drafted and are expected to be released shortly.
Electricity utilities in Ontario are currently prohibited from disconnecting residential customers for non-payment during the winter period from November 15 to April 30.
The province is also looking at providing further relief by adjusting time-of-use prices, which are designed to encourage…