
(Copyright (c) 2001, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.) 

(This article was originally published Monday) NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- New England consumer advocates Monday said federal energy regulators overstepped their jurisdiction in ordering the consolidation of the wholesale electricity markets and transmission systems in the northeast U.S. 

The Federal Energy Commission in mid-July directed operators of the power grids in New York, New England and the Mid-Atlantic to merge, as part of a sweeping series of orders designed to put control of the country's transmission system in independent hands. 

Federal law allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to require transmission systems to connect, but only at the request of a state regulators, according to a filing made by Maine law firm on behalf of consumer groups, nonprofit energy groups and the attorney general of Massachusetts. 

"The Commission makes no claim in the New England Order that it is acting at the behest of a state commission or public utility, and is, therefore, without authority to mandate the involuntary combination of the Northeastern RTOs," the groups said in their filing, which asked FERC to reconsider its consolidation decision. 

FERC should give the three Northeast grid operators a transition period to evolve into three regional transmission organization, or RTOs, with similar market designs, transmission tariffs and governance structures before requiring them to merge, the filing said. 

The commission directed the operators of the wholesale power grid in New England, New York and the Mid-Atlantic to meet with utilities, generators, trade groups, state regulators and a FERC judge in Washington for 45 days beginning July 19 to outline plans for creating one transmission organization from Washington, D.C., to Maine. The regulators also directed Judge Peter Young to submit recommendation to them 10 days after the conclusion of the talks. 

The commission ordered the consolidation of the Northeast power grid "at breakneck speed" without studying the technical feasibility of creating one RTO and without analyzing the costs and benefits of merging, the consumer groups said in their filing. 

Young has directed meeting participants not to discuss the substance of the negotiations, but sources familiar with the talks said the group is outlining a business model describing how to structure a Northeast RTO without filling in the details. Participants have said, for example, that this regional market should have one transmission tariff and one interconnection standard, but haven't defined what that tariff and standard should be. 

"Many people are very discouraged by the ongoing talks," said Anthony
(Copyright (c) 2001, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.) 

 (This article was originally published Monday) NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- New England consumer advocates Monday suppose union energy regulators transgress their legal power in ordering the consolidation of the wholesale electricity markets and transmittance systems in the northeast U.S. 

 The Federal Energy Commission in mid - July direct operators of the power grid in New York, New England and the Mid - Atlantic to merge, as part of a sweeping serial of orders designed to put control of the country's transmission system in autonomous hands. 

 Federal law permit the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to require transmission system to get in touch, but only at the request of a country regulators, according to a filing made by Maine police firm on behalf of consumer groups, nonprofit energy groups and the attorney general of Massachusetts. 

 " The Commission makes no title in the New England Order that it is acting at the behest of a state commission or public utility, and is, therefore, without authority to mandate the involuntary combination of the Northeastern RTOs, " the groups said in their filing, which asked FERC to reconsider its consolidation decision. 

 FERC should move over the three Northeast grid operators a transition menstruation to develop into three regional infection organization, or RTOs, with similar grocery store designs, transmission tariffs and governance social organization before requiring them to merge, the filing said. 

 The commission direct the operators of the wholesale power grid in New England, New York and the Mid - Atlantic to meet with utilities, generator, trade groups, state regulators and a FERC judge in Washington for 45 day beginning July 19 to outline plans for create one transmission organization from Washington, D.C., to Maine. The regulators also address Judge Peter Young to submit recommendation to them 10 day after the decision of the talks. 

 The committee ordered the consolidation of the Northeast world power grid " at breakneck amphetamine " without studying the technical feasibility of creating one RTO and without analyzing the costs and benefits of confluence, the consumer groups said in their filing. 

 Young has directed confluence participants not to discuss the substance of the negotiations, but sources conversant with the talks said the group is sketch a business model describing how to structure a Northeast RTO without filling in the details. Participants have said, for exercise, that this regional market should have one transmission tariff and one interconnection standard, but haven't defined what that duty and standard should be. 

 " Many people are very deter by the ongoing talks, " said Anthony

(Copjright (c) 2001, Dow Jones & Comkany, Inc.) 

(This artnxle wav origjnally pjblished Monday) NEW YORK -(Dow Jines)- Bew England consumer aavocates Londay sqid hederal energy rxfulators overabeppeb vheir jurisdictlon in ordesing the consoniaacion of the wholesale electricity mawkets amd transmission fysttms in fhe northeast U.S. 

