FERC-585, Reporting of Electric Shortages and Contingency Plans Under PURPA Section 206

The Commission uses the information collected within the FERC-585 to implement the statutory provisions of Section 206 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1979 (PURPA) . Section 206 of PURPA amended the Federal Power Act (FPA) by adding a subsection to Section 202 under which the Commission (by rule) requires each public utility to (1) report to the Commission and appropriate state regulatory authorities of any anticipated shortages of electric energy or capacity which would affect the utility's capability to serve its wholesale customers; and (2) report to the Commission and any appropriate state regulatory authority with contingency plan that would outline what circumstances might give rise to such occurrences. No changes are being made to the reporting requirements at this time; rather we are requesting a 3-year extension with no change. Historical background. In Order No. 575 , the Commission modified the reporting requirements in 18 CFR 294.101(b)(5) to provide in its rates and schedules to firm power wholesale customers that: (a) during electric energy and capacity shortages it will treat firm power wholesale customers without undue discrimination or preference, prejudice, or disadvantage firm power wholesale customers and (b) it will report any modifications to its contingency plan for accommodating shortages within 15 days to the appropriate state regulatory agency and to the affected wholesale customers. The utility then needs not file with the Commission an additional statement of contingency plan for accommodating such shortages since this revision merely changed the reporting mechanism. The public utility's contingency plan would be contained within its filed rate rather than in a separate document. The Commission modified the reporting requirements in 18 CFR 294.101(f) to set forth the means by which public utilities must comply with the requirements to report shortages and anticipated shortages. The original requirement mandated filing an original and at least two copies to the Commission as well as one copy to relevant state regulators and firm power wholesale customers. The revised requirement is to promptly submit a single electronic report to the Commission via the Office of Electric Reliability's emergency mailbox at [email protected]. The Commission defines anticipated shortages of electric or energy as: "(1) Any situation anticipated to occur in which the generating and bulk purchased power capability of a public utility will not be sufficient to meet its anticipated demand plus appropriate reserve margins and this shortage would affect the utility's capability adequately to supply electric services to its firm power wholesale customers; or (2) Any situation anticipated to occur in which the energy supply capability of a public utility is not sufficient to meet its customers' energy requirements and this shortage would affect the utility's capability adequately to supply electric services to its firm power wholesale customers." 18 CFR 294 establishes the reporting requirements for public utilities. A report filed in compliance with Part 294 must include the nature and projected duration of the anticipated shortage, a list of firm wholesale customers likely to be affected by the shortage, procedures for accommodating the shortage, and a contact person at the public utility.

The latest form for FERC-585, Reporting of Electric Shortages and Contingency Plans Under PURPA Section 206 expires 2021-09-30 and can be found here.