Power Decision-time Cut Proposed

This article examines the rates that wholesale electricity companies are able to charge to customers as compared to the recommendations set by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The chairman of FERC, Charles Curtis, proposes cutting the decision-making time by two-thirds. This article references the three levels of decisions required by FERC to decide on rates, which can typically last up to two years. Curtis then proposes three suggestions that he thinks would shorten the timeframe that wholesale electric companies can employ to reach a decision on rates. Curtis also asks Congress if FERC should be setting wholesale rates at all or whether state commissions could do the job. KEYWORDS: Energy, Public Utilities, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. Congress, Price squeeze, 280DP18021.