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FERC chairman prioritizes reliability, infrastructure and asks RTOs for improved load forecasts
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Summary
FERC Chairman told reporters that grid reliability and infrastructure buildout are top priorities and said FERC sent a letter to the six RTOs/ISOs seeking improved load‑forecasting practices so planners can avoid under‑ or overbuilding capacity.
FERC Chairman opened a press briefing saying reliability remains the commission's top priority and that he is "really excited about infrastructure" and believes "we need to build, build, build," arguing the nation needs "every electron and every molecule" to support economic growth and emerging industries.
The chairman said he recently sent a letter to the six regional transmission organizations and independent system operators asking them to share best practices on load forecasting. He told RTO and ISO managers the request is aimed at improving accuracy without asking states to change retail rules: "We're not asking any state to do anything different. We're asking the RTOs to say, hey, what are your best practices?" (FERC Chairman).
Asked by James Downing of RTO Insider how FERC coordinates wholesale forecasting where many customers are under state jurisdiction, the chairman said the commission is focused on actions that are "purely within [RTOs'] ability to control" and on elevating peer best practices and automation to reduce error bars that can lead to inefficient infrastructure decisions. He said better forecasts will help "get efficient solutions to the problem." (FERC Chairman).
The chairman also referenced a letter he sent in March proposing greater use of automation and artificial intelligence in interconnection studies to speed processing and increase precision.
What's next: the chairman said FERC staff will continue engaging with RTOs and ISOs; he promised to notify the press when the commission takes further formal steps tied to these requests.
