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AEP Makes Rate Filing at WV PSC - Throws Everything but the Kitchen Sink into "Securitization"

4/6/2012

2 Comments

 
Last week, AEP subsidiaries Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power filed their yearly ENEC case with the WV PSC.  Guess what?  They don't need a rate increase this year!

This is due to the Consumer Debt Bond Bill passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Tomblin that will simply mortgage this year's rate increase, caused by unrecovered coal costs, by having consumers pay for it over the next ten years, plus costs and interest.

Although AEP did not include the filing for "securitization" in their ENEC case (it will be a separate filing), they sure had plenty to say about it.

"As was the case several years ago, the Companies and their ratepayers are faced with a very large ENEC rate increase, given the existing ENEC under-recovery balance.    The Companies judge that it would be burdensome for their customers to shoulder the entirety of that increase over the course of a single year under the traditional ENEC mechanism. They are therefore proposing two alternative approaches. The first, and the most advantageous for all concerned in the Companies’ estimation, is the use of a securitization mechanism whereby the ENEC under-recoveries involved in this case would be financed through the issuance of comparatively low-interest bonds.
Legislation authorizing the Commission to consider securitization was enacted by the West Virginia Legislature during its 2012 regular session and signed by the Governor on March 15, 2012. The Companies will be filing an application with the Commission pursuant to the new law and the Commission will decide whether to issue a financing order permitting the issuance of bonds for the recovery of the deferred ENEC balance. Under this approach, if the bonds are authorized and issued, the Companies do not think that there will need to be any ENEC rate increase in this case."

So, how much is AEP looking to collect and leave consumers paying the mortgage on for the next ten years?  $391.8M.

This includes previous under recovered coal costs of $329.4M, $25.8M of carrying charges on the under recovered balance, $22,695,371 of old debt for deferred Century Aluminum electricity costs, $4.2M of deferred "industrial customer credit," "bonus coal payments" and other deferrals -- in other words, they're cleaning house and throwing all old debt and deferrals into the bond that consumers end up financing.  There is also a $23.4M under recovery for 2011 proposed to be tossed into the bond.

That $329.4M of old coal debt was supposed to be paid off over the past 3 years through previous rate increases.  What excuse does AEP have for the outstanding balance still remaining?

"The Companies have identified the following as key contributors to why the ENEC under-recovery balance did not decline as projected following last year’s ENEC rate increase:
  • Continued increase in coal prices;
  •  Lower off-system sales margins; and
  • Lower retail sales due to the economic downturn"
None of that's going to change either.  So, what is AEP planning to do next year when they again have a huge under recovered fuel balance and more deferrals racked up?  The legislature limited bond issuance to this year only, in response to vocal citizen opposition.  Perhaps it's time to enact least cost planning (which the legislature rejected this year) and help AEP kick their expensive coal habit, so this doesn't happen again.

Here's what AEP's "expert" has to say about coal prices:

"The trend from recent years of steadily rising coal prices matched with lower coal market volatility continued through the first half of 2011.    In spite of the recent economic downturn, the market did not experience significantly lower coal prices for the majority of 2011 because demand for coal in other countries continued to support the price of coal from the Central Appalachian Basin, the main type of coal consumed by APCo.  However, starting in the fourth quarter of 2011, Central Appalachian coal prices have dropped significantly in response to weak domestic demand.
In    2011    APCo    saw    a    slight    increase    in    generation    need    over    2010.    This increase in generation resulted in APCo consuming more coal in 2011 than in 2010, but continued low power demand as a result of the economic downturn still prevented coal prices from rising significantly.
Coal prices are believed to be continuing on a general upward trend as easily- mineable eastern bituminous coal sources are becoming rarer, but there is also some uncertainty regarding future EPA rules and how the implementation of those rules may affect future coal consumption. This uncertainty is reflected in the District of Columbia’s Circuit Court of Appeals decision to stay implementation of the EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (“CSAPR’) on December 30, 2011, less than two days before the rule was to take effect. The stay of the CSAPR has not yet had a significant impact on the market price for coal, but future developments regarding CSAPR and the recently-finalized Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (“MATS") do have the potential to cause a downward effect on prices due to lack of demand if utilities have to shutter non-compliant coal-fired power plants.    These rules could also lead to increases in price for lower sulfur coals, as utilities look to contract for cleaner coals. It is uncertain what the overall impact of these influences may be on the coal market as a whole."

