FERC Dismisses NV Energy’s Free Exit Interconnection Study Plan
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has officially dismissed NV Energy’s proposal concerning its interconnection study plan. The utility sought permission for pending interconnection customers to withdraw their requests without incurring penalties. This request was influenced by alterations in clean energy tax credit regulations and other decisions made during the Trump administration.
FERC’s Decision on NV Energy
In its ruling, FERC characterized the request as not “limited in scope,” a key criterion for granting regulatory waivers. The commission stated that allowing this waiver would create a new process not existing in the current tariff.
Details of the Proposal
NV Energy’s proposal would have allowed customers who have paid a commercial deposit to withdraw their interconnection requests or terminate generator agreements within a 60-day period, penalty-free. This arrangement also promised an immediate return of their deposits.
FERC’s rejection focused on the broad applicability of the proposed waiver. The commission asserted that it was not tailored to a specific subset of customers in need of relief.
Current State of NV Energy’s Interconnection Queue
As of October 13, NV Energy manages 69 projects in its interconnection queue, equating to about 23.1 gigawatts (GW) of capacity. This portfolio consists of:
- Approximately 9.3 GW from solar and battery storage hybrid projects.
- About 3.3 GW from geothermal projects.
By the end of July, NV Energy’s queue had recorded about 17.6 GW, which included merely 350 megawatts (MW) of geothermal requests. Notably, solar plus storage projects represent 40% of the total queue, while geothermal projects account for 15%.
The Solar Energy Industries Association and the Interwest Energy Alliance backed NV Energy’s request, emphasizing the necessity to streamline the interconnection process by removing non-viable projects from the queue. Despite their support, the agency’s decision underscores the stringent criteria set for such regulatory waivers.
