Upton, Walden launch “Powering America” series of hearings exploring U.S. electricity sector

U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Greg Walden (R-OR) explored how innovation and competition have changed the landscape of the electricity sector on Tuesday in the first of a “Powering America” series of hearings.

Walden, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Upton, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, launched the series to gain a better understanding of electricity markets, generation, distribution, consumption and the electric grid. Tuesday’s hearing included testimony from electricity industry stakeholders on current markets.

Upton acknowledged that the nation’s electric system is undergoing a major period of transformation. “This transformation is affecting the composition of the country’s electricity generation mix, the way industry and regulators are approaching grid reliability, and how federal energy policies are interacting with state policies.”

During Tuesday’s hearing, Walden said American consumers have come to expect “safe, reliable and affordable” power — regardless of how they receive their electricity.

“New market participants offering advanced technologies and innovative services are changing the face of the industry faster than many have expected,” Walden said. “As we continue our Powering America series of hearings, I look forward to learning more about the current state of this vital industry. At the end of the day, our goal is to serve the best interests of consumers… “

Calling the U.S. electricity industry a world leader, Upton noted that many recent changes within the electricity sector are creating benefits for American consumers. “U.S. electricity prices are low, employment within the energy sector continues to rise and advanced technologies are giving consumers more control over how they interact with the grid,” he said.

Upton added, however, that the U.S. electricity industry is facing “dynamic challenges and an uncertain future.”

Legislation introduced by Upton to address one of those challenges, securing the electric grid against unforeseen emergencies, was approved by the House on Tuesday.

The bill, the Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2017, H.R. 3050, would strengthen emergency planning requirements that were established in 1990. Its broader goal is to help states secure energy infrastructure against physical and cyber threats.

“Here in Michigan our energy infrastructure must be prepared for a wide variety of hazards including floods, tornadoes, storms, snow, fuel supply disruptions, physical and cyber threats, and other catastrophic events,” Upton said. “It’s been 25 years since we’ve properly addressed energy security planning and it’s past time for a legislative update. Our common-sense, bipartisan solution will directly help states like Michigan deal with these ever-evolving threats.”