Highlights from APPA's Public Power Daily - March 10, 2010
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Obama taps former National Grid executive Cheryl LaFleur for seat on FERC
President Obama on Monday announced he will nominate Cheryl LaFleur, former executive vice president and CEO of National Grid USA, to a five-year term on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The president also said he will nominate Philip Moeller to a second term on the commission. If confirmed, LaFleur would replace Commissioner Suedeen Kelly, who left FERC following the expiration of her term in January. Read More
Florida reliability council agrees to pay $350,000 penalty to settle FERC allegations over 2008 blackout
The Florida Reliability Coordinating Council has agreed to pay a $350,000 civil penalty to settle Federal Energy Regulatory Commission charges that the council violated reliability standards in connection with the Feb. 26, 2008, blackout that cut power to two-thirds of Florida. The council also agreed to make specific reliability improvements. FRCC neither admitted nor denied that its actions violated the reliability standards. Read More
Austin takes extra steps to assist low-income utility customers
Austin Energy customers who receive benefits through the Texas Medicaid program or Travis County Energy Assistance Program are now being automatically enrolled in the municipal utility's discount program. The program provides utility bill discounts of about $45 per month for an average customer. As a result of the automatic signups by the city, the number of low-income customers receiving utility bill discounts increased by 82%, from 4,501 customers in 2008 to 8,164 in 2009, Austin Energy said. The discounts saved participants $3.1 million in 2009, an average of about $400 per participant. Read More
Climate change conference seeks abstracts for November meeting
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and other organizations that are planning the 2010 Behavior, Energy & Climate Change Conference to be held in California in November have issued a call for papers. The deadline for submitting an abstract is May 15. Read More
