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Resources for Understanding Electric Power Reliability
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Electric Reliability in the News
- Investigation by the City of New York into the Northwest Queens July 2006 Power Outages. March 2, 2007.
- Blackout in South Africa
- Blackout in Victoria, Australia.
- New York Public Service Commission Report on Con Ed.
- Recent Markets-related News
- Cracking the Bottlenecks: Act Spurs Buildup of Transmission Corridors. EnergyBiz Magazine.
- Minnesota Wind Integration Study Final Report and Presentation. Minn. Public Utilities Commission. Dec. 13, 2006.
- Comments invited on FERC Staff Preliminary Assessment of NERC’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Reliability Standards by February 12, 2007.
- Offshoring: Implications for the Engineering Workforce and Profession. Presentation at the NAE Workshop on the Offshoring of Engineering. Oct. 24, 2006.
- FERC Finalizes Electric Transmission Siting Rule. Nov. 16, 2006.
- NERC Issues 2006/2007 Winter Assessment [Press Release] [Report]
- IESO and The Weather Network Launch Exciting New Online Initiative. IESO. Nov. 16, 2006. (See the Weather Network's power consumption page)
- US Department of Energy
- Power crunch could lead to lots more lines. USA Today. Nov. 9, 2006.
- 2006 U.S. Electric Utility Industry Survey. Black and Veatch. Investor-owned utilities view service reliability as the No. 1 issue; electric infrastructure as No. 2, and the aging workforce as No. 3. Municipals view aging workforce as their No. 1 concern, reliability as No. 2. Nov. 6, 2006.
- U.S Electric Transmission System Shows Its Age. Fitch. October 31, 2006.
- Sir Nicolas Stern's Report on the Economics of Climate Change. Oct. 30, 2006.NPR Interview of Sir Stern.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
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Con Ed to study underground grid system. Staten Island Advance. Nov. 3, 2006.
- U.S Electric Transmission System Shows Its Age. Fitch. October 31, 2006.
- Sir Nicolas Stern's Report on the Economics of Climate Change. Oct. 30, 2006. NPR Interview of Sir Stern.
- Wind Generation
- ISO New England's Annual Assessment Stresses Need for Continued System Enhancements. Oct. 26, 2006.
- Energy Trends and Technologies for the Coming Decades (webcast best viewed in IE | slides). Energy Institute at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Presentation by Dr. Steven Koonin, Chief Scientist, BP. Oct. 17, 2006.
- NERC Issues First Reliability Assessment as the ERO — Calls for Action
- U.S. Department of Energy Releases Strategic Plan to Address Energy Challenges.
- U.S. - Canada Power System Outage Task Force "Final Report on the Implementation of Task Force Recommendations." Sep. 2006.
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Implementing the Energy Policy Act of 2005
- Circuit breaker fire in the 220,000 volt power yard causes biggest blackout in SW Australia. The Standard. Oct. 24, 2006.
- Hawaii Hikes Quake Damage Estimate. Consumeraffairs.com. Oct. 25, 2006.
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Electrical worries looming - Utility execs fret about the future. Denver Post. Oct. 22, 2006.
- Power agency to upgrade system in response to Bryan/College Station blackout. theeagle.com. Oct. 22, 2006.
- A grid for the 21st century. timesunion.com. Oct. 22, 2006. Gary Davidson, a spokesman for the New York PSC, said the issue of rising outage times is of special concern to the commission, which believes the trend is due to retirements among an aging, experienced work force at the utilities, leaving less experienced workers to handle what is a difficult job. "It's something that we are focusing on and trying to address," Davidson said.
- Automated system cut power to all. The Honolulu Advertiser. Oct. 16, 2006.
- Competitive Era Fails to Shrink Electric Bills. New York Times. Oct. 15, 2006.
- Con Edison Releases 600-Page Report on Northwest Queens Outage. Con Ed. Oct. 12, 2006.
- AEP to form joint venture for Texas transmission opportunities. AEP. Oct. 12, 2006.
- Reliability Standards Workshop. Oct. 19 and 20. Dallas. NERC.
- New Thinking in Regulation. Commissioner Sam Irvin, IV. Chair, NARUC Electricity Committee.
- U.S. - Canada Power System Outage Task Force "Final Report on the Implementation of Task Force Recommendations." Sep. 2006.
- Security and Assurance of the North American Energy System.Downloadable videos of equipment failures (transformer explosion, pole fire, high voltage arc during switching operation). Note: please submit your own videos of equipment failures to share with the power community!
- Power Outage Affected Thousands In Brazos Valley (text and video). Oct. 4, 2006.
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ComEd Restores Nearly 400,000 Customers Since Monday Storms. ComEd. Oct. 4, 2006.
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Operations Problem Causes Amtrak Delay. The Star Ledger. Oct. 4, 2006.
- Downloadable videos of equipment failures (transformer explosion, pole fire, high voltage arc during switching operation). Note: please submit your own videos to us!
- U.S. Department of Energy Releases Strategic Plan to Address Energy Challenges.
- U.S. - Canada Power System Outage Task Force "Final Report on the Implementation of Task Force Recommendations." Sep. 2006.
- Typhoon Milenyo Causes Severe Damage in Phillipines. Manila Standard Today. Sep. 30, 2006.
- Mylar balloon causes outage affecting 1000 customers. Chicago Tribune. Sep. 29, 2006.
- IESO Issues 18 Month Outlook. Galvin Institute updates website.
