Ferc unveils new market rules

The standard market design announced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Ferc) in August will reduce electricity costs to consumers and prevent a repeat of the California energy crisis, says the US interstate energy regulator.

But the plan has met with opposition from state utility regulators, some of which have expressed concern about what they say is an increasing trend towards central control of electricity markets.

The market design proposes creating a single tariff for all regional