Because of the energy bill …
As EEI testified at today’s Energy Committee oversight hearing, with proper implementation of the Energy Policy Act’s reliability provisions, American consumers will have increased confidence that every time they flip the switch, the lights will turn on.
The Commission is on track to bring about historic changes in our nation’s electric utility industry as we transition to a mandatory reliability compliance system. FERC hopes to certify the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) as the Electric Reliability Organization – the entity that will be responsible for ensuring the reliability and security of the nation’s bulk power system – by this summer. The Commission is also considering the 102 reliability standards proposed by NERC to strengthen the nation’s grid and will do so via an open and inclusive stakeholder process. FERC will soon turn to the establishment of Regional Reliability Entities in order to provide for regional differences and unique features of specific systems.