DOE and EPA partner to support bulk power system reliability

As money pours into the power system from the bipartisan infrastructure law and the inflation reduction act, two historic bills aimed, in part, at modernising the electricity sector, keeping the electric grid reliable is of utmost importance.

When implementing the transformation change as envisioned by the bills, reliability and resource adequacy must be maintained and in an effort to do so, the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 10 said they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to ensure “interagency cooperation and consultation on electric sector resource adequacy and operational reliability (together, reliability) at a time of significant dynamism in the electric power sector.”

The MOU describes the respective roles and responsibilities of both agencies with regard to electric system reliability, mainly focused on the bulk power system. It also outlines activities that the agencies will undertake individually and collectively to monitor, share information and consult to support the continued reliability of the electric system.

DOE said in a press release that the MOU builds on the longstanding engagement from DOE and EPA with the power sector and further commits the agencies to routine and comprehensive communication about policies, programmes and activities regarding electric reliability. This includes sharing information and analysis, as well as ongoing monitoring and outreach to key stakeholders to proactively address reliability challenges.

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Both agencies have designated a team of experts on electric reliability to serve as points of contact for routine communications across the agencies. In addition, the agencies will meet on an at least semiannual basis to provide updates about policies, programmes and activities pertaining to electric reliability, share information and analysis, and discuss ongoing monitoring and outreach activities.

The groups also said that they plan to hold joint meetings with other entities (such as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), state public utilities commissions or state environmental regulators) and/or convene technical workshops to solicit information and input from outside stakeholders and experts, as appropriate.

“Under this partnership with DOE, we will provide needed regulatory certainty and support grid reliability and resiliency at every stage as the agency advances efforts to reduce pollution, protect public health and deliver environmental and economic benefits for all,” said EPA administrator Michael S. Regan.

“As we have seen in recent years, the reliability of the electric grid is tied directly to the safety and well-being of our communities,” said National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners executive director Greg R. White. “Maintaining electricity system reliability during the transition to cleaner energy is critical to NARUC’s members and is in everyone’s best interest. As such, we applaud the DOE and EPA for taking this initiative.”

Originally published on Power Grid International.