IECA urges FERC to deny legislators’ request for Technical Conference

Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA) President Paul N. Cicio recently sent a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Norman Bay urging him to disregard a request from some national legislators requesting a Technical Conference on the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA).

The IECA leader called the Technical Conference unnecessary. The letter also said that the request from U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkoski (R-AK), Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee; U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce; and U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Chariman of the Energy and Power Subcommittee, was likely to make cogeneration more expensive for their members.

“We do not build cogeneration units to sell power,” said the letter. “Cogeneration of steam and power is critical to keeping our energy costs as low as possible to support global competitiveness and maintain and create middle class jobs.”

Cicio’s letter also requests that the FERC allows for industry participation if it does decide to conduct a Technical Conference.

“The industrial sector consumes about 26 percent of U.S. electricity. So, as large consumers of electricity, we are also concerned with power sales contracts executed at above market rates,” said the letter. “The high-cost of wind and solar projects will be paid for by us, the consumer. If the commission decides to hold a Technical Conference, we request the opportunity to participate.”