CPUC Looks at Whether QFs Are Meeting Obligations.(California Public Utilities Commission, qualified facilities)(Brief Article)

SAN FRANCISCO--The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced in April that it would look into whether qualified facilities (QFs) are fulfilling their obligations under their contractual agreements.

QFs, which account for about one-fourth of the state's power capacity, are small power plants, alternative generation facilities, and cogeneration plants that have been granted privilege under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to provide electricity to utilities under contracts and rates established and approved by state commissions.

The QFs, which are owed millions of dollars by bankrupt Pacific Gas and Electric and financially troubled Southern California Edison, say that those unpaid bills have forced them to defer needed maintenance, leading to equipment breakdowns and reduced electricity output. Others say they simply can't afford to keep operating.

The question has arisen ...