A group of Southeast U.S. utilities has suspended its two-year effort to create the SeTrans Regional Transmission Organization. In a statement released yesterday, the sponsors of SeTrans, which include Southern Company and Entergy Corp., said that their participation required the approval of applicable public service commissions as well as the approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

“The retail commissions in the region have expressed significant concerns about the role of an RTO and its effects on matters subject to their jurisdiction, including concerns about native load protection and cost impacts,” the statement said. “They have expressed these concerns in numerous public forums, letters to FERC and to Congress, and in SEARUC resolutions.”

SeTrans said that its sponsors had concluded that it is “highly unlikely” that consensus support and acceptance for the RTO will be forthcoming from all state and federal agencies involved.

The sponsors decided unanimously to suspend the effort.
Circle 153 on Reader Service Card or visit freeproductinfo.net/tdw