On Thursday, November 19, the Illinois Commerce Commission will host a Planning for the Future Policy Session to explore the issues surrounding 2015-2016 Winter Preparedness and Resource Adequacy.
The meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Main Hearing Room at the ICC’s Chicago office, 160 North LaSalle, Suite C-800. In addition, there will be an audio stream of the meeting on the Commission’s website, www.icc.illinois.gov.
The Policy Session will be hosted by Commissioner Sherina E. Maye-Edwards and include ICC Commissioners and staff, consumer advocates, and representatives from the gas industry, regional transmission organizations (RTOs), and Illinois local distribution companies (LDCs).
The Session will consist of two parts. The morning will feature discussions on meeting the upcoming winter demand and include questions such as:
• How is the U.S. Natural Gas Market positioned to meet the 2015-2016 winter demand?

•Have appropriate adjustments been made in the coordination between gas and electricity markets to avoid some of the problems experienced in the past?
• What challenges are RTOs facing with respect to assuring electric reliability during the 2015-2016 winter months and how are they addressing those challenges?
• Have the LDCs been able to refill gas storage facilities or otherwise assure access to supply for the 2015-2016 winter?
• How have the pipelines addressed issues such as transmission pipeline operating restrictions?
The second part of the meeting will address Resource Adequacy in the Ameren Illinois footprint.
“MISO’s goal to ensure enough capacity is available to meet the needs of all consumers in the MISO footprint during peak times at just and reasonable rates are critical. With diminishing excess supply and the narrow timing of the MISO Planning Resource Auction, I believe this is the right time to explore this issue in greater detail,” said Commissioner Maye-Edwards.