- Pakistan Blackout After Fault on 500 kV Transmission Line from Hydroelectric Facility. Sep. 26, 2006.
- ERCOT warns that Texas faces tight electricity supplies in the next two years and proposes a service interruption system for commercial users. Star-Telegram.com. Sep. 21, 2006.
- AEP recogized as climate leader in carbon disclosure project´s 4th survey of corporate approaches to climate change. AEP. Sep. 18, 2006.
- National Energy Board recognizes NERC as Electric Reliability Orgnization. National Energy Board. Sep. 15, 2006.
- Not Another Blackout! Scoop Independent News. New Zealand. Sep. 15, 2006.
- Russia makes its big power play. The Business on-line. Sep. 12, 2006.
- Modern Grid Initiative Presentations from the Southeast Summit, August 10–11, 2006.
- Survey of energy and resource executives shows unprecedented talent shortage in Canada. Deloitte. Aug. 30, 2006.
- New York PSC staff sees National Grid storm repair problems. The Business Review. Aug. 23, 2006.
- Comprehensive Reliability Plan Relased by NYISO - Study is a key step in grid operator's ongoing planning process. NYISO. Aug. 22, 2006.
- Con Edison came close to shutting off power on July 19 to the entire Long Island City network. New York Times. Aug. 23, 2006.
- Motorola's first family now focused on redesigning electrical distribution. Daily Herald. Aug. 21, 2006.
- Increased cooperation may help curb massive blackouts. Post Gazette. Aug. 21, 2006.
- Why the Lights Go Out in California. LA Times. Aug. 20, 2006.
- Three Years After Blackout, Power Problems Persist. Scoop. New Zealand. Aug. 20, 2006.
- Floating crane hits power line, causes Tokyo-area blackout. The Japan Times. Aug. 15, 2006.
- Blackout hits 1.39 million in Tokyo area. Macon.com. August 14, 2006.
- Reflections on the U.S. - Canada Blackout of 2003
- Experts: Aging equipment means trouble for electrical utilities. Newsday.com. Aug. 5, 2006. New!
- ConEd's Initial Report on the Power Outages in Northwest Queens, New York City, in July 2006. ConEd. August 2, 2006.
- Kevin Burke, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Consolidated Edison, Opening Statement before the City Council’s Consumer Affairs Committee July 31, 2006. ConEd. August 2, 2006.
- Let's Keep the Lights On: Some Expert Advice for Con Ed. New York Times. July 30, 2006.
- "Can the US Electric Grid Take Another Hot Summer?" Hearing of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Resources.
- Aging grids cited in blackouts. USA Today. July 28, 2006.
- London hit by power blackout. CNN International. July 27, 2006.
- NDP calls for hearing into Monday's blackout. Edmonton Sun. July 27, 2006.
- Transmission congestion threatens to clog nation's power grid. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. July 27, 2006.
- U.S. Breaks All-Time Weekly Demand Record for Electricity During National Heat Wave. Edison Electric Institute. July 26, 2006.
- Special Reliability Status Updates: Alberta Ameren CAISO Con Ed
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
- New York, Boston Broil as Heat Wave Hits East Coast. Bloomberg. Aug. 1, 2006.
- New York Region Faces Triple-Digit Temperatures. New York Times. August 1, 2006.
- Heat wave reaches Northeast; Connecticut finds ways to cope. Newsday.com August 1, 2006.
- Storms Cause at Least 323,500 Outages in U.S. Northeast July 27-30. U.S. DOE Energy Assurance Daily.
- Elderly moved after blackout. The Plain Dealer. August 1, 2006.
- Storms Knock Out Power to Over 600,000 Customers in Northeast July 18. DOE Energy Assurance Daily. July 19, 2006.
- France imports power in heat wave. July 19, 2006. BBC News.
- New Zealand came close to using all available electricity and nationwide prices hit $100,000 per Mwh during the depths of a June polar blast. Stuff. July 17, 2006.
- Draft of the U.S.- Canada Power Outage Task Force’s final report on the implementation of the recommendations contained in its April 2004 report on the 2003 blackout. DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
- The Human Resource Crisis in the Canadian Electricity Sector. Perspectives. Canadian Electricity Association. April 2006.
- Investigation of the Report of Events that led to Controlled Outages February 18, 2006 - Public Service Company of Colorado. Colorado PUC. July 7, 2006.
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Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Infrastructures Ministry bashes Israel Electric Corporation for handling of blackouts. The Jerusalem Post. July 5, 2006.
- Amtrak's power crunch. July 3, 2006. NorthJersey.com.
- A Power Grid for the Hydrogen Economy. Scientific American. June 26, 2006.
- Transend defends 6-hour blackout. ABC News Online. June 23, 2006.
- New system trains good grid operators with bad data. PNNL. June 22, 2006.
- U.S. DOE Secretary Presentation on Administration's Approach to Energy Security. June 20, 2006.
- Shackle Failure Leads to Auckland Blackout. AP. June 16, 2006.
- Growing use of natural gas for power generation could affect prices says National Energy Board Report. (News release | Report). June 15, 2006.
- Power cut chaos hits over a million Bulawayo residents. SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe News. June 15, 2006.
- California ISO Planning for Boom in Renewable Power. CAISO. June 14, 2006.
- Mcguinty Government Delivers A Balanced Plan For Ontario's Electricity Future. Ontario Ministry of Energy. June 13, 2006.
