U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and Canadian Minister of Natural Resources Herb Dhaliwal met in Detroit, Michigan, on August 20, 2003, and agreed on an Outline to be followed by the Task Force in its investigation of the recent power outage that affected Canada and the United States.  The Outline calls for the Task Force to determine what happened, and why it was not contained.  The Task Force will be supported by three Working Groups that will address electric system, security, and nuclear issues.  The Outline also calls for the development of recommendations on how to prevent future power outages.

The Task Force will be jointly chaired by Secretary Abraham and Minister Dhaliwal, and will include as U.S. members Tom Ridge, Secretary of Homeland Security, Pat Wood, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and Nils J. Diaz, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  The Canadian members will be Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, Kenneth Vollman, Chairman of the National Energy Board, and Linda J. Keen, President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

The Working Groups will include all relevant federal departments and agencies and will include representatives of the affected States and Provinces.   In addition, the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) and the affected Independent System Operators and utilities have agreed that their investigations will supplement and contribute to the work of the Task Force.  Local authorities, private sector electricity providers, and other experts will be invited to contribute to the work of the Task Force.

The principals also announced that the work of the Task Force will be managed by Jimmy Glotfelty on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Dr. Nawal Kamel on behalf of Natural Resources Canada.

The parties expressed a firm commitment to a renewed and strengthened effort to address the security and efficiency of the North American electric power system.   This signals their determination to enhance the reliability of our power supply for the future.
 

U.S./ Canada

Power System Outage Task Force

2003

Task Force Outline

Members of the Task Force:

United States

• Secretary Spencer Abraham – Department of Energy – Co-Chairman
• Secretary Tom Ridge – Department of Homeland Security
• Chairman Pat Wood – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Chairman Nils J. Diaz – Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Canada

• Minister Herb Dhaliwal – Natural Resources Canada – Co-Chairman
• Deputy Prime Minister John Manley
• Chairman Kenneth Vollman – National Energy Board
• Linda Keen – President & CEO, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

The work of the Task Force will be managed by Jimmy Glotfelty from the U.S. Department of Energy and Dr. Nawal Kamel from Natural Resources Canada.   The Task Force will be supported by three working groups, each including representative(s) of the DOE and Natural Resources Canada, or their designee(s).

NERC, relevant ISOs and utilities will contribute data and analysis to each of the working groups.

Phase I – Fact Finding:

1.   What happened on August 14, 2003 to cause the transmission system to fail resulting in the power outage and why?

2.   Why was the system not able to stop the spread of the outage?

• Electric System Working Group:   Co-chaired by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the Department of Energy (DOE) on the U.S.side and on the Canadian side by Natural Resources Canada.  It will also include a senior representative of all affected States and Provinces.
  • This working group will develop a complete reconstruction of events surrounding the power outages and identify reasons why the system failed.
• Security Working Group:   Chaired by the Department of Homeland Security on the U.S.side and a representative for the Government of Canadaand will include a senior representative of all affected States and Provinces.

• Nuclear Working Group:   Chaired by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and will include a senior representative of all affected States and Provinces.
  • This working group will identify all relevant actions by nuclear generating facilities in connection with the outage.

Phase II – Recommendations:

1.   How do we prevent future power outages?

• The Task Force will evaluate all information produced as a result of the fact finding phase.
• Members of the Task Force or their representatives will meet with appropriate State and local officials and seek their advice and recommendations.
• The Task Force will also seek the individual input of relevant Independent System Operators or other parties.

After receiving the information it needs, the Task Force will develop a report containing the results of its investigation and whatever recommendations it determines are appropriate to prevent future outages in both the short and long term, for the system as a whole.

Media Contact(s):
Jeanne Lopatto, 202/586-4940
Corry Schiermeyer, 202/586-5806
Joe Davis, 202/586-4940