WIRES, A New Trade Group, To Focus On Strengthening The Electric Grid
Washington, D.C. — A group of the nation's leading electric companies has formed a national non-profit trade organization, Working Group for Investment in Reliable and Economic Electric Systems, dedicated to promoting investment in the North American electric transmission network.
WIRES' members are the ITC Transmission, National Grid, Trans-Elect Inc., TXU Electric Delivery, and the electric utilities, cooperatives, and municipal utilities comprising the CapX 2020 consortium in the upper Midwest.
WIRES' mission is to make strengthening the high-voltage transmission network a priority for the industry, investors, and policymakers. "A robust transmission network is critical to the economies of North America," stated Larry Bruneel, President of WIRES and Vice President, Federal Affairs, ITC Transmission. "Enhancing this key infrastructure network should be a national priority. This sector must be infused with new capital if we are to accommodate service reliability, more liquid and efficient power markets, the next wave of major generation additions, and the demands of customers for access to renewable energy resources and advanced technologies."
WIRES is dedicated to informing state and federal decision makers and the public about the challenges facing the nation's electrical system as well as the environmental and efficiency benefits to customers and the economy that can be derived from better planning and greater investment in transmission capacity.
"WIRES is predicated on the notion that strengthening the grid will be a collaborative effort in both RTO and non-RTO regions. WIRES will be an important voice in that effort," said Jim Hoecker, counsel and advisor to WIRES, former Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP. "Because a strong transmission grid is important to various aspects of the U.S. and Canadian economies, WIRES seeks to represent a broad coalition of transmission-related interests."
WIRES has elected to its board of directors Linda H. Blair, Vice President, Business Strategy, ITC Transmission; Janet Gail Besser, Vice President of Regulation and Commercial Services, National Grid; Paul D. McCoy, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer, Trans-Elect, Inc.; Will Kaul, Vice President, Transmission, Great River Energy; and David T. Gill, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, TXU Electric Delivery Company.
WIRES membership is open to publicly and privately owned integrated utilities, transmission companies, cooperatives, technology companies, private equity concerns, and government and academic persons interested in electric transmission issues. For more information, contact Mr. Hoecker at 202-639-6500 or at jhoecker@velaw.com. Further information can be obtained at www.wiresgroup.com.
SOURCE: WIRES