- Short Circuits: Comments on New York's Power Market. Prof. Tim Mount. Cornell. New York Times. June 9, 2006.
- NREL, Universities Hail Renewable Energy 'Collaboratory' Bill. NREL. June 9.
- IESO Releases Ontario Reliability Outlook. June 9, 2006.
- Hydro-Québec's Strategic Plan 2006–2010 focuses on energy efficiency, hydroelectricity and wind power, and technological innovation. June 7, 2006.
- Illinois Commerce Commission Reports Choice Is Well-Established in the State. Alliance for Retail Choice. June 5, 2006.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- July 6 Technical Conference regarding Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System (RM06-16) (Archived webcast and presentations available)
- Comments filed with FERC on RM06-16 can be found using FERC Online eLibrary, searching under Docket RM06-16.
- Commission accepts settlement designed to resolve reliability issues in New England region
[ISO-NE Welcomes FERC Ruling Approving New Capacity Market Design]
- Commission proposes transmission line siting guidelines; public participation key component
- Commission conditionally approves Midamerican’s Transmission Service Coordinator Agreement
- Comments on Draft Report to Congress on Competition in the Wholesale and Retail Markets for Electric Energy are due by June 26, 2006.
- Technical conference on RTO Border Utility Issues
- Comments on Draft Report to Congress on Competition in the Wholesale and Retail Markets for Electric Energy are due by June 26, 2006.
- Technical conference on RTO Border Utility Issues
- Technical conference to address specific issues relating to the reliability mechanisms to be used by PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.
- FERC's Open Access Tariff Reform
- Codification of market-based rate standards proposed to streamline procedures, ensure market oversight. FERC. May 18, 2006.
- FERC Staff from Office of Enforcement Present Energy Market Summer Assessment for 2006 to the Commission. May 18, 2006.
- FERC Conference on Role of RTO/ISO Market Monitors, May 18, 2006 (presentation slides)
- Archived FERC meeting webcasts
- FERC staff seeks comments on preliminary assessment of NERC Reliability Standards. May 11, 2006.
- More blackouts a certainty on Oahu, Hawaii. Star Bulletin. June 3, 2006. HECO Press Releases.
- Electric Corporation is unable to meet Israel's demand for power. Haaretz.com. June 4, 2006.
IEC CEO Uri Ben Nun: IEC must increase its reserve generating capacity to 20%. Globes. June 6, 2006.
- Does U.S. Have Enough Coal On Hand? CBS News. May 29, 2006.
- Amtrak presses its probe of massive rail power outage. Philadelphia Inquirer. May 27, 2006.
- UES Chief and Moscow Mayor Forge Alliance One-Year After Blackout. The Moscow Times. May 25, 2006.
- Energy secretary says coal, oil will power U.S. for decades. Houston Chronicle. May 21, 2006. Key components of the administration's energy policy are the Advanced Energy Initiative and the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership.
- Catawba nuclear plant outage. Charlotte Observer. May 24, 2006. (NRC action)
- World's Largest Dam completed on China's Yangtze River. China View. May 20, 2006. See also Dam Impacts. Scientific American. May 18, 2006.
- Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Hearing - Electricity Reliability. May 15, 2006. The hearing's purpose was to receive testimony on implementation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005’s electricity reliability provisions.
- Northwest Power and Conservation Council adopts regional standard to ensure an adequate energy supply. NPCC. May 10, 2006. "The standard will raise a red flag to alert the region when we are at risk of running short of electricity."
- FERC Conference on Role of RTO/ISO Market Monitors, May 18, 2006 (free webcast to be available).
- NERC Summer Assessment. May 15, 2006 (Press Release | Report). "...extreme weather continues to present a significant reliability risk in those areas with lower margins..."
- FERC staff seeks comments on preliminary assessment of NERC Reliability Standards. May 11, 2006. "The staff’s assessment finds that NERC’s existing program of voluntary standards represents “a solid foundation on which to maintain and improve the nation’s reliability.” However, the report cites various “deficiencies” in the current NERC standards and invites comment. In many instances, the deficiencies cited are among those identified by NERC, and are the subject of a work plan NERC has proposed. In other cases, the staff cites deficiencies that are not part of NERC’s proposed work plan."
- NERC: Permanent Cyber Security Standards; Reliability Standards Workshop Presentations and Handouts. May 2, 2006.
- Status of Response to the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005: FERC; U.S. DOE.
- Energy Assurance Daily from U.S. DOE
- ITC Holdings Signs Agreement to Acquire Michigan Electric Transmission Company. PR News. May 12, 2006.
- FERC accepts Entergy's Independent Coordinator of Transmission proposals, with limited modifications. April 24, 2006
- Making the Power Grid Smarter. Technology Review. May 12, 2006. A project is networking home appliances and thermostats to electricity grids...
- World's Longest Underwater DC Link in Operation. The Age. May 11, 2006. (Wikipedia article)
- Sharyland Utilities Breaks Ground on 'DC Tie' Between Texas and Mexico. Yahoo! Finance. May 8, 2006.
- PJM: System Ready for Summer; Ancillary Services Market Opened to Demand Response.
- Rotating Blackouts in Texas: Summary of Events, April 17, 2006.
- AEP to evaluate distributed energy resources through pact with research consortium.
- Selected Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure News and Information
- Web page update for DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
- TransAlta CEO says Toronto could face brownouts by '08, urges power competition. cbcnews. April 5, 2006.
