Overview
Title
Tucson Electric Power Company; Notice of Supplement to Petition for Declaratory Order
Agencies
ELI5 AI
Tucson Electric Power Company wants permission to change how they pay for a new electrical line project, and people have until February 26, 2021, to say what they think about this. Because of coronavirus, people are encouraged to send their comments online instead of visiting in person.
Summary AI
Tucson Electric Power Company submitted a supplement to its petition for a declaratory order with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on February 16, 2021. The petition seeks incentive rate treatment for purchasing development rights and developing upgrades for a 64-mile transmission project connecting the Vail and Tortolita substations. Interested parties wanting to intervene or protest must follow specific procedural rules and submit their filings by February 26, 2021. The Commission encourages electronic filings and provides document access via its website due to COVID-19-related restrictions.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document in question is a formal notice from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), dated February 16, 2021, regarding a supplement to a petition filed by the Tucson Electric Power Company. The company is seeking approval for incentive rate treatment related to a transmission project in Arizona. This notice follows standard legal procedures for public engagement in regulatory decision-making, outlining how interested parties can intervene or protest the request.
General Summary
Tucson Electric Power Company aims to upgrade a 64-mile transmission line connecting its substations in Vail and Tortolita, Arizona. The petition seeks the Commission's approval for incentive rate treatment, essentially permitting the company to recover certain costs through rates charged to customers. This supplement notice allows stakeholders to voice their support or concerns by following specified intervention and protest procedures. The deadline for comment submission is February 26, 2021.
Significant Issues or Concerns
The document raises several procedural concerns and potential issues. Firstly, the ten-day window for public comments might be insufficient for stakeholders to conduct a thorough review and develop responses. This compressed timeline may inadvertently limit meaningful public participation. Additionally, while the instructions for filing interventions or protests are standard, they may be prohibitively complex for individuals without expertise in legal or regulatory affairs. Finally, the suspension of physical access to FERC’s Public Reference Room due to COVID-19 might pose challenges for those unable to access the internet.
Impact on the Public
Broadly speaking, the document outlines a regulatory process that potentially affects the rates that customers will pay for electricity. If the petition is approved, Tucson Electric Power might adjust customer rates to finance the proposed infrastructure upgrades. The limited timeframe for public commenting could restrict the ability of those impacted to influence the decision-making process adequately.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Specific stakeholders affected include the residents and businesses in the areas served by the project, who might experience changes in electric service rates. Regulatory bodies and advocacy groups interested in energy infrastructure and customer rates may feel compelled to intervene or protest, necessitating resources and legal expertise. Moreover, individuals or entities lacking reliable internet access might find the process less accessible due to the suspension of FERC’s Public Reference Room.
In conclusion, while the process is an essential part of regulatory procedures, ensuring transparency and public participation, the compressed timeline and complexity involved could disadvantage less resourced stakeholders. Engaging in this process requires understanding of regulatory frameworks and a timely response to have a meaningful impact.
Issues
• The document concerns a request for a declaratory order regarding incentive rate treatment for a utility company's infrastructure project. There is no clear indication of potential wasteful spending or favoritism towards specific organizations or individuals within the text itself.
• The language in the document is formal and follows legal norms, which may be complex for laypersons to understand, but it is typical for documents of this nature.
• The notice specifies a comment date, which is standard for these types of procedures. However, the brief window (10 days from notice date to comment deadline) could be seen as insufficient for thorough public review and response.
• The instructions for intervention and protest filing, while typical in regulatory procedures, may be complex for individuals not versed in legal proceedings or the regulatory process.
• There is mention of the suspension of access to the Commission's Public Reference Room due to COVID-19, which could limit physical access to documents for some stakeholders who might not have reliable internet access.