The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) published a combined notice of filings on January 5, 2026, in the Federal Register, detailing submissions received in late December 2025. This notice covers a range of electric utility matters, from self-certifications of exempt wholesale generators to triennial market power analyses and proposed rate changes. Issued under the Department of Energy, the document lists docket numbers, applicants, filing descriptions, dates, and public comment deadlines, highlighting routine yet critical regulatory activities that shape the nation's energy landscape. These filings underscore FERC's role in overseeing interstate electricity transmission and wholesale sales, ensuring fair competition and reliable service amid growing renewable integration and market evolution. With comment periods extending into January and February 2026, stakeholders have opportunities to influence outcomes that could affect energy prices, grid stability, and industry compliance.
Exempt Wholesale Generator Certifications
One key filing in the notice is from Ostrea Solar, LLC, under docket EG26-118-000, submitted on December 30, 2025. The company seeks self-certification as an exempt wholesale generator (EWG), a status granted under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005. EWGs are facilities that sell electricity exclusively at wholesale and are exempt from certain regulatory requirements, provided they meet criteria like not owning transmission facilities. This certification allows entities like Ostrea Solar to operate without full public utility oversight, facilitating quicker market entry for renewable projects. In context, solar developers often pursue EWG status to streamline operations in competitive markets. No other EWG filings appear in this notice, but this one aligns with broader trends in clean energy expansion, as seen in recent FERC approvals for similar solar and storage projects.
Triennial Market Power Analyses
The notice includes two significant triennial market power updates, required under FERC Order No. 697 to prevent anti-competitive behavior in wholesale electricity markets. First, Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley Energy Structuring, LLC filed under dockets ER10-2906-023 and ER19-1716-011 on December 29, 2025, for the Northwest region. These analyses assess whether sellers have market power that could lead to unjust rates, involving metrics like pivotal supplier tests and market share evaluations. Similarly, New England Power Company and affiliates, including National Grid entities, submitted under multiple dockets like ER11-2557-006 on December 23, 2025, for the Northeast region. These filings are essential for maintaining market-based rate authority, where FERC reviews data every three years. Background shows that failures in these analyses have led to rate mitigations, as in the 2019 case involving Duke Energy in the Southeast. Key players here include financial firms like Morgan Stanley, which trade energy commodities, and utilities like National Grid, which operate in densely populated areas with high demand.
Rate and Tariff Adjustments
A substantial portion of the notice addresses electric rate filings under Section 205 of the Federal Power Act, which allows utilities to propose changes to rates, terms, and conditions. For instance, PJM Interconnection, LLC filed under ER26-899-000 on December 29, 2025, revising Schedule 12 of its Open Access Transmission Tariff to update 2026 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP) cost allocations, effective January 1, 2024—a retroactive date likely tied to prior approvals. PJM, a regional transmission organization managing the grid for 13 states and the District of Columbia, uses these allocations to distribute costs for infrastructure upgrades fairly among users. Another notable entry is from ISO New England Inc. and the New England Power Pool Participants Committee under ER26-912-000, filed December 30, 2025, proposing revisions to establish a prompt capacity market and deactivation framework, effective March 1, 2026. This aims to address capacity shortages by allowing faster procurement and managing plant retirements, building on FERC's 2020 reforms to enhance resource adequacy.
Several filings involve facilities use agreements and concurrences, such as those from Daylight II, LLC (ER26-900-000) and affiliates like EdSan 2 Solar Storage, LLC (ER26-902-000), all effective February 28, 2026. These agreements govern shared infrastructure for solar and storage projects, reflecting the rise of hybrid renewable systems. Compliance filings, like those from Hunterstown Generation, LLC under ER18-1918-007 and others, implement settlement rates from prior disputes, ensuring tariff accuracy. Entergy Arkansas, LLC's submissions (ER26-908-000 and ER26-914-000) cover local balancing authority agreements and interconnections, crucial for integrating new generation into the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region.
Compliance and Infrastructure Filings
Compliance-related submissions form another cluster, emphasizing regulatory adherence. Kestrel Acquisition, LLC's filings under ER18-1918-007 and ER18-1918-008, dated December 30, 2025, update tariff records for Hunterstown Generation to reflect settlement rates effective from mid-2024 and January 2025. These stem from FERC-mediated settlements, a common resolution mechanism for rate disputes. Horizon West Transmission, LLC's ER26-910-000 filing updates its Transmission Revenue Balancing Account Adjustment (TRBAA) for 2026, a mechanism to reconcile projected and actual revenues in the California ISO market. Such annual updates prevent over- or under-recovery, promoting financial stability for transmission owners.
Filings like American Transmission Systems, Incorporated's ER26-905-000 amend interconnection agreements, facilitating new connections to the grid. PJM's ER26-920-000 seeks to cancel a generation interconnection agreement, potentially due to project abandonment, while ER26-921-000 amends another. These actions highlight the dynamic nature of grid planning, influenced by economic factors and policy shifts toward decarbonization.
Perspectives and Implications
Stakeholders offer varied views on these filings. Industry groups like the Edison Electric Institute often support streamlined certifications to boost investment, while consumer advocates, such as those from Public Citizen, scrutinize market power analyses to guard against rate hikes. Environmental organizations may favor solar-related filings for advancing clean energy goals, but critics argue that rapid expansions could strain grid reliability without adequate storage. Short-term implications include potential adjustments to wholesale rates and capacity prices, affecting utilities and end-users. Long-term, these could influence energy transition efforts, especially with FERC's ongoing reviews of transmission planning under Order No. 1920.
In summary, this FERC notice captures a snapshot of regulatory activity essential for maintaining competitive and reliable electricity markets. Potential next steps involve public comments, which could lead to hearings or modifications. Ongoing debates center on balancing market efficiency with affordability, particularly as renewables grow. Challenges include adapting to climate-driven demand and navigating political pressures on energy policy, setting the stage for further FERC actions in 2026.