- Power Shortage in Maui. The Maui News. April 4, 2006.
- New Zealand Blackout Threat. Stuff.co.nz. March 31, 2006.
- IESO Issues Reliability Outlook Reports. March 28, 2006.
- Galvin Electricity Initiative Completes First Phase of Visionary Research. March 23, 2006. (News Release | Report)
- Presentations from 2006 National Electricity Delivery Forum.
- Symposium on Electric Power Systems: Reliability, Control and Markets.
- PJM 2005 Market Report. PJM.
- Canadian Electricity Association Advocates Greater Investment in Electricity Generation and Transmission across North America (News Release | Paper). March 2, 2006.
- The Energy Policy Act of 2005: Electric Transmission and Distribution Future R&D Needs. Feb. 1-2, 2006. All Conference Presentations.
- Alberta Electric System Operator Closes in on $1 billion in Transmission Investment. AESO. March 8, 2006.
- Rotating blackouts in northern Wisconsin narrowly avoided over weekend. American Transmission Co. March 14, 2006. Xcel explains blackouts. Denver Post. March 13, 2006. IntelliGrid Delivery Architecture to Debut in Poland. WEBBOLT. March 10, 2006. Avoidable Errors Led to Big Outage, Consultant Finds. LA Times. Nov. 30, 2005.
- NERC Posts Draft ERO Application. NERC. (Dec 2005 / No. 35)
- TXU And CURRENT Communications To Create Nation's First Multipurpose Smart Grid. ElectricNet. (Dec 20, 2005)
- EIA Annual Energy Outlook . DOE. (Feb 2006)
- Schools in Maine to plan for rolling blackouts. VillageSoup. Dec. 17, 2005.
- Russia's PM calls to improve electric power system reliability. PRIME-TASS. (Dec 8, 2005)
- Statement of Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher at the technical conference on electric reliability standards. FERC. (Dec 9, 2005)
- The Gridwise Constitution. DOE. (Dec 6-7, 2005)
The GridWise Architecture Council convened aConstitutional
Convention" to establish a constitution that will guide critical future
technology advancement over the next 10-30 years to realize a healthy,
self-sustaining, highly interoperable electric supply system.
- Electricity Restructuring: Key Challenges Remain. GAO-06-237 (Nov, 2005) [ Abstract | Highlights]
- Avoidable Errors Led to Big Outage, Consultant Finds. LA Times. (Nov 30, 2005)
- Blackout clues may lie in `graveyard' The Miami Herald. (Nov 26, 2005)
Studies
to determine what caused power and telephone poles to fail during
Hurricane Wilma have fueled tension between Florida Power & Light
and BellSouth.
- South Dakota shivers without power. Sioux City Journal. (Nov 30, 2005)
- UES Warns Power Cuts Likely. The Moscow Times. (Nov 30, 2005)
- Uncertain future for power in West The Enquirer. (Nov 25, 2005) Fast-growing areas require more lines.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Developing the Modern Grid Workshop. GridApp, CTC, SAIC (Nov 9-10, 2005)
- Blackout of Nov. 9, 1965
- PJM Market Integrations Saving Customers $500 Million a Year. PJM. (Nov 10, 2005)
- Debate flares over health of power grid. HoustonChronicle.com. (Oct 8, 2005)
- Ontario Power Generation invests $10 million in education to help meet the growing need for energy specialists. Ontario Power Generation. (Oct 6, 2005)
- Retiree Wave May Swamp Unwary Employers. The Day. (Oct 2,2005)
Across a wide swath of industries, companies are starting to address
the impending exodus of baby boomers. About half the country's 400,000
electric-utility workers will be eligible to retire in the next five
years.
- APPA Survey Shows Need to Prepare Now for High Level of Workforce Retirements. APPA Press Release. (Oct 3, 2005)
Work Force Planning for Public Power Utilities: Ensuring Resources to Meet Projected Needs. American Public Power Association. (Report 2005)
The
most significant challenges created by retirements will be the loss of
knowledge, the difficulty finding replacements, and the lack of bench
strength within the organization.
- Hurricanes Rita and Katrina
- American Transmission Company Issues Its 10-Year Plan. (Sep 28, 2005)
- An Assessment of the Reliability of the Ontario Electricity System from October 2005 to March 2007. Ontario IESO. (Oct 24, 2005)
- Baghdad in the dark as power cuts continue to blight the city. The Independent. (Sep 27, 2005)
- Moscow Blackout of 2005 PSERC
- Why the lights mostly stayed on in the US this summer. The Christian Science Monitor. (Sep 20, 2005)
- Rethinking Energy. In katrina's wake, venture capitalists say country needs to overhaul infrastructure. The Mercury News. Sep. 19, 2005.
- Experts Assess Deregulation as Factor in '03 Blackout. New York Times. (Sep 16, 2005)
(See also Workshops on "Competition and Reliability in North American Energy Markets" sponsored by The U.S.-Canada Power System Outage Task Force.)
- Human Error Blamed For Massive Power Outage in Los Angeles. 10News.com.
Utility workers attempting to make it easier to prevent power outages
accidentally cut off power to approximately 2 million people,
authorities said, when they sliced through several cables incorrectly
and caused much of the power grid for the nation's second-largest city
to shut down. When the outages began, the workers were installing
automated monitoring controls to provide department officials with
immediate information about the status of its system.
