Lawmakers Ask FERC Commissioners to Respond to Questions on Grid Reliability

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
May 3, 2023

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Energy, Climate and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) recently sent a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Commissioners asking the agency to respond to a series of questions related to grid reliability.

The lawmakers asked FERC Commissioners to comment on whether they believe the current Regional Transmission Organizations or Independent System Operators are the best mechanism to provide reliable electricity.

The Commissioners were also asked whether they think current market rules allow dispatchable, on-demand generation resources the opportunity to recover sufficient revenues to continue to operate in the RTOs/ISOs? “If so, which rules? If not, would you recommend FERC direct RTOs/ISOs to implement such rules?”

The letter also included the following questions:

• How do RTOs/ISOs compare to traditionally regulated regions in terms of electric reliability? Please provide specific data.
• What policies, whether federal, state, or market rules, prevent sufficient resource adequacy in RTOs/ISOs necessary to power the grid 24/7/365 regardless of the weather?
• Gas power generators are not required to procure firm gas transportation in RTO/ISO markets. How will the Commission ensure that market design adequately compensates natural gas generators for the reliability benefits of firm natural gas transportation?

The chairmen asked that FERC respond by May 10, 2023.