WASHINGTON, DC – As part of the Bush Administration’s comprehensive effort to provide wide-ranging data and thorough statistical analysis in its 2009 National Transmission Congestion Study (Congestion Study), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) Kevin Kolevar today announced that the Department will hold six regional technical workshops across the country, to seek input on available transmission congestion data to be considered during preparation of the Congestion Study.  The Congestion Study—as directed by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct)—is intended to provide detailed analysis of the state of transmission capacity across the United States, and to identify those geographic areas requiring additional attention to transmission congestion and constraint.

“In the face of growing electricity demand, it is more important than ever to continue to ensure that our energy infrastructure is well-equipped to keep America’s lights on now and in the years to come,” DOE Assistant Secretary Kevin Kolevar said.  “We look forward to working with all interested parties to prepare a thorough and accurate study that will serve as a useful reference for state planners, regional planners and others as part of a combined effort to keep electricity affordable and reliable”

EPAct directed DOE to have completed the first study on electric transmission congestion by August 2006 and to conduct further studies every three years thereafter.  The second Congestion Study is due in August 2009.

Workshop topics will address what publicly available data should be considered in the Congestion Study in order to identify and understand the significance and character of transmission congestion.  These workshops will also include presentations from technical experts, followed by discussions led by DOE staff.  In particular, DOE will request input from stakeholders, including states, utilities, regional transmission organizations (RTOs), independent system operators (ISOs), and all other interested parties related to changes in their respective geographical areas of interest.

DOE staff will be available at the workshops to schedule consultation meetings with interested states, regional reliability organizations, and other interested parties.  The workshops will be open to the public and webcast live over the Internet.  Advance registration for the webcast is required.  To register, visit the 2009 National Electric Transmission Congestion Study website.

Those interested in providing comments pertaining to the 2009 Congestion Study may submit them in-person at the regional workshops; by mail; or online.

The schedule for the workshops is as follows: 

San Francisco
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; workshop registration opens at 8:00 a.m.
Location: Hyatt Regency San Francisco
5 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, California 94111

Oklahoma City
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.; workshop registration opens at noon
Location: Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City
One Park Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

Hartford
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; workshop registration opens at 8:00 a.m.
Location: Hartford Marriott Downtown
200 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, Connecticut 06103

Atlanta
Thursday, July 24, 2008
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; workshop registration opens at 8:00 a.m.
Location: Westin Peachtree Plaza
210 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Las Vegas
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; workshop registration opens at 8:00 a.m.
Location: Atomic Testing Museum
755 E. Flamingo Rd. (Just East of Paradise Rd.)
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119

Chicago
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., workshop registration opens at 8:00 a.m.
Location: Wyndham Chicago
633 North St. Clair
Chicago, Illinois 60611

DOE’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) leads the Administration’s national effort to modernize the electric grid; enhance security and reliability of our energy infrastructure; and facilitate recovery from disruptions to energy supply.  For more information, visit the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.

Media contact(s):
Bethany Shively, (202) 586-4940