If there's any humor to be found in this sad situation, it's this article in today's Charleston Daily Mail.  Byron Harris, WV's "Consumer Advocate" that played the perfect patsy for AEP by supporting the Consumer Debt Bond Bill at the legislature, gets a swift kick in the teeth from AEP's spokeswoman for his trouble.

"Harris also wonders if it's possible to cut rates this year using bonds.

Matheney cautioned against misleading people with that kind of talk."

Misleading people?  Ha ha ha!  Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black after the way AEP's lobbyists snowed the legislature and the PSC with their Consumer Debt Bond Bill, claiming that it would result in NO RATE INCREASES?  Seriously, you slay me... thanks for the laugh!
2 Comments

Targeted Pressure - Stop Power Company Lobbyists!

3/14/2012

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Word is that NPS personnel working on the Susquehanna-Roseland transmission project's EIS have been called to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area this week for meetings.  They may not come out of it with their integrity intact!  Help them out by signing this petition.  Do it right now!

Have you signed it yet?  If you just said "no" then you're not allowed to finish reading this blog post.  Go away.

NPS personnel have been under increasing pressure to permit profit-seeking utilities PSE&G and PPL to destroy the most scenic vistas of the park with one of PATH's sister Project Mountaineer unneeded transmission lines.  In exchange for rolling over and selling your public resources to the highest corporate bidder, the Park Service will receive some inferior land on the fringes of the current park as "mitigation."  Those on the inside report that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has already cut a deal with power company lobbyists to approve the destruction, before the EIS is even finished!  The NPS personnel working on the project have been put into the compromising position of just going through the motions when approval is already in the bag, bought and paid for.  And guess who's paying?  YOU ARE!  Cost of the mitigation bribe will be rolled into the project's rate base that you'll be paying off for the next 50 years in your electric bill, along with 12.9% interest for the power companies every year.

Show your support for the honest NPS personnel who are facing a serious moral dilemma that risks their jobs by signing this petition today!
2 Comments

PJM Publishes 2011 RTEP; PATH digs up stupid comments

3/5/2012

4 Comments

 
PJM finally made the 2011 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan available online today.  It's 5 "books" of silly stuff that's going to take a long while (and a lot of coffee) to get through.  PATH will continue to be "held in abeyance" in 2012.  No surprise there.  Just another $13M of profit for the PATH companies this year that will be paid for by you while the project continues to sit on a shelf.  Here's the PATH money quote:

PATH Abeyance
Analysis performed during the 2010 RTEP cycle required an in service date of June 1, 2015 for the PATH Line as shown on Map 1.3. The PJM Board issued a statement on February 28, 2011, suspending the PATH line.
PJM staff performed an updated analysis based on the 2011 RTEP assumptions that included Generation Deliverabilty; and Load Deliverability for the following LDA’s: MAAC, Southwest MAAC, Eastern MAAC, PEPCO and Dominion. Additional analysis performed on a 2017 study year case with 2011 RTEP assumptions examined the impacts on the PATH abeyance from Warren Generation, Global Insights load forecast, RPS, at risk generation and State DSR/EE goals. 2011 RTEP analysis suggests that the need for the PATH line has moved several years beyond 2015. Based on these analyses the PJM Board has decided to continue to hold the project in abeyance and requested that the transmission owners suspend development activities. Furthermore the PJM Board has directed staff to perform additional analysis using the 2012 RTEP assumptions and incorporating May RPM base residual auction results.

In honor of this momentous occasion, the li'l Coalfella has dug up some of his trademark stupid comments, just for you:
WV Metro News reports,
"Our energy delivery to customers still remains below 2008 levels,” Colafella told MetroNews. “You're really looking at a situation that's different today than when PATH was originally proposed."

PJM has continued to research the PATH project for the last year, getting updates to determine if things are changing. At this point, Colafella says the answer is "no."

"The landscape today is really no different than where we were a year ago,” he said. “Supply really continues to exceed demand on the electric grid."

Colafella says First Energy and Appalachian Power are following the lead of PJM.

"The companies are not moving forward with the project,” he said. “At this point there aren't any activities that are underway."

Except for that collection of $13M out of your wallet this year.  Li'l Coalfella forgot that "activity."

Looks like our li'l Coalfella isn't so hopeful about his little PATH Project anymore.  Compare the above with the stupid comments he made last year:

"'The investment we’ve already made won’t be lost though, because the project is not lost — just suspended,' Colafella said."

