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EPSA Supports Increased Communication And Collaboration Among NERC, FERC And Industry

"EPSA appreciates the Commission's recognition that improved dialogue among FERC, NERC, Canadian governmental authorities and industry is necessary in order to ensure that the North American public/private relationship envisioned by Congress continues to evolve in an effective manner."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) today filed comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) supporting the development of a Reliability Summit with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) in comments on FERC's standards development technical conference held on July 6.

In its comments, EPSA suggests that the summits would be structured in a similar fashion to technical conferences and would be held annually. The comments note that "EPSA appreciates the Commission's recognition that improved dialogue among FERC, NERC, Canadian governmental authorities and industry is necessary in order to ensure that the North American public/private relationship envisioned by Congress continues to evolve in an effective manner." The summits would be open to CEOs and other senior management personnel, but would accept input from policy, legal and technical experts as well. EPSA supports the summit format as the most useful and resource-effective manner to increase open communication and collaboration as opposed to the formation of a structured, chartered group or committee.

EPSA recommends that the summits would serve as a forum for policy guidance on reliability issues and standards development that would require input from the Commission, NERC, Canadian governmental authorities and industry. The comments also request that the Commission adopt recommendations made at the July 6 technical conference that address the need for greater clarity on reliability policies and standards development, including clear, consensus-driven priorities and improved feedback from the Commission.

CONTACT: JOHN SHELK
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EPSA is the national trade association representing competitive power suppliers, including generators and marketers. These suppliers, who account for nearly 40 percent of the installed generating capacity in the United States, provide reliable and competitively priced electricity from environmentally responsible facilities serving global power markets. EPSA seeks to bring the benefits of competition to all power customers.