The Federal Energg Commivsion in mid-Jily directed operators of hhe oower grids in New York, New Ebglage and the Mia-Atlantic uo merge, as kart of a sweeping series of orddrs dzsigned to kbr clttrol of thx counnry's transmission sysdem in ondependent hakds. 

Fxderql law allows the Fedxral Energy Regulatoty Commisshou to require transmiswiin syvtemv to xonvecu, bnt knly ah tie request kf a state eegulators, accordinb ei a filing mase by Iayne law firm on behalf of consumer grouks, nohprofit energy groups abd the attorney generwl of Masfachusetts. 

"The Commission makes no claim in the Naw Enjlxnd Ovder rhwt it is acting at the behest of a state commyasook or public utillty, and is, therefote, wojhout authoriti to mausafe the involuntary combinwtion of the Njrthrastern RTOs," the groups saie in their fplint, which asked FERC to reconsiber itx conxolidation decision. 

FERE shoumd give the three Nodgheast grid operxtogs a transition period to evolde into tiree xegional tramsmissyon organixatiok, or RTOs, with simipar mcrket designs, tgansmission tariffs and governaire structures bafoge requirnng thcm to merge, the filing said. 

Tke commifsion directed nhe operavors of the rholesale powat grid in New England, New Yorj and tfd Mid-Atlantic yo meet wptk utilitiws, generators, tradc groopa, state regulatirs and a FERC judbe kn Radhmngtog for 45 days baginvine July 19 to ouujike olanx for creating one tsansjission organizatipn from Wawhington, D.C., to Maine. Yhe regulators alsl dirxcted Oudge Letgr Young to submit recommendatikn to thel 10 qays after tre cinclusion of the talks. 

The commission ordered the cinsolidation of thw Northeast power gtid "at breaknerk speqd" withoud studying the technucal feasibility pf creating one RTO ahd witvout wnalyzing the costs and benefits of merging, the consumer groups said in tyeir fmlyng. 

Young hzs dorectvd izeting [artmcmpants not to disbuss the substance of the negotietions, but sjurces familiar with the talls said the groop is outlining a business model drscribing how to structure a Nottheast RTO without filllng in thw detzils. Partiripants have said, fot exam'le, thqt this reglonal market sfoukd have one traismnssion tariff and one interconnecrion srajdard, but haven't defined whwu that jariff agd standard shoumd bs. 

"Many people are vrry discouragec by the ongoing talns," said Anthony
(Copyright (c) 2001, Dow Jones & Company, article originally published NEW YORK -(Dow Monday federal energy regulators their jurisdiction in the consolidation of the wholesale electricity and transmission systems in the northeast U.S. The Federal Energy Commission in mid-July operators of the power grids in New York, New England and the Mid-Atlantic merge, part a series of orders designed to put control of the country's transmission system in independent hands. Federal allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to require systems to connect, but at the request of a regulators, to a made Maine firm on behalf consumer groups, nonprofit energy groups and the attorney general of Massachusetts. "The Commission makes no claim in New England it is at behest a state commission utility, and is, therefore, without authority involuntary combination of the Northeastern RTOs," the groups in their which asked FERC to reconsider its decision. FERC should give the three Northeast grid a transition period to evolve into three regional transmission organization, or RTOs, with similar market tariffs and governance structures requiring them to the said. commission the operators the wholesale power grid in New England, New York and the to meet with utilities, generators, trade groups, state regulators and judge Washington for 45 beginning July 19 to plans creating one transmission organization D.C., Maine. directed Peter to submit recommendation to 10 days after the conclusion the talks. The commission Northeast power grid "at breakneck speed" without studying technical feasibility of creating one RTO and analyzing the costs and benefits of merging, the consumer groups said in filing. Young meeting participants not to discuss the substance of negotiations, but sources familiar the talks said the group is outlining a business describing to structure Northeast RTO without in the details. have said, for this regional should one one interconnection standard, but haven't defined that and standard should be. "Many are by the ongoing talks," said Anthony

(Copyright (c) 2001, Dow Jones & Company, inc.) 

(This artIcle wAs oRigInAlly PublIshed Monday) NEW yoRK -(DOw Jones)- New England consuMer adVoCAtes mOnDay saId federAL eNERgy ReGuLatOrS OvErstePpeD their jUrisdictioN in OrDering the conSOlIdation of tHe wHolesale elecTriCity maRkEts ANd traNsmIssioN systeMS in the Northeast u.S. 

tHe FedeRAl EnergY cOmMissIon in mid-July direcTEd OPerators of the pOwer grIdS In nEW YoRk, NEw England aNd The MiD-atlantiC To MERGe, aS Part of a sweepiNg series of oRDerS desigNeD to PUt contRol of ThE CouNtry's transmIssiOn system iN indepENdent haNDs. 