The project is lost.  Get on with the abandonment before your $140M investment is "lost" too.  We're not going away until you do.
4 Comments

AEP CEO Says EPA Caused Rate Increases in WV

2/18/2012

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I think someone handed the Little Drummer Boy the wrong script a couple weeks ago when he sat down with a reporter from the State Journal.

LDB says, "APCO – this territory – has borne the brunt of pretty sizable (rate) increases, and it's mainly due to environmental retrofitting of coal units. Still, the rates are lower than they are in other parts of the country, but that doesn't matter to the people paying the bills. The fact is that we've gotten ahead at APCO, so it should moderate future increases."

He also says that 35% rate increases are "needless."

But last week, AEP's spokes-flack said the rate increases were caused by coal that has already been burned:

"We have already bought the coal, we have already made the power and customers have already used that power," Matheney said. "We're facing this large amount of money that has already been spent."

I'd like to introduce you to

You two should get together some time and get to know each other.

Or, maybe the rate increases are caused by excessive AEP executive salaries

"The first step is for AEP's executive types to take some nice, big pay cuts and share in some of this pain the rest of us are feeling every month when we get their bill. Let that happen first, then we'll talk about selling some bonds."

Or maybe the rate increases are caused by zombies?

2 Comments

Charlie Patton and Billy Mays - Separated at Birth?

2/16/2012

1 Comment

 
Appalachian Power's glad-handing lobbyist was very busy today handing out advertisements for the company's "Consumer Rate Relief Bonds" to legislators.  Why, thanks, we needed some comic relief!

I think Charlie Patton has missed his calling.  He's got a great future on television, pitching Ginsus and Potty Patches* to witless insomniacs at 3 a.m. now that Billy Mays has left the sound stage.

Charlie says, "...we're looking at everything we can to keep costs under control."  Well, everything except Integrated Resource Planning and diversifying generation.  Charlie's version of "everything" includes taking out a mortgage in your name to pay for the cost of the electricity he's supplying you with today.  Charlie also says that, "Securitization is an innovative tool we can use to help mitigate or ELIMINATE increases for the recovery of previously incurred fuel and purchased power costs."  Eliminate?  Does that mean that Charlie doesn't want his $350M of under recovered fuel costs back?  That's awful nice of good ol' Charlie, don't you think?  Charlie wants to sweep your current debt under the rug so that your kids can pay for it 10 years from now when it has a bunch of interest charges tacked on to it.  Why, electricity can be yours today, little Appalachian Power customer, and you can pay for it in 120 easy monthly installments of only one cent each!!

Personally, I'd rather just give Charlie 120 pennies scavenged from underneath my car seats and under my couch cushions today.  How about you?

Something just doesn't add up here... I think it might be those nifty charts on his advertisement.  Charlie thinks that if he can "securitize" your rate increase, it will magically disappear!  It won't though.  That 30 - 40% rate increase will still be hanging over your head, along with all the other future rate increases that you will continue to incur every time you flip that light switch.  Eventually, Charlie's house of cards is going to collapse, and then you're going to be stuck with a gigantic balloon payment to make just to keep your lights on.  Or perhaps the state or federal government will have to bail Appalachian Power's ratepayers out of the financial mess Charlie has made with his magical disappearing rate increase trick.

Charlie doesn't really care what happens to you.  He just wants to avoid any bad PR that may stick to him, his company, the Public Service Commission or your legislators because once again, Appalachian Power's imprudent planning decisions have made electricity cost more than you can afford to pay.  Hiding another big rate increase will not make it go away.


*If you don't have the time or inclination to walk your dog on real grass to do its business, you probably shouldn't have a dog.
1 Comment

Allegheny Energy's Big Project Mountaineer Lie

2/12/2012

5 Comments

 
There are so many power company skeletons rattling around in the closet, it's hard to keep track of them all.  While researching a current project, I came across a mid-2009 article, "Solving the System Overload," in a publication called "WV Executive," which was written by one of Allegheny Energy's henchmen.  When I went to save it, I found that I'd already saved it way back in the fall of 2010, and then forgot about it.  I don't remember what I originally intended to do with it, but the perspective of another 18 months renders the article absolutely hilarious.

Haney is so serious with his propaganda... did people actually drink his KoolAid in 2009?  The article promotes Allegheny Energy's TrAIL and PATH projects and is complete and utter crap.  Projections, "facts" and doomsday claims made in this article never existed in reality, and never came true.  You cannot believe ANYTHING power companies tell you, the evidence is right here.

All that claimed "increased demand" for electricity in the opening paragraphs had petered out long before this article was written, thanks to a tanking economy, increased efficiency and demand resources on the east coast.  Haney knew that when he wrote this propaganda.

