IEEE and the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Align Efforts to Address Energy Infrastructure and Market Challenges

Supply, demand and technology changes have spurred growth in renewable generating resources, distributed energy resources, electric vehicles, energy storage and more

PISCATAWAY, N.J.--()--IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, today announced the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) and the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address energy infrastructure and related market challenges due to the significant changes in energy supply, demand and technology.

The MOU was officially signed into order by Barry L. Shoop, 2016 IEEE president and CEO, and David Ortiz, deputy director for the FERC Office of Electric Reliability, at the IEEE headquarters in Piscataway, New Jersey, on 16 November 2016. As a formal agreement, the MOU helps align the two organizations' efforts to address the nation's energy challenges due to the growth in renewable generation resources, distributed energy resources, electric vehicles, energy storage and more. However, an increase in the availability of natural gas and environmental requirements has uncovered new opportunities for improving the efficiency and reliability of the bulk power system.

“With electric power technologies advancing at such a tremendous pace, the MOU will help to ensure that the best technical knowledge will help the Commission as it seeks to ensure reliability and just and reasonable rates for the bulk electric system,” said Ortiz.

“This is an important step in IEEE's history with helping develop and support the power and energy industry's forward progress. As part of this MOU, IEEE and FERC will work together to build an implementation plan to accomplish a set of important objectives. In the immediate, we will address a set of infrastructure challenges by sharing technical requirements and more,” said Shoop.

The MOU outlines objectives for the two organizations in support of the improvement of electric energy systems, including:

  1. Sharing technical needs and addressing challenges for infrastructure planning, operation, and marketing optimization;
  2. Identifying existing and emerging technological requirements and needs and approaches for addressing them; and
  3. Developing, disseminating and sharing information on advancements in technology and associated policy and standards for planning, operations and maintenance of electric energy systems and their component parts.

“Modern society has reached a point where virtually every crucial economic and social function depends on the secure and reliable operation of the electrical power and energy infrastructures. The IEEE provides unique, unbiased and independent technical leadership to the worldwide electrical power and energy industry through collaboration of private and public sectors,” said Damir Novosel, IEEE PES president. “The signing of this MOU with FERC represents an important step in solving our country’s sustainable energy future in a reliable, safe and cost-effective way. Our membership's deep knowledge in advancing grid modernization needs is very important to address electrical power system challenges and opportunities. The IEEE and FERC cooperation will yield the results to advance technology and the associated energy policies and standards that build on an already solid foundation.”

To learn more about IEEE PES, visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ieeepes, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ieee_pes, connect with us on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/groups/IEEE-Power-Energy-Society-3792736.

About IEEE Power & Energy Society

The IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) is the leading provider of scientific and engineering information on electric power & energy for the betterment of society and a trusted resource dedicated to the technical, informational, networking and professional development needs of its members. With over 35,000 members around the globe representing every facet of the electric power and energy industry, PES is at the forefront of the rapidly changing technological advancements that impact everyone’s future. PES celebrated its 125th year of service in 2009. Additional information on IEEE PES can be found at: http://www.ieee-pes.org.

About IEEE

IEEE is the largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Learn more at http://www.ieee.org.

Contacts

IEEE
Maureen Dalton, +1 732-465-6622
Senior Manager Marketing, Communications & Membership
m.dalton@ieee.org

Release Summary

IEEE announced the IEEE Power & Energy Society and the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to address energy infrastructure and related challenges.

Contacts

IEEE
Maureen Dalton, +1 732-465-6622
Senior Manager Marketing, Communications & Membership
m.dalton@ieee.org