- 2005 DOE Transmission Reliability Program Peer Review
- 2.3m Colombians without Power. News24.com. (Sep 6, 2005)
- 2005 Long-Term Reliability Assessment. NERC. (Sep 2, 2005) [Press Release | Report]
- Proposed regulations issued on mandatory electric reliability
standards and enforcement (Docket No. RM05-30-000) (Sep 1, 2005 ) [Press Release | NOPR | Bilateral Principles Referenced in NOPR]
- Workshops on "Competition and Reliability in North American Energy Markets" sponsored by The U.S.-Canada Power System Outage Task Force. (Sep 15, 2005)
- Energy Policy Act of 2005 Signed into Law. NERC. (Aug 8, 2005)
- Major Power Line Outage Forces Southern California Transmission Emergency. CAISO. (Aug 26, 2005)
The Pacific DC Intertie, (PDCI) a 500-thousand volt transmission line
that runs between Southern Oregon and Southern California suddenly and
unexpectedly dropped out of service just before 4:00 P.M. today. The
loss of more than 2,800 megawatts of power coming into Southern
California, coupled with the area’s high demand required a reduction in
system load to keep the grid in balance.
- Rolling Blackouts Hit Southern California.
KCRA-TV. August 25, 2005. A transformer in Los Angeles' Sylmar section
that converts power from the Pacific Northwest took itself offline
automatically at 3:56 p.m. when an oil flow alarm went off.
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Outage May Leave Toronto Without Power Until Evening. Bloomberg.com. (Jul 26, 2005)
The electricity failed after a wooden utility pole broke at around
10:45 a.m. at a power station owned by provincial electricity
distributor Hydro One Inc., shutting down two Toronto Hydro
substations. The failure is affecting about 4 square kilometers (2 1/2
square miles) of Toronto.
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Rising Heat Spurs Fears of a Blackout. The New York Sun. (Jul 26, 2005)
With
temperatures today and tomorrow expected to reach the mid-90s and the
city blanketed with stifling humidity, NYISO planned precautionary
measures to avoid a blackout.
-
Bush urges agencies to assess possible coal shortage.
Kansan. July 26, 2005. On Friday, the North American Electric
Reliability Council sent a letter to utility managers about a team
being assembled by the U.S. Department of Energy to study reduced coal
deliveries because of "limitations established by the railroad."
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Lawmakers OK Electricity Reforms. Investors.com. (Jul 21, 2005)
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New England's Electricity Use Sets New All-Time Record. ISO New England. (Jul 19, 2005)
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Ontario dipping into its electricity reserves. CBC.CA. (Jul 20, 2005)
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Formation of ReliabilityFirst Corporation:
Regional Electric Reliability Councils Form ReliabilityFirst
Corporation, LRRC Initiative Takes a New Name and Moves Forward. (Jul
17, 2005)
The leadership of ECAR, MAAC, MAIN, MAPP and MRO have
directed their respective Regional Managers to have preliminary joint
discussions to determine alternatives for a broader Regional Council
encompassing the combined footprints of two Regional Transmission
Organizations (MISO and PJM), and other transmission areas of the
Midwest.
- Midwestern Governors Cooperate To Promote Electric Transmission Investment. Midwestern Governors Association. (Jul 16, 2005) [Press Release |
Final Protocol]
Midwestern governors have agreed they will work together to support
additional investment in a reliable electric transmission grid.
Further, they have committed to regional cooperation in permitting and
locating interstate and international electric transmission lines.
-
Grid watchdog: no May 27 review needed. National Post. July 15. NERC sees no need for a broader review of a brief May power outage in Ontario.
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Ontario breaks power consumption record. CBC News. (Jul 13, 2005)
- Terms of Reference for the Bilateral Electric Reliability Oversight Group. FERC. (Jun 30, 2005) [ Press Release | Terms of Reference]
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U.S. Senate Approves Bill to Revamp Energy Policy. Bloomberg. (Jun 28, 2005)
-
Power crunch forces blackouts. Ottawa Citizen. June 28, 2005.
The
demand for electricity in Ontario reached 26,157 megawatts, its highest
level in history. Ontario could only muster 25,087 megawatts [in
generation], meaning the province was kept afloat by imported U.S.
power. According to Hydro Ottawa, demand was too much for a Hydro One
power station near Bilberry Drive in Gloucester. The overload forced
Hydro Ottawa to implement rotating blackouts between 6 p.m. and 7:30
p.m. As a precursor to yesterday's power woes, striking Ontario Hydro
workers at the Nanticoke generating station, on the north shores of
Lake Erie, shut down six of eight units -- responsible for generating
3,000 megawatts of electricity.
-
A Flicker Away From a Blackout. Washington Post. (Jun 21, 2005)
Apparent protection system failures in Hydro One's system produced
power system oscillations and line outages that affected frequency in
the Eastern Interconnection on May 27. Head of the Northeast Power
Coordinating Council said the event was an "extreme contingency" but
that no additional precautions to prevent a recurrence are being taken
until an inquiry is complete.
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Power Restored to Entergy Customers. Entergy News Release. (Jun 16, 2005)
Approximately 150,000 customers lost power following outages that
occurred when high winds caused 16 transmission lines to trip off line.
Loss of the transmission lines resulted in a voltage imbalance, which
in turn forced the two generating units at Entergy's Lewis Creek Plant
north of Houston into emergency shutdown and caused outages over a
seven-county area. Emergency shutdown damaged both generators.