TrAIL and PATH were all about increased use of coal to power the east coast.  That much is clear in the article.

"TrAIL will also benefit the West Virginia economy over the long term by expanding markets for local coal and allowing for potential new generation projects, including clean-coal technologies and renewable sources such as wind."

Bet they're not so proud of themselves now...

Haney also touts his astroturf front group, West Virginians for Reliable Power.  Turns out that was all a big, expensive scam that electric consumers paid for.  There was no "coalition" of independent entities, it was a marketing scam engineered and directed by Allegheny Energy and its public relations contractor.  But, go ahead and "see what the coalition is saying" by visiting the website Haney touts in his article.  Real grassroots activists have taken over due to a screw up on the Allegheny Energy end.

Lots of garbage promoting Allegheny Energy's new transmission headquarters in the green box on page 2.  The headquarters was part of the buy off of WV Governor Joe Manchin in exchange for needed approval by the WV-PSC.  It wasn't even finished before FirstEnergy took over and turned it into a "regional headquarters" for their Mon Power subsidiary, though.

How about all those jobs that supposedly flow from construction of one of these transmission lines?  The truth is right here in the article -- those jobs go to specialized contractors from out of state and the "jobs" that the locality benefits from are: 

"The economic impact of the construction activity benefits communities along the line, where local businesses provide lodging, meals, supplies and services for field workers."

So unless those union workers in PA & NJ, who recently testified about how badly they need jobs at the NPS EIS hearings, are members of the Motel6/McDonalds workers' union, there won't be any jobs for them flowing from the Susquehanna-Roseland project either.

Haney promotes PATH by sharing that it will, "...create opportunities to upgrade existing transmission facilities to increase their capacity. The current system is so heavily loaded that it is not possible to take the lengthy outages necessary to re-conductor overburdened lines."

Ooops... that turned out to be an outright lie.  PATH has been "suspended" and Dominion has recently taken Mt. Storm-Doubs out of service while it rebuilds the line, and my lights haven't even blinked.  I'm sure yours haven't either.

“The PATH project is vital to the reliability of the electricity grid serving this region,” says Michael Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. “It is critical that we reinforce the transmission infrastructure to ensure we can continue to supply reliable electrical service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

Mikey, Mikey, Mikey... it wasn't "vital" at all, was it?  It was just another expensive, unneeded boondoggle that AEP has now swept under the rug.  However, I'm sick and tired of continuing to pay for your mistake.  Give up and abandon this white elephant once and for all.
5 Comments

FirstEnergy Accuses PJM of "Arbitrary and Capricious" RTEP Project Selection

2/10/2012

4 Comments

 
Send in the clowns...  In a most delightfully droll display of the pot calling the kettle black, PATH parent company FirstEnergy accuses PJM of selecting and supporting RTEP projects that are unneeded and too expensive. 

What seemingly prompted FirstEnergy's whiny letter to PJM's Board of Managers are certain SVC grid upgrade projects awarded to an independent company.  FirstEnergy gets all territorial because there's money to be made, even though FirstEnergy has shown no prior interest in these projects.  Dominion also gets into the act to steal one of the projects, which were developed by Primary Power over the course of 5 years at a cost to them of $5M.

Ah, we're not too far from the elementary school playground, are we fellas?  Wassa matta... did someone have a better idea than you which could prove to be profitable?  Feeling a little inferior and powerless so you thought you'd steal another company's idea and make money off it?  Silly incumbent transmission owners!

FirstEnergy's accusations ring pretty hollow, after years of subjecting landowners and ratepayers to their unneeded, exorbitantly expensive PATH Project, which was selected by PJM through an arbitrary and capricious process.  PJM's need case kept falling apart, year after year, until they just couldn't continue the charade any longer.

Here are a few unlikely phrases from FirstEnergy's letter.  Substitute "PATH" for "SVC project" and it's clear that FirstEnergy agrees with us -- PJM's planning process is skewed to favor pet projects.  First it was PATH, now it's Primary Power's SVC projects.  That's called Karma, boys!

You can read Primary Power's version of events here.

PJM has rejected or ignored two equally effective and far less expensive alternatives...

...which is more cost-effective and faces fewer construction and permitting risks...

In short, the Rio SVC Project will result in PJM transmission customers bearing substantially excessive and unnecessary costs.

The RTEP produced through this process must "avoid unnecessary duplication of facilities" and "avoid the imposition of unreasonable costs on any Transmission Owner or any user of Transmission Facilities."

