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SENATOR PATTY MURRAY

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The National Energy Affordability and Accessibility Project (NEAAP) Web site has a comprehensive overview of SMDs and RTOs.

SMDs and RTOs worry OPALCO and Murray

posted 04/16/03
Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) shared Orcas Power and Light Cooperative board members' concerns about Standard Market Design (SMD) and Regional Transmission Organization (RTO). OPALCO Board Member Leon Fonnesbeck said, "It would be the death of public power, they would have to buy on the spot market."

"The only way to stop anything is to scream and yell and fight," Murray told the board during an April 14, 2003 visit to San Juan Island.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission' (FERC) at the urging of the Bush Administration is pushing for SMDs and RTOs according to Murray. In an October 2002 letter to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, Murray and U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) expressed their concern over FERC's SMD proposal, which would set uniform, national standards for the operation of regional transmission grids and wholesale energy markets. According to them: this proposal increases the opportunity for market manipulation and price gouging, thereby raising rates and harming consumers in the Northwest. FULL TEXT OF LETTER

The National Energy Affordability and Accessibility Project (NEAAP) Web site sums up some of the criticism regarding SMDs:

In an extensive evaluation of the FERC proposal, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and Consumers Union maintained that the SMD’s proposal to force utilities to turn to spot markets for power "ensures that every electron sold to consumers fetches the highest price the market will bear." The evaluation also expressed skepticism about FERC’s ability to prevent the big merchant generators from manipulating or "gaming" the system as they did in California, covertly withholding power to drive prices up.

Murray said the Northwest has a unique transmission and power system. RTOs might work in areas such as the Northeast "if you have 75 different companies and you need someone to decide where the power goes, but it won't work in other regions." She found an ally in Senator Dick Shelby (R-Ala.). Southeastern states are also opposed to FERC's plans. "We are growing in numbers," she said.

Murray encouraged OPALCO board members to write to FERC and to the Bush Administration. "I could use your help in writing to FERC directly," she said. "We need a screaming campaign.

Murray to visit county April 14

posted 04/02/03
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) will visit the San Juan Islands April 14, 2003. Her agenda includes meetings with San Juan County Marine Resources Committee and OPALCO. Commissioner Darcie Nielsen will tour the Cattle Point Road slide area with Murray.

Tentative Agenda:

  • 9:20 Board Ferry in Anacortes

  • 9:35 to 10:40 a.m. Community Leaders Roundtable (on board ferry)

  • 10:40 a.m. Arrive in Friday Harbor

  • 11 to 11:45 a.m. Visit San Juan Marine Resources Committee

  • noon to 12:45 p.m. Lunch with San Juan Democrats

  • 1 to 2 p.m. Economic Development Roundtable

  • 2:15 to 3 p.m. OPALCO meeting

  • 3:15 to 3:40 p.m. Visit Cattle Point Road

  • 4 p.m. Board ferry for return to Anacortes

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