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LCG Publishes 2025 Annual Outlook for Texas Electricity Market (ERCOT)

LCG, August 14, 2024 – LCG Consulting (LCG) has released its annual outlook of the ERCOT wholesale electricity market for 2025, highlighting the region's rapid transition toward increased reliance on renewable energy resources and battery storage.

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LCG Publishes 2025 Annual Outlook for Texas Electricity Market (ERCOT)

LCG, August 14, 2024 – LCG Consulting (LCG) has released its annual outlook of the ERCOT wholesale electricity market for 2025, highlighting the region's rapid transition toward increased reliance on renewable energy resources and battery storage.

Read more

Industry News

Montana Regulators Assert Power Rate Control

LCG, June 27, 2001The Montana Public Service Commission said in an order yesterday that it would continue to regulate electric rates after a current rate freeze expires next year, a ruling that, while directed at Montana Power Co., was regarded with dismay by PPL Corp. of Pennsylvania.

The commission voted 4-0 in favor of the order which would take effect June 30, 2002 when the rate freeze expires.

As part of the ruling, the PSC declared that PPL Montana, which bought Montana Power's generation plants for $767 million in 1999, must in the future provide the electricity at a price reflecting what the costs would have been if the generation plants had not been sold.

The commission expected PPL to challenge the ruling in court, and PPL promised not to disappoint.

"I'm sure it will be challenged," said Matt Brainard, a member of the commission. "We could probably avoid a lot of consternation if people would get together and work on an effective transition plan with us."

PPL Corp. said the PSC action contains conclusions that are "clearly in violation of federal law" regarding the Montana power plants that its subsidiary owns and operates. "The state of Montana has no authority to direct PPL Montana to sell electricity at a given price," said Joanne Raphael, vice president for external affairs, adding "If the PSC continues to pursue this misguided reasoning, we would be forced to continue a legal challenge to such an illegal action."

Raphael said "We bought these power plants in Montana with the understanding that they would operate as merchant plants, selling electricity into Western wholesale markets -- at market-based prices. The state of Montana has no authority to direct PPL Montana to sell electricity at a given price."

PPL operates two coal-fired power plants and 11 hydroelectric facilities in the state, with about 1,150 megawatts of generating capacity.

Raphael said PPL has offered to supply Montana Power with 500 megawatts of power producedby PPL's plants at 4 cents per kilowatt-hour for five years. PPL already has signed an agreementproviding for this power supply and is awaiting signature from Montana Power, but is conditioned on the PSC dropping efforts to re-regulate future power prices.

"It would be extremely unfortunate for the people of Montana if the PSC puts at risk a contract thatwould provide for about two-thirds of Montana Power's electricity supply needs at very attractiveprices," Raphael said.

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