WASHINGTON – The Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition, a coalition of more than 80 diverse consumer organizations, has called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to require transmission competition for projects that are 100 kV or larger, and fulfill its mandate to provide affordable and reliable energy to households and businesses. In comments to FERC, the Coalition reiterated the need for a competitively bid transmission process to help lower costs for consumers. Competition is an effective anti-inflation policy.
 
In its filing, ETCC highlighted that the FERC proposal fails to provide adequate consumer protection against unjust, unreasonable, and unduly discriminatory transmission rates. Competition has been proven to lower costs and increase innovation. FERC is abandoning its mandate and turning its back on the solution to the problems it seeks to address.
 
FERC does not have the legal authority to rewrite Order 1000, and the proposed changes to the order, including the reinstatement of a federal right of first refusal (ROFR), which are therefore illegal and beyond the Commission’s authority. In addition to these numerous legal deficiencies, the Commission has failed in the fundamental test of proving that its proposal is just, reasonable, and not unduly discriminatory or preferential.
 
In a statement, Paul Cicio, Chair of the Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition urged the Commission to embrace transmission competition. “If FERC chooses to reject competition, it is choosing to abandon its mandate to protect consumers and instead support the incumbent monopoly utilities who oppose competition in order to protect and enhance their profitability.”
 
Electricity transmission competition has been shown to lower costs by as much as 40 percent. In an era of soaring electricity price inflation, it is essential that transmission projects that are 100kV or larger are competitively bid.

You can read the full filing here.

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About the Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition

The Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition (ETCC) is a broad-based, nation-wide coalition committed to increasing competition in America’s electricity transmission infrastructure. We advocate for common-sense policies and solutions that result in competitively priced transmission projects, which reduce energy costs for all ratepayers – from large manufacturers to residential consumers. The ETCC represents a diverse group of more than 70 companies and organizations from all 50 states, including manufacturing groups, retail electric consumers, state consumer advocates, public power representatives, think tanks, and non-incumbent transmission developers.

For more information, visit: www.electricitytransmissioncompetitioncoalition.org.

Press Contact:
Julian Graham
jgraham@signaldc.com