On our blog, we take a monthly look at a key issue or initiative from inside the Beltway that could affect public power.
Association’s Patterson emphasizes importance of coalitions; letter touts BPA strengths
Article by APPA's News Director, Paul Ciampoli, on the importance of APPA partnering with other industry trade groups and stakeholders to advance public power's position on critical issues like transmission costs, wholesale markets and cybersecurity. MORE
FERC proposes to modernize PURPA regulations
Article by APPA's News Editor, Paul Ciampoli, on FERC's proposal to conduct a comprehensive review of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) regulations. This will mark the first time since 1980 that such a review has been conducted. MORE
Association focuses on electric vehicle charging legislation
Article by APPA’s News Editor, Paul Ciampoli, on APPA’s efforts to back legislation that would allow public power utilities to receive federal grants to install EV charging stations. MORE
House members unveil plans for net zero carbon legislation
Article by APPA's News Editor, Paul Ciampoli, on the House Energy and Commerce Committee's plans to draft net zero carbon legislation. MORE
FERC urged to keep consumers front of mind with grid changes
Article by APPA's News Editor, Paul Ciampoli, on the effects of potential changes to FERC's transmission incentives policy on consumers. MORE
Get in front of behind-the-meter energy storage
by Patricia Taylor, APPA’s Manager, Regulatory Policy and Business Programs, on the buzz surrounding “behind the meter” energy storage and the implications for public power utilities and their customers. MORE
Association keeps eye on transmission rates, environmental rules in 2019
by Delia Patterson, APPA's Senior Vice President, Advocacy & Communications and General Counsel, on key regulatory issues that could impact our member utilities, including transmission rates and environmental regulations. MORE
FERC must keep electricity transmission costs reasonable and fair to all. MORE
Association weighs in on EPA proposal to replace Clean Power Plan
Article on APPA's comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the Agency's proposal to replace the Clean Power Plan (CPP). MORE
FCC order could remove public power pole attachment exemption
Coverage on the recent declaratory ruling and order by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that could remove public power's pole attachment exemption. MORE
EPA proposes to replace Clean Power Plan with new rule
Article on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to replace the Clean Power Plan with a new rule that would let states decide how to make existing coal-fired power plants more efficient to lower their greenhouse gas emissions. MORE
Association voices opposition to pole attachment legislation
Article by APPA's News Editor, Paul Ciampoli, on APPA's opposition to pole attachment legislation, that if enacted, would effectively repeal the public power exemption from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) pole attachment regulations. MORE
Public power utilities and the grid must evolve with global trends, says Kelly
An article on Sue Kelly's National Conference presentation encouraging public power utilities to evolve with global trends. MORE
Lawmakers hear concerns on transmission planning from TAPS, others
Coverage of a recent oversight hearing held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy where power industry participants raised concerns about the current environment for transmission planning. MORE
Court vacates FERC orders asserting jurisdiction over city’s gas sale
A decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to vacate FERC orders in which the Commission asserted jurisdiction over the City of Clarksville, Tennessee's transportation and sale of natural gas from the city's gas distribution system in Tennessee to the City of Guthrie, Kentucky. MORE
Trump signs bill with significant items for public power; TVA, PMA asset sale opposition grows
Coverage on the recent spending bill containing several items of impact to public power, and the growing Congressional opposition to the Trump administration plans for privatizing PMA assets. MORE
Association strongly opposes TVA, PMA transmission asset privatization
Coverage on APPA's strong opposition to a recent proposal by President Trump to privatize TVA and PMA transmission assets. MORE
FERC scraps DOE proceeding, launches ISO/RTO resilience review
Coverage on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) decision to terminate a proceeding it initiated to address a proposed rule on resilience pricing and initiate a new proceeding to evaluate the resilience of the bulk power system in regions operated by regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs). MORE
President Trump signs tax bill that keeps tax exemption for municipal bonds
Coverage of the recent passage of a tax bill that retains the exemption for municipal bonds, but prohibits the issuance of tax-exempt advance refunding bonds and tax credit bonds after Dec. 31, 2017. MORE
North American exercise focused on cyber, physical threats to the grid
Coverage of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) biennial GridEx exercise, which is designed for utilities to exercise their response and recovery to cyber and physical security threats in a simulated environment. MORE
Association urges FERC to reject DOE proposed rule tied to market changes
APPA has urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject a Department of Energy proposed rule that would require organized electricity markets to adopt tariff changes that would ensure full cost recovery for certain “fuel-secure” resources. MORE
DOE directs FERC to issue rule on markets to preserve “fuel-secure” plants
In an unusual step that could have significant implications for U.S. wholesale electricity markets, Secretary Perry directed FERC to issue a final rule that would require organized wholesale power markets to accurately price generation resources to maintain reliability and resiliency. MORE
Electric utility pole attachments
Get a summary of recent activity on a petition to the FCC that could impact regulations on utility pole attachments. In particular, see how comments on the petition reflect different concerns from governments, electric utilities, and telecommunications companies. MORE
Help preserve tax-exempt municipal bonds
With some Members of Congress talking about removing the tax exemption for municipal bonds as part of larger tax reform measures, the public power community must ensure that lawmakers understand all the benefits that flow from tax-exempt municipal bonds. MORE
Leave tax-exempt bond financing alone
When it comes to tax reform, Congress should leave municipal bonds alone.The message was delivered by public power officials from across the country who gathered in the nation's capital for the American Public Power Association's 2017 Legislative Rally. MORE
Focus on key issues as new Congress convenes
While APPA is working hard to ensure that public power’s voice is heard in the early days of the Trump administration, we’re also keeping a close eye on action on Capitol Hill. MORE
Public power transitioning to trusted energy advisor
When it comes to solar energy, residential customers want their utilities to serve as a trusted energy advisor and public power utilities are meeting the need. MORE
Grid security funding, electric vehicles MOU
The U.S. Department of Energy will fund public power physical and cybersecurity efforts. APPA and the DOE signed an MOU to adopt electric vehicles and build charging infrastructure. MORE
Public power state of the industry
The power of community is vital to address the challenges keeping public power leaders up at night, said Sue Kelly in her annual address at the 2016 National Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. MORE
A seat at the federal policymaking table
At DOE meetings across the country executives explained how public power is addressing the growth of distributed energy resources and rapidly changing customer expectations in a digital age. MORE
Broad energy bill clears Senate by wide margin
A broad energy bill supported by APPA passed the Senate by a wide margin of 85-12. The Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 must now be reconciled with a House energy bill. MORE
Supreme Court affirms FERC’s demand response compensation rules
The U.S. Supreme Court in January affirmed FERC rules for demand response compensation in wholesale energy markets, reversing judgment that set aside FERC’s Order No. 745. MORE