NEW TRANSMISSION PRICING

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has unveiled a new transmission pricing policy. Of the five principles announced by the regulators, one is especially welcome -- it requires a utility to offer independents the same rate for use of its transmission system as when the utility uses the system itself. Meanwhile, Southern California Edison is one utility joining two of America's first voluntary regional electric transmission groups, the Western Regional Transmission Association and the Southwest Regional Transmission Group. The utility says the groups, approved by federal regulators on October 26, are an important step towards an increasingly competitive market place as they address the need for co-ordinated transmission access and planning.