PJM is charged with the responsibility to identify and select the most appropriate solutions, whether or not they precisely match those proposed to PJM by project developers. In this instance, PJM failed to discharge and, indeed, abdicated its independent planning responsibility in a manner that appears to be arbitrary and capricious and may be unduly discriminatory...

As explained above, this decision constitutes an abdication of PJM's planning responsibility. Once PJM
determined that an SVC-based solution to the voltage criteria reliability concern was preferable, PJM had a duty
to evaluate and analyze the potential options for installing the required SVCs at locations that would provide an effective solution without producing excessive costs. The apparent failure to do so caused PJM to select an option that is unnecessarily costly, duplicates existing facilities, and may be more risky than alternatives (e.g.,
siting).

...it did not eliminate PJM's responsibility to evaluate alternative solutions to reliability concerns...

PJM's failure to evaluate construction of an SVC at Meadow Brook, and its failure to explain why Primary Power's SVC project is preferable, render inclusion of the Primary Power project in the RTEP indefensible.  FirstEnergy urges the Board of Managers to require PJM to correct this deficiency.
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FirstEnergy Games the Market with Plant Closures

2/3/2012

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The Wall Street Journal reports that FirstEnergy could profit more than $200M from the closure of 6 of its old, coal-fired plants announced last week.

As reported earlier, this is a business decision intended to make more money for FE's stockholders.  Too bad, so sad for the 500 employees who will be in the unemployment line, and also for the towns who depended on these plants as as economic engine.

You'd think that a few of those millions could be parted with to set up programs to ensure that affected employees were given opportunities for equivalent jobs elsewhere, or given the benefit of retraining for equal jobs in another area of the energy industry, such as the booming renewable energy sector.  Transition programs for the affected localities could also be instituted.  Instead, FE is absconding with all that happy cash.

One word.  Karma.


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AEP Plays Shell Game With Generation Assets

2/3/2012

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AEP subsidiaries are "selling" assets to each other in another corporate shell game.  This article says that AEP-Ohio will be selling generation it owns in WV to fellow subsidiary Appalachian Power.  Meanwhile, they fired up their new gas-fired plant located in Ohio, which will be paid for, at least in part, by Appalachian Power customers in WV.  Confused yet?  AEP hopes so!

In this article, the reporter was treated to an explanation of AEP's "power pool" (probably because she asked tougher questions).

What's in neither article is the promised merging of AEP WV sudsidiaries Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power, which was promised to the WV-PSC in AEP's last rate case.

Why all this confusion?  Because Ohio is deregulating generation and AEP is trying to keep their costly generation behemoths in a regulated environment.  In a deregulated, or market-based, market, costly upgrades and other costs of running these plants are wrapped into the cost of the generation bid into market.  In a regulated state, these "extra" costs are covered by ratepayers of subsidiaries who "own" these assets.

Bottom line:  It's all about AEP making even MORE money at your expense!


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PPL thinks NPS is "Filibustering" Susquehanna-Roseland with their EIS Process

2/1/2012

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Despite their recent public posturing, Susquehanna-Roseland project owner PPL has absolutely no respect for the National Park Service or the federal Environmental Impact Statement process.  A December 2011 school project prepared by a Lehigh University student who spent some time at PPL with program director Patrick McMackin contains this quote:  "The park service has responded by filibustering the request by apportioning a 42-month period where they will accept and analyze public comments. Afterwards, public sentiment will factor into the creation of a preferred alternate route and a finalized EIS."

Filibustering?  Is that what PPL calls the NEPA process?  Just an unnecessary obstruction to their get rich quick scheme?  It seems to me that many hardworking, dedicated, ethical NPS personnel have put many, many hours into doing their jobs conscientiously.  Filibustering?

I'm sure PPL will be quick to point fingers at the student and accuse him of taking liberties or making this stuff up, but the truest way to see your own self is always through the eyes of an innocent.  This report is the impression PPL project managers left on this kid.  I guess they mixed a little too much reality into the koolaid they gave him to drink.

