FERC Chairman Richard Glick appeared before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy today to highlight the need for mandatory pipeline reliability standards, as well as to discuss the Energy Product Reliability Act (H.R. 6084).
Appearing alongside Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk, Chairman Glick discussed FERC’s authority under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as well as the establishment and implementation of mandatory reliability standards for the bulk-power system. Glick reiterated the need for mandatory standards for the reliable operation of natural gas infrastructure. In a 2021 joint report with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), FERC recommended Congress, state legislatures and state agencies adopt new requirements for the reliable operation of natural gas infrastructure, including the designation of a single federal agency over pipeline reliability.
In contrast to the Bulk-Power System,
“there is no comparable mandatory reliability regime for natural gas and other pipelines that transport energy products, including gasoline and propane,” Glick said. “The lack of mandatory reliability standards, especially for natural gas pipelines, poses a risk to the reliability of the Bulk-Power System due to the interdependency of our nation’s gas and electric infrastructure.”
Testimony and a link to the archived webcast from today’s hearing can be found here.
R22-15