CEA Says: Outage Report Highlights Need for Mandatory Reliability Standards

OTTAWA - The Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) welcomes the release of the Interim Report of the Canada-U.S. Power System Outage Task Force which provides further arguments in favour of mandatory reliability standards.

“The need for mandatory reliability standards, as identified in the report, is an issue CEA has supported for a number of years,” stated Hans Konow, CEA President and CEO. “The Association has actively promoted the creation of an international self-regulating electricity reliability organization able to implement mandatory reliability standards.”

CEAÂ’s views are widely shared on both sides of the border. Reliability language in the draft energy bill currently before the U.S. Congress includes the creation of an Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) that will prepare and enforce reliability standards. That body needs to be international in design and operation, and CEA is supportive of NERC assuming that role, with regulatory backstop in Canada and the United States.

Hans Konow also noted that the Interim Report provides greater clarity on the events leading up to and following the historic power outage. “As the report demonstrates, the integrated grid was not the cause of the outage; rather, it was the failure to adhere fully to existing protocols and standards.

CEA looks forward to continued engagement with officials in Canada and the U.S. as the activities of the Task Force continue.

Founded in 1891, CEA represents CanadaÂ’s electricity industry. Its members produce 95% of CanadaÂ’s electricity, and ensure electricity service to Canadians from coast to coast.