DOE to Host Regional Workshops on Electric Transmission Congestion

20 May 2008

The US Department of Energy (DOE) will hold six regional technical workshops across the country to seek input on available electric transmission congestion data to be considered during preparation of a Congestion Study, as directed by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). The study is intended to provide detailed analysis of the state of transmission capacity across the US, and to identify those geographic areas requiring additional attention to transmission congestion and constraint.

EPAct directed DOE to have completed the first study on electric transmission congestion by August 2006 and to conduct further studies every three years thereafter. The second Congestion Study is due in August 2009.

Workshop topics will address what publicly available data should be considered in the Congestion Study in order to identify and understand the significance and character of transmission congestion. These workshops will also include presentations from technical experts, followed by discussions led by DOE staff. In particular, DOE will request input from stakeholders, including states, utilities, regional transmission organizations (RTOs), independent system operators (ISOs), and all other interested parties related to changes in their respective geographical areas of interest.

DOE staff will be available at the workshops to schedule consultation meetings with interested states, regional reliability organizations, and other interested parties. The workshops will be open to the public and webcast live over the Internet. Advance registration for the webcast is required. To register, visit the 2009 National Electric Transmission Congestion Study website.