Users prod FERC to encourage electricity wheeling

Some users urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to encourage or require utilities to transmit user-owned power draw parallels with the natural gas industry. Utilities contend that wheeling in this way does not necessarily improve system-wide efficiency, and can threaten reliability, although all agree that excess capacity should be moved to areas of less efficient generation or capacity need. Legislation giving FERC authority to order wheeling for customers could increase rates to remaining customers who cannot shop around.