Here's a couple of other gems from the report:

  1. "The subject was covered in the North American Electric Reliability report, which concluded a major investment in electric transmission would be essential to “keep pace” with the expected 18% growth in demand."  How old were the statistics they fed this kid anyhow?
  2. "Because the situation will become increasingly
    volatile the longer the delays hold, PPL has stressed the perfection of its Preparedness, Prevention and Contingency (PPC) plan.  Although PPL is responsible for all aspects of permitting, the company cannot ensure total compliance once the instructions reach the contractor.  However, the existence of a well-defined plan covers any responsibility PPL shares in case of litigation."  What does that mean?  The company cannot ensure total compliance?  It means that any violations will be blamed on the contractor and responsible individuals at the contractor level will be "reprimanded," but PPL avoids legal responsibility.  This is exactly how these power companies operate.  We've seen this same behavior with their land agent contractors, who violate all laws and codes of conduct in the interest of getting the job done and the purchase and option agreements signed.  When a violation is reported, the power company pretends to slap the contractor on the wrist, *wink* and avoids all responsibility for the bad behavior, although this same bad behavior has been ordered by the power company.  They put a legal separation between themselves and the contractor in order to avoid responsibility for their own orders to take certain actions.  For its part in this charade, the contractor is paid well.  Is this the kind of for-profit corporation the NPS should allow to perform construction in one of our national parks? 
  3. "Having a well-organized permitting portfolio that is readily accessible lubricates the project and keeps compliance agencies at bay."  So, it's all about showing those rabid compliance agencies that you have all the instructions (not that you necessarily follow them).  It's not about following the rules, but about not getting caught and held responsible for breaking them.
  4. "The biggest concern the SRTP faces (outside of obtaining the overhead construction contract) is people. NIMBY protesters, environmentalists and politicians alike have rallied against the project.  Some have accused PPL and PSEG of being motivated to expand infrastructure and increase transfer capacity in order to increase their market values.  Organizations such as the Sierra Club and Stop the Lines! warn of the health hazards associated with high EMF levels and remind the public of the grotesque size of the towers. The electric commission determines the minimum cable height based on voltage and possible interference. In some instances, the existing line is over 90 years old and does not meet present codes. The public is often unaware of these mandates, and naturally condemns any attempt to increase the tower height. Ironically, all of the pictures comparing
    the size of the proposed monopoles to existing lattice structures do not come from cited sources, and are generally homemade.  The common theme throughout these opinions and complaints is their failure to acknowledge the work PPL has put in to see that the chosen route has a minimal impact on the environment and the community. Route B was chosen because 90% of the route was covered by existing easements. The snowstorm of October 2011 devastated the northeast, leading to 1.6 million power outages.  It took some utility companies over a week to return power to customers. If these blackouts were to become commonplace due to electrical overloading, I would expect the opinions of many of these protesters to reverse."  Those "homemade pictures comparing the size of the proposed towers to the existing" is illustrated by a piece of Sierra Club literature that looks like it was taken from a project Line Routing Evaluation.  Sierra Club didn't make this stuff up!  Kid, spit out that koolaid they gave you to drink, it's poison!
  5. "The industry knew this project was coming for fifteen years. Now one organization (NPS) holds the SRTP back from success. If PPL’s project  management team succeeds in obtaining a
    construction and ROW permit, construction will begin in August 2012. Too much time and money has been consumed to acknowledge any other option."  Fifteen years?  Gee... we've only been able to trace it back to the 2005 Project Mountaineer scam.  The NPS is not "an organization," it's a federal governmental agency tasked with stewarding publicly owned resources and protecting parks from profiteering pirates like PPL.  They aren't "holding PPL back from success," they are doing their jobs under federal law!  And don't bet on that "too big to fail" thing, that's so last decade.
These are the things that PPL told a college student who spent some time with them.  The student didn't make all this stuff up, or "misunderstand" what he was told.  This is the TRUE face of PPL.  Pretty revolting, don't you think?

And... PPL had better NOT take this out on the student or it's going to get worse for them.  Students are like sponges, and this report is what this particular student absorbed at PPL.  The truth hurts!


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    About the Author

    Keryn Newman blogs here at StopPATH WV about energy issues, transmission policy, misguided regulation, our greedy energy companies and their corporate spin.
    In 2008, AEP & Allegheny Energy's PATH joint venture used their transmission line routing etch-a-sketch to draw a 765kV line across the street from her house. Oooops! And the rest is history.

    About
    StopPATH Blog

    StopPATH Blog began as a forum for information and opinion about the PATH transmission project.  The PATH project was abandoned in 2012, however, this blog was not.

    StopPATH Blog continues to bring you energy policy news and opinion from a consumer's point of view.  If it's sometimes snarky and oftentimes irreverent, just remember that the truth isn't pretty.  People come here because they want the truth, instead of the usual dreadful lies this industry continues to tell itself.  If you keep reading, I'll keep writing.


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