Gordon van Welie, President and CEO of ISO-New England, the operator of New England's electric transmission grid, recently addressed a congressional subcommittee, urging the enactment of federal legislation to enhance oversight of the reliability of the gas system in the region. While the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has established rigorous oversight and mandatory standards for the bulk electric system following the 2003 blackout, van Welie emphasized the need for comparable oversight for the gas system, a critical energy source for the electric grid.
Speaking to the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate & Grid Security of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, van Welie stressed the interdependence of the electric and gas systems, highlighting that failures in one system can impact the other. He called on the committee to take necessary actions to ensure the reliability of the entire energy system, especially during the transition to cleaner energy sources.
The testimony comes as New England states, including Connecticut, prepare for the upcoming winter, closely monitoring natural gas availability and weather forecasts. Natural gas constitutes the primary fuel source for power generators, supplying over 50% of the region's electricity. During peak demand periods, power plant operators rely on "non-firm capacity contracts" for gas, which do not guarantee fuel availability when interstate transmission pipelines are near capacity.
ISO-New England, headquartered in Holyoke, Massachusetts, oversees the grid's operation and administers the competitive wholesale electricity market, providing a critical role in managing the region's energy supply.
Source: ctinsider.com