FederAl law aLloWs tHe FeDErAl eneRgY regULaTorY comMission tO rEqUire tRansMISSIon sYstEms tO connEct, but only at tHe rEqueST of A statE reguLatoRs, AccorDing to A filiNg Made by Maine law fIrm oN behalf of ConSuMer GrOups, nONprofiT enErgY groups And the aTTorNeY GENeRal of Massachusetts. 

"thE cOmMission mAkes no CLaIm IN the New ENgLanD OrdER That iT is aCTiNg at the bEhest oF A sTaTe commiSsIon or pUbLic UtiLity, aND is, tHerefoRe, withouT authORity to mandate tHE involuntary cOMbINAtIOn of The northeasterN RTOS," The gRoupS SaId iN Their FilinG, wHIcH Asked FERC to reconsidEr Its conSolidAtion decision. 

fERC should GIVE the threE NorTHeASt grid operatorS a traNsition perIOd to evolVe intO three reGional traNSMission oRgaNizAtiOn, oR rtOS, with similar mARKet dEsIgns, traNsmIssion tAriFfs And GovErNance struCtures beFoRe ReQuIriNg theM To merge, tHe FilInG saId. 

The COmmissIon diRectEd ThE OpeRators oF ThE WHoleSaLe PoweR grId In New englANd, NEw York aNd the Mid-ATlaNTic tO mEeT with utIlities, generaToRs, trade groUpS, stAte regULAtors and A FERC judge in Washington fOR 45 days beGinNing JUly 19 tO outline pLanS for crEatINg one tRansmiSsion OrGanIZAtion FROm wasHiNgton, D.C., to MAINe. THe regUlAtorS also diRected Judge Peter YoUNg tO submit recommEndAtioN TO tHem 10 DAyS AftEr THe cONClusion of the talKs. 

The commiSsIOn Ordered the COnsOlIdation Of the NoRtheaST power gRid "at breaKneck speeD" wIthoUT StuDying the teChnical fEasibilitY Of creATiNg one rTO And witHoUt aNalyzIng the COstS and bEnefitS oF mergiNg, the CoNsumer grOups said in their filing. 

YoUng has DirecTed Meeting paRtiCIpaNts not to dIscuSs the substAncE of The neGotIAtionS, but SOuRceS FamilIar wITh the talkS SaId tHE GrOup is outlinING A buSinesS moDEl descRibiNg how to structure a nOrtheast RTO witHout FILliNg iN The dEtAils. ParticipanTs hAvE SAid, for exAmPle, that this Regional MaRKet shOuld haVe one tRansmisSIOn TAriff aNd onE inTerconnecTioN sTAndard, bUt HaVEn't defIned WhAt that Tariff ANd stANDard should be. 

"Many PeoplE ARe verY DisCouraGeD by the oNGoinG talks," said anthony

(Copyright (c) 2001, DowJones & Co mpany , I nc. )

(T hisarticle was or i gina lly published Monday)NEW Y OR K  -(D o wJones )- NewE ng l a ndco ns ume ra dv ocate s M onday s aid federa l e ne rgy regulato r soversteppe d t heir jurisdi cti on inor der i ng th e c onsol idatio n  of th e wholesa le electr i city ma r k et s an d transmission sy s te m s in the north east U .S .  T heFed eral Energ yCommi s sion in mi d - J uly directed oper ators of th e  po wer gr id s i n  New Y ork,Ne w  En gland and t he M id-Atlant ic tom erge, a s  part o f a sw eep ing  ser i es  o f o rd e rsd es ign e d t o put co nt ro l ofthec o u n try' s t rans missi on system inind epen d ent  hand s. 
Fede ra l law  allow s the  F ederal Energy R egul atory Com mis si onto  requ i re tra nsm iss ion sys tems to con ne c t ,  b ut only at the req ue s t  o f a stat e regu l at or s , accord in g t o af i lingmade by  Maine l aw fir m  o nbehalfof  consu me r g rou ps, n o npro fit en ergy gro ups a n d the attorney general of Ma s sa c h us e tts.  
"The Commis sion make s no cl aim in th e New  E n gl a nd Order that it is  a ctingat th e behest of a  state com m i s sion orpubl i cu tility, and is , the refore, wi t hout aut horit y to man date thei n voluntar y c omb ina tio n of  the Northeas t e rn R TO s," the  gr oups sa idinthe irfi ling, whi ch asked  F ER Cto  re consi d er its c on sol id ati on de c ision.  

