Duke met the protocol, says federal agency

A proactive measure move by Duke Energy satisfied an emergency protocol, in the estimation of “FERC”–the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  After the Greenville-Spartanburg National Weather Service office predicted 3-4 inches of rain in the Lake Keowee watershed, Duke lowered the lake level.  The Maintenance and Emergency Protocol attached to the Keowee-Toxaway license allows Duke to reduce reservoir levels for high-inflow events.  In this case, climate data showed a 2.53-inch rain on December 14 and 15 in the Greenville-Spartanburg area.  “FERC” official Holly Frank, in a letter to Duke’s Jeff Lineberger, said, “Based on our review of the available information, the increased maximum weekly release of the LIP (Low Inflow Protocol) was in response to the forecast high inflow at Lake Keowee and is permissible as a mitigation action….”