Congressional Subcommittee To Hear Testimony on RTOs' Operations, Effectiveness

The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy, chaired by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), announced two hearings as part of the committee’s new Powering America series.

The Powering America series will provide committee members the opportunity to explore electricity markets, learn more about electricity generation, distribution, consumption, and the resiliency of the electric grid, the Subcommittee said

The first hearing entitled "Powering America: Examining the State of the Electric Industry through Market Participant Perspectives," is scheduled for Tuesday, July 18, 2017

The next hearing entitled "Review of the Operation and Effectiveness of the Nation’s Wholesale Electricity Markets," will take place on Wednesday, July 26, 2017.

"Today, the nation’s electricity industry is undergoing a period of transformation due to technological innovation and market competition. Next week’s hearing will provide members the opportunity to hear from various industry stakeholders regarding current issues and developments across the electricity sector including efforts to maintain grid reliability, transmission planning, and efforts to ensure electricity markets promote efficient outcomes," the Subcommittee said

"On July 26, #SubEnergy will hear from all seven Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent Service Operators (ISOs) to get their take on the status of wholesale electricity markets. RTOs and ISOs oversee the nation’s wholesale electricity markers [sic], managing the day-to-day operations of their respective transmission systems and offering a market to purchase products including energy, capacity, ancillary services, and financial transmission rights. These markets are vital to the nation’s ability to provide affordable, reliable electricity to consumers across the country," the Subcommittee said

Invited witnesses for the July 18 hearing are below. Witnesses for the July 26 RTO hearing have not yet been announced.

July 18 Witnesses:

• Steven Schleimer, Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs, Calpine Corporation

• Joseph T. Kelliher, Executive Vice President, Federal Regulatory Affairs, NextEra Energy, Inc.

• Tamara Linde, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.

• Ken Schisler, Vice President of Regulatory and Government Affairs, EnerNOC

• Alex Glenn, Senior Vice President of State and Federal Regulatory Legal Support, Duke Energy Corporation

• Lisa McAlister, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, American Municipal Power, Inc.

• Jackson E. Reasor, President and CEO, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative