WATT

Federal Leaders Support Progress on GETs

On April 20, 2023, Alison Clements of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor each reaffirmed their commitment and vision for a transmission system optimized with Grid Enhancing Technologies.

Tweet from FERC Commissioner Allison Clements: Our Order No. 881 compliance orders are bright points in today’s meeting. They represent the beginning of a bigger opportunity to squeeze more juice out of our existing system at a relatively minimal cost to customers, using grid-enhancing technologies. (5/5)

FERC Commissioner Allison Clements took to Twitter to celebrate two orders which found plans from the California Independent System Operator and New York Independent System Operator in compliance with the Order 881 requirements to accept dynamic line ratings from transmission owners. These improvements to system operators’ capabilities represent a leap forward for the grid.

Representative Kathy Castor reintroduced legislation that would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to require grid operators to study Grid Enhancing Technologies as alternatives to traditional transmission upgrades, “saving everyone time and money.”

See the WATT Coalition’s initial response to the bill when it was first introduced in 2021.

"The Efficient Grid Interconnection Act would help families power their homes with affordable and abundant clean energy by reducing costly transmission congestion and connecting more low-cost renewable energy to the electric grid."