-
2004 State of the Market Report. FERC. (June 2005) An assessment of enery markets in the US.
-
FERC to Encourage Utilities to Sell Lines. LA Times. (Jun 16, 2005)
U.S.
regulators said Wednesday that they planned to change a policy that
aimed to encourage electric utilities to sell their high-voltage
transmission systems, saying the original policy led to too few
divestitures.
-
US-Canada Workshop on Draft Principles for an International Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) (Toronto). FERC. (Jun 22, 2005)
This workshop will explore draft principles that would allow an ERO to function as an international organization.
-
Secretary of Energy Announces New Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability. DOE. (Jun 9, 2005) [Press Release]
- Committee on Government Reform (Jun 8, 2005)
-
Energy Officials Warn of Summer Electricity Woes (California). LA Times. June 3, 2005.
California and federal energy officials warned Thursday that the
electricity system in Southern California would face hard times this
summer, especially if the weather was unusually hot, and that next
summer might be even rougher.
-
Midwest ISO Evaluation Shows Sufficient Reserve Margins for Summer Power Demand. MISO. (May 25, 2005)
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission continues push to prevent
market abuses and create greater transparency in energy markets. (May
25, 2005)
[Press Release |
Presentation].
The Commission today moved forward with a series of proposals and
rules addressing collection of information on the operating status of
generating plants, refining the calculation of available transmission
capacity, and streamlining a host of current reporting requirements.
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Growth in Transmission Investment. EEI Electric Perspectives. (May/June 2005)
Respondents to an EEI study of shareholderowned utilities reported that
their actual and planned transmission investment over the entire period
2004-2008 increases 60 percent over the period 1999-2003.
-
Power supplies in Moscow to resume Thursday. (May 25, 2005)
-
PJM Expects Adequate Power Supplies this Summer. PJM. (May 23, 2005)
- 2005 Summer Assessment. NERC. (May 16, 2005)
-
Notice Inviting Comments on Establishing Long Term Transmission Rights in Markets with Locational Pricing. FERC. (May 11, 2005)
-
Dominion Successfully Integrated Into PJM. PJM News Release (May 1, 2005)
According to PJM, 20 percent of the U.S. economy now depends upon PJM's reliable service.
- Northeast Power Coordinating Council 2005 Summer Assessment [
Press release (Apr 28, 2005) | NPCC Archives]
-
Blackouts Unlikely in Kentucky. Kentucky PSC. (Apr 28, 2005)
-
2004 Annual Report on Market Issues and Performance. CAISO. (Apr 28, 2005)
-
FERC Staff Report On Information Technology Guidelines For Power System Organizations. (April 2005)
Congested power lines are sending a signal to build more transmission in California
-
Long-Term AFC/ATC Task Force Final Report. NERC. (Revised Apr 14, 2005)
-
Midwest ISO, PJM Interconnection, TVA Sign Agreement For Multi-Regional Approach To Ensure Electric Grid Reliability. TVA Newsroom. (Apr 22, 2005)
- Power Trends 2005. NYISO. (April 20, 2005) [Report | Presentation | Press Release]
- Blackout in Western Switzerland on January 18th. EOS Holding. (
Documents in French only). A powerful lightning strike initiated transmission line outages affecting about 600,000 people.
- FERC Technical Conference:
The ERO as an International Organization - Issues Related to Regional Entities and Enforcement. (Apr 19, 2005)
- FERC Technical Conference
to Examine Impediments to Investment in Electric Transmission Infrastructure and Explore Potential Solutions. (Apr 22, 2005)
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Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R. 6). Introduced April 18, 2005, became Public Law 109-58 on Aug 8, 2005.
- Enhancing the Robustness and Resilience of Future Electric
Transmission and Distribution in the United States to Terrorist Attack.
National Academies Research Council Study. (Initiated Apr 10, 2005) [Project Information ]
-
Wind Energy in South Australia. Electric Supply Industry Planning Council. (Apr 27, 2005)
This
report provides a detailed, South Australian specific analysis, and
reviews international experience with wind generation and the potential
impacts of increasing levels of wind.
-
CAISO's 2005 Summer Operations Assessment. (Mar 23, 2005)
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A Review of System Operations Leading up to the Blackout of August 14, 2003 (Final). NERC
Blackout Investigation (Mar 18, 2005)
-
Grid operator blames human error for 3,800MW power cut. Business News Americas. (Mar 22, 2005)
Human error in the reconnection of a transmission line near the Ancoa
substation in central-southern Chile's Region VII caused Monday's
blackout that lasted approximately one hour.
-
Mass Blackout Hits Chile. Xtra News, New Zealand. March 22.
-
Power System Incident Report: 14 March 2005, National Electricity Market Management Company Limited (NEMMCO), Australia. [Final report (29 Aug 2005)]
-
Workshop on Establishing ERO as an International Organization
(April 19, 2005)
The Workshop is supported by the Federal-Provincial-Territorial ADM
Electricity Working Group, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
- Commission Accepts Entergy Proposal to Establish Independent Coordinator of its Transmission System. FERC. (Mar 22, 2005)
[Press Release
| Order 1
| Order 2]
- Commission gives green light to Midwest ISO energy market. FERC. (Mar 16, 2005)
[Press Release
| Order]
-
Technical conference on principles for efficient and reliable reactive power supply and consumption (Docket No. AD05-1-000) FERC (Mar 8, 2005)
[Staff Report]
Presentations from PSERC members include American Transmission Co.,
CenterPoint Energy, National Grid, New York ISO, and Southern Co.
