Grid exercise saw increase in public power utility participation
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Posted April 1, 2020
A 2019 grid security exercise designed for utilities to exercise their response and recovery to cyber and physical security threats in a simulated environment saw an increase in public power utility participation, an official with the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC) said on March 31.
DOJ memo ends practice tied to emissions violations penalties
by Peter Maloney
APPA News
Posted April 1, 2020
The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a memorandum that ends a practice that allowed parties to reduce payments for emissions violation penalties by undertaking Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) in civil settlements.
Danly sworn in as a Commissioner at FERC
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Posted April 1, 2020
James Danly was sworn in as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission March 31.
EPA issues enforcement and compliance guidance tied to COVID-19
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Posted March 31, 2020
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 26 issued guidance on COVID-19 pandemic implications for EPA’s enforcement and compliance assurance programs.
Memo offers guidance to governors on how to support energy sector during pandemic
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Posted March 30, 2020
The National Governor’s Association (NGA) has prepared a memo that provides guidance to governors on how they can best support and protect the energy industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ESCC releases mission essential workforce list in response to COVID-19 pandemic
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Posted March 30, 2020
The Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC) has released a Mission Essential Workforce List in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NERC says power sector well prepared, taking aggressive steps to confront COVID-19 threat
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Posted March 30, 2020
The power sector is well prepared and taking aggressive steps to confront the threat posed by the current pandemic, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation said on March 27.
Trump signs $2 trillion bill to address COVID-19 pandemic into law
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Posted March 27, 2020
The House of Representatives on March 27 passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and President Donald Trump signed the bill into law the same day.
FERC, NARUC join forces in COVID-19 pandemic response efforts
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Posted March 27, 2020
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) on March 26 said they are joining forces in their COVID-19 pandemic response efforts to help ensure the reliability of the nation’s energy transmission and distribution systems.
USDA Rural Development makes Rural Utility Service program changes in response to COVID-19
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
Posted March 26, 2020
USDA Rural Development on March 25 said it has taken several actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak including changes to the Rural Utility Service (RUS) program for rural electric services.