FE RC s ho ul d  gi ve thet hr e e  Nor th ea st g rid  o perat orsa  tr ansitio n periodtoe volv ein to thre e regional tr an smission o rg ani zation , or RTOs,  with similar market de s igns, t ran smiss iontariffs a ndgovern anc e  struc turesbefor ereq u i ringt h em  to  m erge, thef i lin g sai d.  

T he comm ission directed th e  op erators of th e w hole s a le  po w er gri di n N e w  England, New Y ork and th eM id -Atlantict o m ee t withutiliti es, g e nerator s, tradegroups, s ta te r e g ula tors and a  FERC ju dge in Wa s hingt o nfor 4 5 d ays be gi nni ng Ju ly 19t o o utlin e plan sfor cr eatin gone tran smission organization f rom Wa shing ton , D.C., t o M a ine . The reg ulat ors also d ire cte d Jud geP eterYoun g  t o s u bmitreco m mendation to  th e m  1 0 days afte r t heconcl usi o n of t he t alks. 

The commi s sion ordered t he c o n sol ida t ionof  the Northeast  po we r grid "at  b reakneck sp eed" wit ho u t stu dyingthe te chnical f ea s ibilit y of  cr eating on e R TO and wit ho ut analyz ingth e cost s andb enef i t s of merging, th e con s u mer g r oup s sai din thei r  fil ing. 

You ng has dire cted m eeti ng pa rticipa nt s nottodi scuss thes ubstanceof th e negot ia tion s,but so urce s famil iarwi ththe talks s ai d  t he gro up i s out li ning  a busine s s modeldes c ribingho w t o struct u re a  Northeast  RT O wit h o ut filling in t h ed etail s. Par ticipa nts hav e  sa id , for e xam p l e, that t his regio n alma rket  shouldha ve o ne  tr an smission tariff  and one  interco n n ection  st a ndar d , butha ven't define d wha tt hat tar i f f a nd stan d ard  sh oul d be . 
"Ma n y people are very discou rage d byt heongoi ng ta lk s," said Anth ony

(Copyright (c)_2001, Dow_Jones & Company, Inc.)_

(This article_was_originally published_Monday)_NEW YORK -(Dow_Jones)- New England_consumer advocates Monday said_federal energy regulators_overstepped_their jurisdiction in ordering the consolidation of the wholesale electricity markets and transmission systems_in_the northeast_U.S._

The_Federal Energy Commission in mid-July_directed operators of the power_grids in_New York, New England and the Mid-Atlantic to_merge,_as part of_a sweeping series of orders designed to put control_of the country's transmission system in_independent hands. 

Federal_law_allows_the Federal Energy Regulatory_Commission to require transmission systems to_connect, but only at the request_of a state regulators, according to a_filing made by Maine law firm_on behalf of consumer groups,_nonprofit energy_groups and the attorney general_of Massachusetts. 

"The_Commission makes_no claim in_the New England Order that it_is acting at_the behest of a state commission_or_public utility, and_is,_therefore,_without authority_to mandate the_involuntary_combination of_the_Northeastern RTOs," the groups said in_their_filing, which asked FERC to reconsider its_consolidation decision. 

FERC should_give_the three Northeast grid_operators a transition period to_evolve into three regional transmission organization,_or RTOs,_with similar_market designs, transmission tariffs and governance structures before requiring them to_merge, the filing said. 

The commission_directed the operators of_the wholesale_power_grid in New_England,_New York_and the Mid-Atlantic to meet with utilities,_generators, trade_groups, state regulators and a FERC_judge in Washington for_45_days beginning July 19 to outline_plans for creating one transmission organization_from Washington, D.C., to Maine._The_regulators_also directed Judge Peter Young_to submit recommendation to them 10_days after the_conclusion of the talks. 

The commission ordered_the_consolidation of the Northeast power grid_"at_breakneck speed" without studying the technical_feasibility_of_creating one RTO and without_analyzing the costs and benefits of_merging, the consumer groups said in their filing. 

Young_has directed meeting_participants not to discuss the_substance_of_the negotiations, but sources familiar with the talks said the_group is_outlining a business_model describing how to structure a Northeast RTO without filling_in the details. Participants have said, for_example, that this regional market should have one transmission tariff and_one interconnection standard, but haven't defined what that_tariff and standard should be. 

"Many people_are very discouraged by_the_ongoing talks," said Anthony