The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) published its Combined Notice of Filings #1 on February 10, 2026, in Volume 91 of the Federal Register. This notice aggregates recent submissions related to electric corporate activities, rate schedules, and securities authorizations. Issued by the Department of Energy, the document covers filings from January 29 to February 4, 2026, and invites public intervention or protests by specified deadlines, typically 5 p.m. Eastern Time in late February. Such notices are routine mechanisms for transparency in energy regulation, allowing stakeholders to engage with proposals that could affect electricity markets, transmission, and consumer rates. The significance lies in FERC's role as the overseer of interstate electricity sales and wholesale rates, ensuring compliance with the Federal Power Act (FPA) and promoting competitive markets.
Overview of Electric Corporate Filings
This section of the notice highlights a single corporate filing under Docket EC26-56-000. Atlas Solar V, LLC and Atlas Solar VI, LLC submitted a joint application for authorization under Section 203 of the FPA. Section 203 requires FERC approval for mergers, acquisitions, or dispositions of jurisdictional facilities to prevent anti-competitive outcomes. The applicants, likely solar energy developers, seek permission for a transaction involving their assets. Filed on January 30, 2026, with comments due by February 20, this filing underscores the growing integration of renewable energy into regulated markets. Background on Section 203 traces to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which strengthened FERC's merger review to assess impacts on competition, rates, and regulation. Key players here include the applicants and potentially upstream owners in the solar sector, where consolidation has accelerated amid clean energy transitions.
Electric Rate Filings and Compliance Updates
The bulk of the notice addresses electric rate filings under Section 205 of the FPA, which allows utilities to propose rate changes subject to FERC review for justness and reasonableness. Several dockets involve compliance with prior FERC orders, such as Order 898 and Order 904, which pertain to transmission planning and cost allocation. For instance, in ER26-1261-000, Prairie Wind Transmission LLC, in conjunction with Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP), filed revisions to its formula rate to align with Order 898, effective April 6, 2026. SPP, a regional transmission organization (RTO), manages grid operations across multiple states, and this update aims to refine cost recovery mechanisms.
Other notable rate filings include ER26-1257-000, where SPP proposed revisions to Attachment AE of its tariff to update the congestion management process, also effective April 6, 2026. Congestion management addresses grid bottlenecks that can raise electricity prices. In ER26-1258-000, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) requested a temporary waiver of Section 26.4.2.2.1 of its Market Administration and Control Area Services Tariff to adjust import credit requirements for day-ahead bids, filed January 30, 2026, with comments due February 20. NYISO oversees New York's wholesale electricity market, and this waiver seeks to mitigate calculation issues that could hinder market participation.
Compliance filings feature prominently, such as ER25-3331-002 from SPP clarifying inappropriate bidding strategies for External Energy Storage Load (EESL), effective August 31, 2025, and ER26-653-001 from Avista Corporation amending its filing to comply with Order 904, effective March 20, 2025. These reflect FERC's emphasis on market integrity, drawing from precedents like FERC's rules on energy storage integration from Order 841 (2018), which mandated RTOs to accommodate storage resources. Perspectives vary: utilities argue such changes ensure fair cost recovery, while consumer advocates may scrutinize potential rate increases. For example, Evergy companies' filings in ER26-1262-000 and ER26-1263-000 revise formula rates under Order 898, potentially affecting customers in Kansas and Missouri.
Additional rate-related submissions include generator interconnection agreements (GIAs) in PJM Interconnection's dockets ER26-1255-000 and ER26-1256-000, effective January 5, 2026. PJM, another RTO, facilitates connections for new power projects, aligning with FERC's pro-competition stance in Order 2003 on interconnection standards. A refund report in ER26-160-000 from SPP and a supplement in ER26-629-000 from Cartwright Solar II LLC further illustrate routine adjustments in renewable integration.
Electric Securities Filings
The notice includes one securities filing under Docket ES26-29-000. Upper Peninsula Power Company applied for authorization under Section 204 of the FPA to issue securities. Section 204 governs utilities' ability to secure financing for operations, requiring FERC to confirm that issuances do not impair financial integrity or harm public interest. Filed January 30, 2026, with comments due February 20, this request likely supports infrastructure investments in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Historical context includes FERC's oversight to prevent excessive debt that could lead to higher rates, as seen in past cases where approvals hinged on demonstrating sound financial health.
Broader Implications and Stakeholder Perspectives
These filings collectively highlight trends in energy regulation, including renewable expansion, grid modernization, and compliance with evolving FERC directives. Short-term implications involve potential rate adjustments and market rule tweaks that could influence wholesale prices. For instance, SPP's congestion updates may improve efficiency in the central U.S., while NYISO's waiver addresses immediate market frictions. Long-term, they contribute to FERC's goals under the FPA to foster reliable and affordable energy, amid pressures from climate policies and technological shifts.
Different perspectives emerge: industry groups like the Edison Electric Institute often support streamlined approvals to encourage investment, citing benefits to grid resilience. In contrast, public interest organizations, such as the Sierra Club, may advocate for scrutiny to ensure environmental considerations, particularly in solar and wind-related filings. Regulators balance these by evaluating filings against statutory criteria, without favoring outcomes.
In summary, FERC's notice serves as a snapshot of dynamic regulatory activity, with filings accessible via the Commission's eLibrary for public review.
