The U.S. power grid faces the risk of blackouts over the next 10 years because of rising peak power demand, generator retirements and questions about the reliability of renewables and natural gas delivery systems, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) said Wednesday (Dec. 13). “Environmental regulations and energy policies that are overly rigid and…
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Articles from Nerc
U.S. Natural Gas, Electric Resources Said Ready for ‘Normal’ Winter, but Concerns Remain about Cold Snaps
Natural gas market fundamentals are aligned for adequate supply under normal winter conditions, but extreme cold snaps could threaten infrastructure across portions of the United States, federal regulators have warned. FERC and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) earlier this month issued the 2023-2024 Winter Energy Market and Electric Reliability Assessment. Citing adequate storage…
FERC, NERC Caution Against Closing Everett LNG Import Terminal in New England
The potential closure of the Everett LNG import terminal in New England next year could jeopardize the reliability and affordability of the region’s energy supplies, FERC and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) warned in a joint statement. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Willie Phillips and NERC CEO James Robb expressed concerns over the…
Federal Regulators Urge Enhanced Winterization Standards for Natural Gas, Electricity Systems
The energy sector remains vulnerable to extreme cold weather and must remain steadfast in implementing the previous recommendations outlined by federal regulators to shore up reliability, particularly those addressing the interdependence of natural gas and electricity. In a final report published Tuesday on Winter Storm Elliott, which ravaged the U.S. East Coast and whose impacts…
Transmission Operators Facing New Rules by FERC, NERC for Extreme Weather Events
Federal energy regulators have finalized rules targeting the bulk power system’s reliability against extreme weather events that pose an “unacceptable risk to life and economic harm.” Under the rule, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) would develop reliability standards for transmission organizations to prepare for extreme weather events “for the first time,” said FERC…
U.S. ‘Well Supplied’ for Summer Natural Gas Demand, with Lower Prices, Says NERC
An estimated two-thirds of the people living across wide swaths of the United States and parts of Canada are facing elevated risks from “insufficient operating reserves” for power generation this summer, as extreme heat and maintenance disruptions breach an abundance of natural gas supply, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC). In its…
Federal Approval of Electric Utility Cybersecurity Investment Recovery Leaves Natural Gas Infrastructure in the Cold
Federal regulators last week determined that electric utilities could recover cybersecurity investments when designing rate structures, but disregarded calls to extend the favor to natural gas pipelines. The FERC ruling stems from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s (IIJA) direction for federal agencies to secure energy infrastructure against all physical and cyber threats (No. RM22-19-000). …
FERC OKs Extreme Weather Measures, to Review New England Natural Gas Challenges
FERC last week approved new reliability standards to enhance grid reliability during extreme weather events such as Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. Two years after Uri’s rampage across the U.S. South, during which hundreds died from hypothermia following blackouts that affected millions, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission implemented enhanced cold weather preparedness plans, generator…
Democrat Willie Phillips Tapped as FERC’s Acting Chair as Glick Steps Down
Democrat Willie L. Phillips, who joined FERC in late 2021, on Tuesday was named by President Biden to take over as acting chairman with Richard Glick’s departure. Phillips is taking the reins of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which now is split with two Democrats and two Republicans. The Senate failed to advance the renomination…
Winter Storm Elliott Triggers Inquiry by FERC, NERC into Power System Operations
Federal energy regulators on Wednesday launched an inquiry into bulk power systems operations during the extreme weather conditions during Winter Storm Elliott. FERC, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and NERC’s regional entities said the joint inquiry would review the “severe cold weather” last weekend that “contributed to power outages affecting millions of electricity…