FERCÂ’s Spitzer to give NYISO keynote address

RENSSELAER, NEW YORK - The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) has announced that Commissioner Marc Spitzer of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will be the keynote speaker at its symposium, Planning the Sustainable Grid of the Future, on April 27.

“The NYISO symposium will provide a forum to discuss the most viable solutions to sustain reliability and make the grid cleaner, greener, and smarter, and Commissioner Spitzer’s participation will be a very valuable part of the event.”

The NYISOÂ’s annual symposium will bring together policymakers and regulators, energy sector professionals, legal and financial advisors, economists, energy developers, large energy users, environmental managers and consultants, news media representatives and members of business organizations and nonprofit groups to discuss critical issues in electric energy and grid reliability.

Commissioner Spitzer was nominated by President George W. Bush to the FERC and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a term expiring on June 30, 2011. He has stated that FERCÂ’s primary missions are to ensure that AmericaÂ’s ratepayers have safe, economic, and reliable supplies of electricity and natural gas; and transparent, robust, and competitive wholesale markets. Spitzer believes that successful regulation of FERC-jurisdictional industries requires a balancing of all competing interest to ensure just and reasonable rates.

“Two high priorities for me at FERC are the expansion of and improvements to the bulk transmission grid and the nation’s natural gas pipeline system. I believe these enhancements are essential to the dispatch of environmentally friendly resources as well as to ensuring reliability and efficiency,” said Commissioner Spitzer. “I am pleased to have the opportunity to share my accomplishments and goals as the keynote speaker at the NYISO’s annual symposium.”

In 2000, Commissioner Spitzer was elected to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), and as chairman of the ACC, he focused on policies encouraging expansion of natural gas infrastructure, specifically distribution and storage; creating a demand side management policy; enhancing the ACCÂ’s renewable standard and advancing consumer privacy concerns in telecommunications.

At the FERC, Commissioner Spitzer is building on his record in Arizona on environmental issues. Demand response, energy efficiency, and access to the grid by alternative resources were major focuses for Spitzer in retail rate cases and policy decisions before the Arizona Commission. He has stated that the expanded enforcement authority provided by EPAct 2005 will help deter market manipulation and other anticompetitive behavior and will enhance FERCÂ’s ability to appropriately penalize those who are culpable.

“We are pleased to have someone of Commissioner Spitzer’s caliber to deliver the keynote address at this year’s symposium,” said Stephen G. Whitley, NYISO president and CEO. “The NYISO symposium will provide a forum to discuss the most viable solutions to sustain reliability and make the grid cleaner, greener, and smarter, and Commissioner Spitzer’s participation will be a very valuable part of the event.”

The event is free to attend. However, early registration is encouraged due to the limited space available.