Energy Secretary Perry directs FERC to act on rule to boost electric grid resiliency
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry pushed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Friday to finalize a rule to ensure “just and reasonable rates” for wholesale electricity sales to help support electrical grid resiliency.
In a notice of proposed rulemaking, Perry directed FERC to finalize a Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule that ensures independent system operators (ISOs) and regional transmission organizations (RTOs) fully value certain reliability and resilience attributes of electric generation resources.
“A reliable and resilient electrical grid is critical not only to our national and economic security but also to the everyday lives of American families,” Perry said. “A diverse mix of power generation resources, including those with on-site reserves, is essential to the reliable delivery of electricity — particularly in times of supply stress such as recent natural disasters. My proposal will strengthen American energy security by ensuring adequate reserve resource supply and I look forward to the commission acting swiftly on it.”
In addition to protecting against grid outages by boosting resilience, Perry’s directive aims to help ensure diversity and reliability of generation supply and to maximize reserve resources for high-demand situations, like severe weather events.
Perry’s directive orders FERC to take final action on the Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule, or to issue an interim final rule, within 60 days.
