Power & Pipes

FERC has issued a final rule, Order No. 874, expanding the eligibility criteria for Qualifying Facilities (QFs) as defined under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to enable certain fuel cell–based electric generation to receive QF status. The final rule amends the definition of useful thermal energy output of a topping-cycle cogenerator in its regulations implementing PURPA by adding a new paragraph to specifically include thermal energy that is used by a fuel cell system with an integrated steam hydrocarbon reformation process for production of fuel for electricity generation. This new paragraph, along with the rest of Order No. 874, removes ambiguity as to whether such fuel cell technology may be included in the eligibility criteria for a cogeneration facility to be a QF.

Read our recent LawFlash analyzing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC’s) Order No. 2222, which directs wholesale electric market operators to facilitate the participation of distributed energy resource (DER) aggregators under one or more participation models. The new rule vastly expands the opportunities for DERs, such as grid-enabled water heaters, small solar installations, and electric vehicles, to aggregate and compete alongside traditional generators for a slice of wholesale market revenues. ISOs/RTOs will have 270 days from the date the rule is published in the Federal Register to submit their compliance filings and propose implementation dates for their regions.

On July 10, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit found that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was well within its rights to prevent states from prohibiting energy storage resources from participating in wholesale (i.e., sales for resale) energy markets. The court’s order is the latest judicial affirmation of FERC’s authority to regulate activities on wide portions of the electric grid, including facilities reserved to state regulators, if those activities affect wholesale rates.