E&E News by POLITICO: Climate law: What to watch at Interior, FERC and DOE

Other industry groups want FERC to establish an independent transmission monitor, an idea that the commission floated last year. While groups such as the Electricity Consumers Resource Council, which represents large industrial consumers of power, are worried about the cost implications for consumers from FERC’s transmission reforms broadly, having an independent entity monitoring the transmission planning process could help alleviate that concern, said Karen Onaran, vice president of the Electricity Consumers Resource Council. However, she noted that the idea has not been included in FERC’s proposed rules.

“Yes, we need more comprehensive planning that results in larger, more cost-effective solutions,” Onaran said in an email. “Yet, FERC’s push to widely socialize those transmission costs based on expected benefits will unduly saddle customers with costs for which they receive little to no tangible benefit.