Electric Power Consumers Challenge FERC Rate Increase Orders

The Industrial Energy Consumers of America and others are asking a federal appeals court to strike down the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of an interstate transmission company’s request to increase its rates.

FERC granted ITC Midwest LLC’s request to increase rates in case a project is canceled or abandoned for reasons beyond the company’s control, the brief said. The specific project in this case is the Iowa portion of Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc.'s long-range transmission plan.

The petitioners—consumers of electric transmission and power services—challenged FERC’s authorization of the “abandonment incentive,” which is “an increase in costs eligible for ...