Fixes

Rather than “blaming just about everyone and everything” for thereliability problems of the electric transmission grid, SenateEnergy Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) urged Energy Secretary BillRichardson to take “immediate and meaningful action” to address thesituation in the short term, while Congress tries to work out alonger term solution.

House Commerce Committee Chairman Thomas J. Bliley (R-VA) saysthat while the short-term fixes approved by FERC last week toprevent power outages this summer are laudable, he doubts they’llbe effective.

Although FERC’s recent effort to clarify its interconnectionpolicy was a “major step” in the right direction, the ElectricPower Supply Association (EPSA) last week said greater reforms wereneeded to protect new generators seeking to interconnect to thepower grid. It asked the Commission to issue a policy statementthat would “comprehensively” spell out “the rights, obligations andexpectations” of interconnecting generators and providers ofinterconnection/transmission services.

Although FERC’s recent effort to clarify its interconnectionpolicy was a “major step” in the right direction, the ElectricPower Supply Association (EPSA) said greater reforms are needed toprotect new generators seeking to interconnect to the power grid.It has asked the Commission to issue a policy statement that would”comprehensively” spell out “the rights, obligations andexpectations” of interconnecting generators and providers ofinterconnection/transmission services.

Rep. Robert Franks (R-NJ) told natural gas executives yesterdaythe Pipeline Safety Act of 1995, which is up for reauthorization inCongress this year, has been a success story so far and that hedoesn’t think it should be changed.