The Southeast RTO orders are out and have followed through with what we exp= ected from the discussion at the FERC meeting.
The SPP and Entergy RTO proposals have been rejected because they fail to s= atisfy the scope and configuration requirements of Order No.
2000.
The Com= mission  notes that the required discussions between SPP and Entergy and it= s neighboring RTO/TOs has led to no increase in the original scope and conf= iguration.
The filings by SPP and Entergy were brief, indicating only a la= ck of interest by other RTOs or utilities in joining to enlarge scope; they=  failed to specify any details of the talks, what changes could be made or = what could be fixed to accomodate combination with other RTOs.
The order s= tates that the Commission favors the development of large, regional transmi= ssion organizations reflecting natural markets.
The Commission indicates t= hat they favor four RTOs - NE, SE, MW and West.
Therefore the order requir= es the participants in SPP and Entergy to participate in settlement discuss= ions as set out in the mediation order.
Note that these meetings will star= t next Tuesday, July 17 before a FERC ALJ.
The Southern Company RTO is also found by the FERC to fail the scope charac= teristics of Order No.
2000.
The order finds that Southern's approach to f= ocus on MOUs and seams issues with its neighbors is inadequate.
The order = states, "We reiterate: the Commission's goal is to have a single RTO in the=  Southeast, and to have that single RTO operational as soon as possible."
= The Commission recognizes that start-up costs in forming a larger RTO may b= e more, but that over the longer term, large RTOs will foster market develo= pment, will provide increased reliability and will result in lower wholesal= e electricity prices.
The order therefore directs the parties to the media= tion as stated above.
The Grid South participants are also directed to the mediation which is sta= rting on next Tuesday.
It is a lengthier order with more details on other = aspects of RTOs, including Independent Board requirement, congestion managm= ent, interconnection procedures, planning process and CBM.
Therefore, I am=  attaching a summary of the order.
One of the important findings of the or= der is that GridSouth is not sufficiently independent; the Applicant TOs ar= e making policy decisions that should be made by an independent board.
The= refore, the order requires GridSouth to install an independent board and fi= le a compliance filing within 90 days.
If anyone wants copies of the orders, let me know.

RTO Orders - Grid South, SE Trans, SPP and Entergy
The Southeast RTO orders are out and have followed through with what we exp= ected from the discussion at the FERC meeting.
The SPP and Entergy RTO proposals have been rejected because they fail to s= atisfy the scope and configuration requirements of Order No.
<NUMBER>.
The Com= mission notes that the required discussions between SPP and Entergy and it= s neighboring RTO/TOs has led to no increase in the original scope and conf= iguration.
The filings by SPP and Entergy were brief, indicating only a la= ck of interest by other RTOs or utilities in joining to enlarge scope; they= failed to specify any details of the talks, what changes could be made or = what could be fixed to accomodate combination with other RTOs.
The order s= tates that the Commission favors the development of large, regional transmi= ssion organizations reflecting natural markets.
The Commission indicates t= hat they favor four RTOs - NE, SE, MW and West.
Therefore the order requir= es the participants in SPP and Entergy to participate in settlement discuss= ions as set out in the mediation order.
Note that these meetings will star= t next Tuesday, July <NUMBER> before a FERC ALJ.
The Southern Company RTO is also found by the FERC to fail the scope charac= teristics of Order No.
<NUMBER>.
The order finds that Southern's approach to f= ocus on MOUs and seams issues with its neighbors is inadequate.
The order = states, "We reiterate: the Commission's goal is to have a single RTO in the= Southeast, and to have that single RTO operational as soon as possible."
= The Commission recognizes that start-up costs in forming a larger RTO may b= e more, but that over the longer term, large RTOs will foster market develo= pment, will provide increased reliability and will result in lower wholesal= e electricity prices.
The order therefore directs the parties to the media= tion as stated above.
The Grid South participants are also directed to the mediation which is sta= rting on next Tuesday.
It is a lengthier order with more details on other = aspects of RTOs, including Independent Board requirement, congestion managm= ent, interconnection procedures, planning process and CBM.
Therefore, I am= attaching a summary of the order.
One of the important findings of the or= der is that GridSouth is not sufficiently independent; the Applicant TOs ar= e making policy decisions that should be made by an independent board.
The= refore, the order requires GridSouth to install an independent board and fi= le a compliance filing within <NUMBER> days.
If anyone wants copies of the orders, let me know.
reflecting natural utilities joining enlarge fail atisfy scope talks changes fixed discuss ions iguration filings southeast rto orders conf recognizes start costs requires gridsouth install