Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Votes to Remove Electric Storage Barriers on Electric Grid

Late last week, all five commissioners at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) unanimously voted in favor of implementing new rules aimed at removing barriers for electric storage resource participation. This new ruling will help national electric wholesale markets be more efficient in energy storage in activities such as storing excess power during periods of low demand for use when demand is higher. An official statement released following the vote said, “This order will enhance competition and promote greater efficiency in the nation’s electric wholesale markets, and will help support the resilience of the bulk power system.”

Environment and energy storage groups were in favor of the ruling as it provides more clarity on the future regulatory trajectory of energy storage in the U.S. Kelly Speakes-Backman, CEO of the Energy Storage Association explained, “[this ruling] signaled both a recognition of the value provided by storage today, and more importantly, a clear vision of the role electric storage can play given a clear pathway to wholesale market participation.”

The ruling will go into effect 90 days following publication in the Federal Register.

Click here to view the final FERC ruling: https://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2018/021518/E-1.pdf