U.S. justices question Obama administration electricity markets rule

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

US | Wed Oct 14, 2015 3:51pm EDT

U.S. justices question Obama administration electricity markets rule

WASHINGTON | BY LAWRENCE HURLEY

Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday expressed doubt about whether the Obama administration had the authority to issue a regulation aimed at encouraging efficiency in the electricity market by having electrical grid operators pay users to reduce consumption at peak times.

The court heard oral arguments in an appeal filed by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission seeking to reverse a May 2014 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that threw out the rule.

The case pits the government's energy regulator against power companies that are fighting a regulation that promises to cut into their profits.

The regulation concerns what FERC calls "demand response," which is when, in an attempt to manage demand for electricity, regional electrical grid operators agree to pay electricity users to cut consumption at peak times. It is aimed at improving grid reliability, lowering costs and encouraging clean energy.

The rule remains in effect while the case continues.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/14/us-usa-court-electricity-idUSKCN0S823H20151014

[Demeter]

1. Sounds like the most expensive and complicated and unsuccessful way to do it

Just like Obamacare...the legacy of the Obama administration is Rube Goldbergian policy.

[kristopher]

2. You are wrong.

It is an extremely streamlined, efficient and effective way to do "it".

[Agnosticsherbet]

3. Without the abilty to pass laws that would work,

because Republicans have no interest in reducing the costs of energy at the expense of corporations, using regulatory bodies remains the only way.

[Finishline42]

4. The utilities want this fight at the state level where they dominate those commissions

The utilities want this fight at the state level where they dominate those commissions. The utility commissions in many states are dominated by utilities and their lobbyist. They are supposed to be protecting the customers but it's clear by their actions it's the utility interest they serve.