FERCÂ’s Spitzer to give NYISO keynote address

NYISO Grid Reliability Symposium convenes policymakers, FERC leaders, and energy stakeholders to discuss bulk transmission upgrades, natural gas pipelines, demand response, energy efficiency, renewable integration, competitive wholesale markets, and a cleaner, smarter power grid.

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, including NYISO energy challenges highlighted recently by industry analysts, and Commissioner Spitzer’s participation will be a very valuable part of the event.”

The NYISO’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, such as calls for more realism in policy from industry leaders today.

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 FERC’s primary missions are to ensure that America’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, especially under the new FERC leadership navigating complex transitions, 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 regional coordination such as NYISO-ISO-NE scheduling initiatives that strengthen operations, 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; and informing a broader power-supply strategy dialogue across states, creating a demand side management policy; enhancing the ACC’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, as seen in FERC penalty decisions addressing New York market abuses, and will enhance FERC’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, including market updates like NYISO energy bidding changes under consideration, 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.

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