2009 New York State Energy Plan-Interim Report

http://www.nysenergyplan.com/presentations/NYS%20Energy%20Plan%20-%20Interim%20Report%20-%20March%2031%202009-web.pdf

These reports are always short on details:

Hints of expanding the transmission system are included.

"Physical and operational limitations. Currently, the bulk transmission system in New York can move about 3,050 megawatts of power between the western and northern portion of the State into the Hudson Valley and can move about 5,150 megawatts from the lower Hudson Valley into New York City and Long Island. There is insufficient transmission to move all the available power from upstate New York, Ontario, Quebec and New England at all times to the major load centers in New York. Given the concentrated load in New York City and Long Island, these areas are subject to locational capacity requirements.11 New York City needs to maintain generation resources within the City equal to at least 79 percent of its peak load and Long Island must maintain generation resources equal to at least 97 percent of its peak load to ensure reliability. Increased transmission into either of these areas could reduce these locational requirements. "

"Given that market and public policy demands are likely to place a premium on the capabilities of the State’s high-voltage transmission grid over the planning horizon and beyond, the 2009 Energy Plan will suggest steps that can be taken toward its expansion and modernization."

"For example, certain customers within a 30-mile radius of the Niagara facility qualify for an allocation of Niagara hydropower that has, for decades, been priced at approximately 1.07 cents per kilowatt-hour."

Exactly which "certain customers" are getting NYPA electricity? I hope whoever is getting electricity at 1 cent per kw-hr is not wasting it because it's so cheap. Upstate New York should have requested a similar deal when the Marcy-South transmission line was built.

I think there needs to be much more transparency as to who is paying what price. There's tons of data on NYISO's site, but the basic info is hidden.