August 11: Deadline For Comments On North American Electric Reliability Council Issue

The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) has shortened the deadline for comments on governance in response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s July 20 approval order of NERC’s application to become the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) for the United States. NERC requests that those who wish to comment on the governance issues described in president and CEO Rick Sergel’s letter of July 27 send them by Friday, August 11, 2006. Comments on the remaining issues are still able to be submitted until August 18, 2006. All comments should be sent to EROComments@nerc.net.

A NERC release on the issue states that NERC must make an early compliance filing and request expedited treatment from the Commission on the governance issues so that it can adopt appropriate bylaws, recruit members, and elect a Member Representatives Committee in advance of commencing operations on January 1, 2007. As discussed at the August 1 Stakeholders Committee meeting, NERC desires stakeholder input on the issues. The shortened comment deadline will enable NERC to prepare and post a draft of its revised governance proposal prior to submitting it to the Board of Trustees for approval and filing with the Commission.

To read the ERO order of July 20 and Sergels’ July 27 letter, visit www.nerc.com.