Contact: Regina Davis, 202-898-9382, rdavis@naruc.org

NARUC Issues Statement on FERC’s Energy Storage Decision
Supports McNamee’s Partial Dissent

WASHINGTON (May 17, 2019) —The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners is disappointed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s decision today to not recognize the jurisdictional divisions outlined in the Federal Power Act.

NARUC provided comments and asked FERC to continue the cooperative federalism established in the demand response regime by including similar provisions in Order No. 841 to allow state and local regulators to decide energy storage resource participation issues.

”We're disappointed that FERC chose not to go in that direction in this case,” said NARUC President Nick Wagner. “NARUC remains committed to the rights of states and as we weigh our options going forward, it is our hope that future FERC decisions will reflect our long-standing history of cooperative federalism.”

NARUC supports FERC Commissioner Bernard McNamee’s partial dissent. “Commissioner McNamee eloquently showcased a clear understanding of the complexities of allowing storage resources to use the distribution system to participate in the wholesale markets.  In fact, Commissioner McNamee’s approach would further FERC’s storage participation goals while still preserving cooperative federalism,” said Virginia State Corporation Commission Judge Judy Jagdmann, chair of NARUC’s Committee on Electricity.

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About NARUC

NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC's member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of State public utility commissions before the three branches of the Federal government.