Volume 3 | March 2020

March 2020 Highlights

The FERC insight gives you a monthly snapshot of FERC news – you get the latest news from the monthly Commission meeting and

schedules for upcoming conferences and Commissioners’ speeches/presentations, as well as links to Commission orders, notices,

new reports and Coronavirus updates.

A Message from Chairman Chatterjee regarding FERC’s Coronavirus Response

Chairman Chatterjee announced a number of steps FERC is taking to protect the health and safety

of our employees and the public, and to help mitigate or slow the transmission of the coronavirus

within our communities. We are committed to doing our part to flatten the curve of the Novel

Coronavirus disease.

FERC has taken steps to ensure the continued reliable operation of energy markets, using

regulatory discretion to advise operators it will consider the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in

complying with standards and extending filing deadlines. The Commission also has said entities may

seek waiver of Commission orders, regulations, tariffs and rate schedules as appropriate, and that

the Commission will act expeditiously on those and other requests.

All Commissioners and senior agency leaders are in close communications and, along with the

Commission’s workforce, are committed to continuing to carry out our important work and fulfilling

our statutory obligations as seamlessly as possible during this time. Chairman’s Statement

Please visit the Coronavirus response page on the FERC website for continuous updates on the

situation.

Chairman Announces Pandemic Liaison

Chairman Chatterjee named Caroline Wozniak the Commission’s Pandemic Liaison, or dedicated

point of contact for all industry inquiries related to impacts of their COVID-19 preparations and

guidance regarding FERC-jurisdictional activities. Members of the regulated community seeking

guidance during the pandemic should email PandemicLiaison@ferc.gov to receive prompt

responses from Commission staff.

News Release | FERC Response

FERC, NERC Provide Industry Guidance Amid Potential Coronavirus Impacts

FERC and NERC are taking steps to ensure that operators of the bulk electric system can focus

their resources on keeping people safe and the lights on during this unprecedented public health

emergency.

News Release

FERC Proposes Reforms to Electric Transmission Incentives Policy

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on March 19 proposed to revise its electric

transmission incentive policy to stimulate the development of transmission infrastructure needed to

support the nation’s evolving generation resource mix, technological innovation and shifts in load

patterns.

The reforms would more closely align the Commission’s policy with its statutory obligation to provide

incentives that benefit consumers by ensuring reliability and reducing the cost of delivered power.

The NOPR proposes to do this by shifting the focus in granting transmission incentives from an

approach based on the risks and challenges faced by a project to an approach based on the
benefits of the project to consumers. Comments are due 90 days after publication in the Federal

Register.

News Release | NOPR

FERC Staff Issues State of the Markets Report

The report is an annual summation of key trends and topics, and major events. This report covers

2019. The report recounts events ranging from western utilities de-energizing some transmission

and distribution lines to reduce chances of wildfires to the significant fall of natural gas prices due to

record-high natural gas production and relatively mild weather. The report notes that natural gas

production outpaced gains on the demand side, both of which set new benchmarks. Capacity

additions for both interstate natural gas pipelines and LNG liquefaction plants enabled greater

natural gas volumes to be exported and furthered the United States’ position as a net exporter of

natural gas.

2019 State of the Markets Report

A Look Ahead March 24 - 26, 2020 – Technical Conference WebEx regarding Revisions to the Filing

Process for Commission Forms (Docket No RM19-12-000) (Washington, DC) Event Details

March 26, 2020 – Technical Conference Call regarding Review of Cost Submittals by Other

Federal Agencies for Administering Part I of the Federal Power Act (Docket No. AD20-3-000)

Event Details

March 30, 2020 – Technical Conference Call regarding Green Lake Water Power Company

(Project No. 7189-014) Event Details

April 19, 2020 – Commission Meeting (Details Forthcoming)

Senate Votes to Confirm Danly as FERC Commissioner

The U.S. Senate voted March 12 to confirm James Danly’s nomination as a

Commissioner to FERC.

Danly will serve the remainder of a term that expires June 30, 2023.

News Release

Decisions & Notices Delegated Orders & Notices | Notational Orders

The Commissioners voted notationally on all items scheduled for the March Commission meeting due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19)

pandemic. Chairman Neil Chatterjee spoke with the media and the public on a conference call. FERC is practicing social distancing yet

continues to fulfill its mission.

Highlights & Happenings
If you wish to unsubscribe from this list please send an email to insight.unsubscribe@ferc.gov with your email address.

FERC comment policy