Supplied by Cloverland Electric…
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.—Oct. 20, 2017
Cloverland Electric Cooperative is still reviewing the 69-page order issued yesterday by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) affirming in part and reversing in part an initial decision issued by a FERC Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) on July 25, 2016. According to the order, FERC agreed with the ALJ that a portion of the charges requested by Wisconsin Electric Power Company to continue to operate the Presque Isle Power Plant during a 14.5 month period in 2014-15 were unjust and unreasonable.
“Cloverland Electric is pleased with this order issued by FERC,” said Dan Dasho, Cloverland’s president and CEO. “We have been fighting this long and hard for our members who should not be paying the millions of dollars demanded by Wisconsin Electric to keep Presque Isle in commercial operation.”
A forty-five day period is underway for the review of how the costs that were found to be just and reasonable should be allocated among load-serving entities in Michigan and Wisconsin. The magnitude of the charges imposed on consumers in Michigan was significantly reduced based on yesterday’s order but will not be known for certain until a pending DC Circuit Court case filed on behalf of Cloverland and other Michigan entities challenging FERC’s legal authority to assess charges retroactively is decided.
The parties have thirty days to request a rehearing of the October 19th FERC order.
Cloverland Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned utility located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It serves over 42,000 homes and businesses in Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce, and Schoolcraft counties.