U.S. Congress: Electric Reliability Legislation
NERC's Overview of Electric Reliability Legislation
Enabled Legislation
Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (H.R.6) became Public Law 109-58 on 8/8/2005.
H.R.6 sets
forth an energy research and development program covering: (1) energy efficiency;
(2) renewable energy; (3) oil and gas; (4) coal; (5) Indian energy; (6) nuclear
matters and security; (7) vehicles and motor fuels, including ethanol; (8) hydrogen;
(9) electricity; (10) energy tax incentives; (11) hydropower and geothermal
energy; and (12) climate change technology.
Legislation Leading to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (not passed individually)
H.R.6 Daylight
Saving Time bill (identified by CRS)
Title: To ensure jobs for our future with secure, affordable, and
reliable energy.
Sponsor: Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] (introduced 4/18/2005)
H.R.983
Title: To amend title VI of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978
to establish a Federal renewable energy portfolio standard for certain retail
electric utilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Udall, Tom [NM-3] (introduced 2/17/2005)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce Committee; Subcommittee on Energy and
Air Quality
Latest Major Action: 3/22/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred
to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
H.R.1481 Interstate
Transmission Act
Title: To ensure reliability of electric service to provide for expansion of
electricity transmission networks in order to support competitive electricity
markets to modernize regulation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] (introduced 4/5/2005)
Cosponsors: Rep Myrick, Sue [NC-9]
Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 4/22/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
H.R.1529
Title: To amend the Federal Power Act to provide for Federal and State coordination
of permitting for electric transmission facilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] (introduced 4/6/2005)
Cosponsors: (None)
Latest Major Action: 4/22/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred
to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
H.R.1640 Energy
Policy Act of 2005
Title: To ensure jobs for our future with secure and reliable energy.
Sponsor: Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] (introduced 4/14/2005)
Latest Major Action: 7/29/2005 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 122.
Note: For further action, see H.R.6, which became Public Law 109-58 on 8/8/2005.
H.R.1834 Efficient
Energy Through Certified Technology and Electricity Reliability (EFFECTER) Act
of 2005
Title: To provide for various energy efficiency programs and tax incentives,
and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Cunningham, Randy (Duke) [CA-50] (introduced 4/26/2005)
Cosponsors: Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7]
Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means; House Financial
Services
Latest Major Action: 5/23/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
H.R.4384
Energy For Our Future Act
Title: To improve the energy efficiency of the United States. - Amends
the Federal Power Act to repeal provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
governing the siting of interstate electric transmission facilities.
Sponsor: Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] (introduced 11/17/2005)
Latest Major Action: 12/16/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred
to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
S.10 Electricity
Modernization Act of 2005
Title: An original bill to enhance the energy security of the United States,
and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Domenici, Pete V. [NM] (introduced 6/9/2005)
Cosponsors:
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Senate Reports: 109-78
Latest Major Action: 6/9/2005 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General
Orders. Calendar No. 121.
Note: For further action, see H.R.6, which became Public Law 109-58 on 8/8/2005.
S.426 Electric
Reliability Security Act of 2005
Title: A bill to enhance national security by improving the reliability of the
United States electricity transmission grid, to ensure efficient, reliable and
affordable energy to American consumers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Jeffords, James M. [VT] (introduced 2/17/2005)
Cosponsors:
Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA]
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA]
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 2/17/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice
and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.498 Interstate
Transmission Act of 2005
Title: A bill to provide for expansion of electricity transmission networks
in order to support competitive electricity markets, to ensure reliability of
electric service, to modernize regulation and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 3/2/2005)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 3/2/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice
and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.509 Energy
Markets Improvement Act of 2005
Title: A bill to improve the operation of energy markets.
Sponsor: Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] (introduced 3/3/2005)
Cosponsors: Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] Sen Levin, Carl [MI] Sen Wyden, Ron [OR]
Committees: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Latest Major Action: 3/3/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice
and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
S.596 Electric
Transmission and Reliability Enhancement Act of 2005
Title: A bill to reform the nation's outdated laws relating to the electric
industry, improve the operation of our transmission system, enhance reliability
of our electric grid, increase consumer benefits from wholesale electric competition
and restore investor confidence in the electric industry.
Sponsor: Sen Thomas, Craig [WY] (introduced 3/10/2005)
Cosponsors: (None)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 3/10/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice
and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.680 Efficient
Energy Through Certified Technologies and Electricity Reliability (EFFECTER)
Act of 2005
Title: A bill to provide for various energy efficiency programs and tax incentives,
and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 3/17/2005)
Cosponsors: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] Sen McCain, John [AZ]
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 3/17/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice
and referred to the Committee on Finance.
S.1031 Electric
Reliability Act of 2005
Title: A bill to enhance the reliability of the electric system.
Sponsor: Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] (introduced 5/12/2005)
Cosponsors: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] Sen Jeffords, James M. [VT] Sen Reid, Harry [NV]
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 5/12/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice
and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.1133 Clean
Coal Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment Act of 2005
Title: A bill to authorize the Secretary of Energy to develop and implement
an accelerated research, development, and demonstration program for advanced
clean coal technologies for use in coal-based generation facilities and to provide
financial incentives to encourage the early commercial deployment of advanced
clean coal technologies through the retrofitting, repowering, replacement, and
new construction of coal-based electricity generating facilities and industrial
gasification facilities.
