The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) and a broad-based coalition of electric industry and state organizations urged members of Congress and other key energy officials to support prompt passage of federal legislation to promote and ensure the continued reliability of high-voltage electric transmission systems in the United States and throughout North America.

In letters to DOE Secretary Spencer Abraham, congressional energy leaders and FERC Chairman Curt Hebert, the coalition stated “it is critically important for Congress to act on reliability legislation as soon as possible.

“It will take many months after legislation is enacted for FERC to adopt implementing rules and designate the new electric reliability organization that the legislation provides for. In the meantime, consumers are exposed to increased risk of failure of the transmission grid as more and more demands are placed upon it.”

For three decades, NERC and its member regional reliability councils have worked cooperatively and voluntarily to set reliability standards for high-voltage transmission systems so that customers could enjoy reliable electric service. As electricity markets become increasingly competitive, this voluntary arrangement will no longer suffice and needs to be transformed into a mandatory system to assure a continued reliable supply of electricity to America’s homes and businesses,” NERC said.

“Congress must act soon on reliability legislation,” said Michehl R. Gent, NERC president and CEO. “Enacting this legislation now is an important step to ensure the continued reliability of the nation’s high-voltage electricity system, and one that should not wait.”

Signing the letter were the North American Electric Reliability Council, American Public Power Assoc., Canadian Electricity Assoc., Edison Electric Institute, IEEE-USA, Large Public Power Council, National Assoc. of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, National Assoc. of State Energy Officials, National Assoc. of State Utility Consumer Advocates, National Electrical Manufacturers Assoc., National Rural Electric Cooperative Assoc., Northwest Regional Transmission Assoc., Transmission Access Policy Study Group and the Western Interconnection Coordination Forum.

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