Department of Energy May 27, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

In this Notice of Inquiry, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) seeks comment on the scope and implementation of its transmission incentives regulations and policies under Order No. 679. It has been nearly five years since the Commission promulgated rules to implement the directives of section 1241 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), which added a new section 219 to the Federal Power Act (FPA). In the past five years, the Commission has received over 75 applications for transmission incentives. The requested incentives have been varied, and the demonstrations supporting the incentives applications have likewise been varied. During this time, the electric industry has continued to evolve, and the Commission has issued corresponding regulations, policy statements, and case-by-case determinations. Given the changes in the electric industry, the Commission's experience to date applying Order No. 679, and the ongoing need to ensure that our incentives regulations and policies are encouraging the development of transmission infrastructure in a manner consistent with FPA sections 219 and 205 and 206, the Commission now issues this Notice of Inquiry.