The president of the North American Electric Reliability Corp. told federal regulators Oct. 21 that while the reliability of the electricity grid has been high, challenges are increasing, and “the risk to reliability continues to mount.”
At one point in his testimony to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, that executive, Jim Robb, said, “We’re seeing an increasing number of small-scale events and near misses that continue to reinforce what we can’t call anything but a five-alarm fire when it comes to reliability.”
The North American Electric Reliability Corp. is a nonprofit based in Atlanta whose mission, according to its website, “is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid.”
FERC Commissioner Judy Chang warned that the risks and uncertainties around energy issues are “coming to a head.” She spoke of growing imbalances between supply and demand amid uncertainty about load requirements and how much generation and transmission must be built to handle it.
Speakers at the hearing emphasized the importance of planning and collaboration. They also spoke of the need for speed in the response. Their message was clear: The U.S. needs to build energy infrastructure more quickly.
Experts gave testimony that centered on a need for a united front on meeting the challenges. As regional transmission operators like PJM Interconnection, which serves New Jersey among other states, need to institute reforms, so do states need to improve their ability to site transmission infrastructure and increase the pace of permitting.
Embedded in the discussion was an awareness of cost. FERC Commissioner Lindsay See said facing the challenges will be expensive. She added that the U.S. is “reaching a point where bills are becoming incredibly difficult for people across the country.”
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
