People's counsel asks feds to investigate power auctions

More than 40 organizations nationwide, including Maryland's advocate for electricity customers, have asked federal regulators to investigate "deep systemic problems" in power auctions that they say drive up residential customers' bills.

Auctions overseen by regional power grids have contributed to higher costs for residential and commercial customers, according to the filing that asks the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to take a new look at the markets run by the PJM Interconnection and other grids. FERC is already exploring ways to reform power markets, but critics said the investigation's scope is too narrow.

"In the...