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WV PSC Staff Files Motion to Dismiss PATH Application

12/10/2010

7 Comments

 
Big news!  Today the staff of the West Virginia Public Service Commission filed a Motion to Dismiss the Filing as Insufficient or in the Alternative, Require PATH to Request a Tolling and Implement Further Case Processing Procedures.

In the motion, the staff asserts that certain developments pertaining to the status of the Mt. Storm-Doubs 500kV line, as well as other developments, make the current application incomplete.  As a result, the Commission does not have all the information it needs to properly evaluate this project and reasonable alternatives.  Therefore the Staff moves the Commission to either dismiss this case or require PATH to request a tolling sufficient to allow the Commission to implement further case processing procedures to assure a complete review of the application by the parties and the Commission.

Essentially, the staff has also noticed the robust odor of "barnyard" coming off PJM's continued insistence that PATH is the "most robust solution to the reliability
needs we identified", which flies in the face of PJM's approval of Dominion Virginia Power's filing for rebuild of the Mt. Storm-Doubs line.  While PJM approved this rebuild, they are completely ignoring the increase in capacity the rebuild will provide in their modeling for the need for the PATH project.  In addition, the staff believes that Dominion's alternatives to the PATH project that were filed earlier this year have not been given adequate consideration, and in fact the staff seems to be leaning toward Dominion's Alternative 1 as the only "solution" needed for at least the next 10 years.  This solution will be much cheaper, will cause much less disturbance to the environment, and requires no acquisition of new rights-of-way (condemnation of property).  Dominion's Alternative 1 will save the ratepayers millions, if not billions, of dollars in the long run.  The cost of PATH's acquisition of land and land rights for their project are added to the ratebase, upon which ratepayers pay a return (in 2011 average of 50% equity at 14.3% and 50% debt at 6.64%).  Items in the ratebase are subject to depreciation, except for land, which never depreciates, therefore subjecting the ratepayers to paying that return on land acquisition for eternity.  Dominion's proposal will save us a bundle in long-term costs! 

The staff also mentions the MAPP line, which was recently resurrected in Maryland.  The combination of the MAPP line and the Mt. Storm-Doubs rebuild leaves no reactive criteria violations, according to the staff's motion.

The motion also questions PJM's treatment of other proposed alternatives to the PATH project.

And here's my favorite part of the motion: 

"It is ludicrous to continue to move forward with the PATH project while major changes are being contemplated for critical transmission infrastructure that should be factored into assessment of the need for PATH."

I think that about says it all!

Please remember that this is only a motion  -- the WV PSC Commissioners will be the ones who make the ultimate decision on the disposition of PATH's application in this state.  The staff has asked for:

"Staff moves the Commission (1) to dismiss PATH’s Application without prejudice; ( 2 ) permit for re-filing once a new analysis has been completed that includes all the recent developments;(3)order the Applicants to file updated testimony in regards to the economic and environmental aspects of this project, including a discussion of the need to rebuild the Pruntytown-Mt. Storm line.  Alternatively, Staff does not object to proceeding with PATH’s pending Application if PATH submits a written document requesting to toll the statutory time line until such time as these additional filings can be made.  Parties, including Staff and the CAD, will soon expend significant resources on expert fees and filing direct testimony. Accordingly, Staff asks the Commission to rule on this motion as expeditiously as possible."

Now the real fun begins as we watch to see how the other two state commissions react.  Will they join in  kicking PATH while they're down?  I hope so!  No mercy!

Journal article (and no, I didn't really say that -- substitute the word "hoping" for the word "before" and that's a lot closer to what I said)

Frederick News Post  (this article was part of a half-page spread that also featured a story about the PATH Formula Rate Preliminary Challenge -- see The Collection for link  to that story)
7 Comments
Pam
12/10/2010 12:34:39 am

How refreshing it was to read this recommendation on a Friday afternoon so close to Christmas. I would love to see a favorable decision by the PSC, preferably in time to go in Santa's sack to be delivered to PATH right before they holidays so they can have their holiday ruined. Couldn't happen to a better bunch of morons.

Reply
PowerMAD
12/10/2010 01:27:30 am

Wow. Make no mistake - this is a VERY compelling motion! On his blog, Bill Howley says it touches on everything we've been arguing for the past month. Actually, it's everything we've been arguing for the past 2 1/2 years!

PATH has been cooking its numbers to justify the project, and now there's plenty of evidence that PJM has joined in at the stove.

But you know what they say ... too many cooks spoil the meal!

And this meal is spoiled, rotten to the core, and reeks to high heaven!

Thank you, PSC staff, for taking the time to look at ALL the issues surrounding this case.

Reply
Keryn
12/10/2010 02:04:39 am

Indeed, the PSC staff has been paying attention in class!

PJM reeks so bad, they had it coming.

They have completely lost all credibility. So, what purpose do they serve again? It's not about keeping the lights on anymore. Perhaps they need to go the way of the dinosaur?

See you all tonight at dinner! :-) Now we have something to celebrate -- but why is dinner at a church and not at Brewer's Alley? Our planning is almost as bad as PJM's.

I'll get this updated later after the fundraiser -- been dealing with reporters all day.

Reply
Da Hillbilly
12/10/2010 02:34:56 am

You all can give all the credit you want to the staff or whoever you chose but the REAL credit goes to all the folks who have been working so dilligently to show right from wrong, to expose the truth, to fight the corruption that has been allowed for so long! Business as usual will go on NO LONGER! If it weren't for you all this would have never come to light and we would have this horrible STOOOOOPID project being built as we speak. So, while I do thank the PSC staff for making this motion, the real respect goes to you all ... the common citizen standing up and making a difference! Tonights dinner will truly be a celebration.

Reply
JustMe
12/10/2010 10:41:35 am

Perhaps its just that Joe Blow has been busy trying to swim with the big boys in Washington...wow, he turns around for a minute and OOPS...he drops one of the batons he's juggling. He spent a whole entire complete solid 24-7 week juggling 'don't ask don't tell'. How do you reconcile being a good 'ole boy homophobe with proving to DC dems that you're one of them? Say ita ain't so Joe. What will your 'front' party do when they learn your "guyness" is in bed with King Coal? Gosh darn it, the richness of the material West Virginia yields! Ya couldn't make this stuff up!

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    About the Author

    Keryn Newman blogs here at StopPATH WV about energy issues, transmission policy, misguided regulation, our greedy energy companies and their corporate spin.
    In 2008, AEP & Allegheny Energy's PATH joint venture used their transmission line routing etch-a-sketch to draw a 765kV line across the street from her house. Oooops! And the rest is history.

    About
    StopPATH Blog

    StopPATH Blog began as a forum for information and opinion about the PATH transmission project.  The PATH project was abandoned in 2012, however, this blog was not.

    StopPATH Blog continues to bring you energy policy news and opinion from a consumer's point of view.  If it's sometimes snarky and oftentimes irreverent, just remember that the truth isn't pretty.  People come here because they want the truth, instead of the usual dreadful lies this industry continues to tell itself.  If you keep reading, I'll keep writing.


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