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 (http://nietc.anl.gov/documents/docs/Congestion_Study_2006-9MB.pdf) and to conduct further studies every three years thereafter.  The second Congestion Study due in August 2009. 

U.S. Department of Energy Schedules Regional Workshops to Provide Expert Input on 2009 Transmission Congestion Study (PDF 66 KB )