§824a–1 Pooling

Summary

The Commission can exempt electric utilities from a state law or rule that stops them from working together, including making central dispatch agreements. It can act on its own or must act if someone or a government asks. Before approving an exemption, the Commission must give public notice, tell the state’s governor, and hold a public hearing. The Commission cannot give an exemption if the state rule is required by federal law or if it exists to protect health, safety, welfare, the environment, conserve energy, or deal with fuel-shortage emergencies. The Commission, with reliability councils, the Secretary, and the electric utility industry, must study chances to save energy, use facilities more efficiently, and improve reliability. It can recommend that utilities negotiate voluntarily when such chances exist. The Commission must report each year to the President and Congress on recommendations and actions taken, and include that report in its annual report under the Department of Energy Organization Act.