Sponsor: Sen Byrd, Robert C. [WV] (introduced 5/26/2005)
Cosponsors: Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] Sen Specter, Arlen [PA]
Latest Major Action: 5/26/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice
and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
PSERC Resources
PSERC draws on university resources, working collaboratively with industry and government in a multi-university environment, to address challenges facing the industry. Its research includes industry-supported projects and leveraged projects, such as with DOE's Consortium for Electric Reliability Technology Solutions (CERTS). PSERC's site directors and other researchers
are available as information resources on the operation and planning of
the transmission grid as well as on transmission policies. Various
materials about PSERC are available for downloading using PSERC website links.
- Transforming the Grid to Revolutionize Electric Power in North America.
Presentation by Jimmy Glotfelty, Director, U.S. DOE Office of Electric
Transmission and Distribution. (Dec 11, 2003), at the Industrial
Advisory Board Meeting of PSERC.
- Electric Power Transmission: Research Needs to Sustain a Critical National Infrastructure.
This March 2003 presentation by Prof. Robert J. Thomas, PSERC's
Director at Cornell University, provides background on the transmission
system, on recent studies of transmission congestion, and on research
needs pertaining to the future use of the transmission system.
- Feeding our Profession.
The electric power industry faces critical shortages in engineers
needed for development and reliable use of the electric power
infrastructure. Power engineering education feeds the power engineering
profession. Thus, education and research are vital elements of that
infrastructure. If the growing need for well-trained power engineers is
to be met, a renewed national commitment needs to be made to the
educational system. This article discusses how power education is at a
crossroads.
See also Reflections on the Status and Trends in Power Engineering
(Oct 10, 2003) for more statistics on trends affecting power programs
and perspectives on the need to invest in the education of our next
generation of power engineers.
- Reengineering the Electric Grid. Thomas J. Overbye. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The article in the American Scientist (May-June 2000) provides a
comprehensive overview of electric power systems (with a historical
perspective on technology and policy changes) and challenges that power
system networks pose to developing power markets.
- An Essential Industry at the Crossroads: Deregulation, Restructuring, and a New Model for the United States' Bulk Power System. Jeffrey Hein. Colorado School of Mines.
This thesis briefly reviews the history of the electric utility
industry, from its competitive beginnings to its regulation as a
natural monopoly and finally, to its evolution into the present day
configuration of three interconnected transmission networks that cover
North America. The thesis also examines the effects on the industry of
several compounding factors. Finally, the problems associated with
present-day restructuring efforts are summarized, and an architecture,
or model, which resolves these problems and introduces benefits to
industry restructuring, is proposed.
- Reactive Power Support Services in Electricity Markets.
As experience grows with alternative electric power market designs in
the U.S. and abroad, new research questions emerge reactive power
support services. This 2001 PSERC report addresses fundamental
relationships between costs, prices and physical provision of reactive
power.
- Consequence and Impact of Electric Utility Industry Restructuring on Transient Stability and Small Signal Stability Analysis.
This 2002 IEEE paper by Vijay Vittal, Professor, Iowa State University,
overviews operational reliability (referred to as security in the
paper) concepts pertaining to the operations and planning of electric
power systems, and examines issues related to power system dynamic
analysis. Professor Vittal is also project leader on the PSERC project,
" Detection, Prevention and Mitigation of Cascading Events."
- Blackout Mitigation Assessment in Power Transmission Systems.
The recent blackout is an instance of a complex system undergoing cascading failure. Research on cascading failures
examines such questions as (1) how likely are large blackouts; (2) how
does overall system loading cause cascading failure; and (3) what are
the pitfalls in mitigating out risks in complex systems? The indicated
paper is an example of this research. The co-authors found that North
American Electrical Reliability Council out data suggest that large out
sizes are more likely that might be otherwise expected.
- Technical Papers on Voltage Instability and Collapse.
This is a bibliographic database maintained at Iowa State University.
- Operational Defense of Power System Cascading Sequences: Probability, Prediction, and Mitigation
This presentation at the October 7, 2003, PSERC research seminar
describes an approach, developed in research on complex interactive
networks, for identifying and mitigating consequences of multiple
outage events. [Web streaming of audio and slides available.]
Background Papers
The following background papers, written by PSERC researchers,
provide insights into power systems operations and technologies along
with current issues affecting the economical and reliable delivery of
power. They serve as a tutorial for individuals seeking a better
understanding of how an interconnected power system works. They are not
intended for power system experts.
- Monitoring and Control of Power Grids: Looking Beyond Reliability Standards. Anjan Bose. Washington State University (Sep 20, 2003).
- Modeling Post-Disturbance Consequences: Uncertainty in Power System Dynamic Simulation.
Ian A. Hiskens, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Bernie C.
Lesieutre, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. (Sep 16, 2003)
- Automated Monitoring and Analysis. Mladen Kezunovic. Texas A&M University. (Sep 8, 2003)
- Distributed Generation. Robert H. Lasseter. University of Wisconsin-Madison. (Sep 4, 2003)
- Power System Operation and Visualization. Thomas J. Overbye. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (Sep 10, 2003)
- What is Reactive Power? Peter W. Sauer. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Revised, (Sep 16, 2003).
See also: Elusive Force May Lie at Root of Blackout. New York Times. (Sep 23, 2003)
- The New Electric Power Business: An Information-Based Revolution. Robert J. Thomas. Cornell University
