Investigations: More Juice for the FPC?

To many experts, a clear corollary of the great Northeastern blackout in November was that the Federal Power Commission should exercise closer control over the utility companies. Last week, before a special House subcommittee holding the first congressional hearings on the near disaster, FPC Chairman Joseph Swidler added his voice to those who advocate strengthening the agency.

While the Federal Government tightly regulates other forms of interstate commerce, from transport to pharmaceuticals, the FPC’s main function is to approve the wholesale rates at which the nation’s 3,600 electric companies can sell power to each other. Even during his investigation of the blackout, Swidler had to rely on the voluntary cooperation of the companies he was investigating. Despite the growth of huge power pools, through which utilities trade electrical output, Swidler pointed out, the FPC has no authority to set or enforce minimum standards for system design, operation of generating plants, or intersystem coordination.

Asked by Subcommittee Chairman Walter Rogers of Texas whether measures taken by utility companies since the blackout—particularly to provide more efficient grid connections and adequate auxiliary generating equipment—are “of sufficient permanency to solve this problem,” Swidler declared: “Without legislation, this problem cannot be solved.”