Proposed FERC Grid Rule Draws Criticism From Justice and FTC

The Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission said they have “significant concerns” with energy regulators’ proposed restrictions on competition in electric transmission projects, arguing such a move would violate “longstanding antitrust policy generally disfavoring regulatory barriers to entry.”

The agencies’ filing was among dozens of public comments that were made public Wednesday in response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s rulemaking on regional transmission planning.

The rule, proposed in April by a 4-1 vote, would require regional transmission planners to consider at least 20-year impacts, including the changing power-and-demand mix and extreme weather events. Utilities and planners will also be ...