United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-02-01 monographic deposited born digital 32 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-347R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-347R P0b002ee180394145 f:d08347r DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-347R machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-347R GAO-08-347R Electric energy Electric power generation Electric power transmission Electricity demand Electricity restructuring Energy consumption Energy demand Energy development Energy industry Energy management Energy planning Power transmission Public roads or highways Rail (Railroads) Regulatory agencies Risk management Strategic planning Correspondence A80370 Electricity is central to the national economy and the daily lives of many Americans, powering homes, businesses, and industries. Today, an extensive system consisting of more than 150,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines works to provide reliable electricity service and transport electricity from power plants to consumers. Federal and state entities share responsibility for regulating the electricity system. On the federal level, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates interstate transmission of electricity and wholesale rates, among other regulatory activities. State public utility commissions are generally responsible for regulating retail electricity sales and, in some cases, planning for new power plants and transmission lines. However, as studies have shown, growth in electricity demand has strained the nation's transmission system, resulting in less flexibility to respond to system problems and an increased risk of potential blackouts. These issues have led some to suggest that new lines or other investments in the transmission system may be required to increase capacity and accommodate growing electricity demand. Several companies have recently introduced proposals to build new high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission lines. Some of these proposed lines would follow active transportation rights of way, such as railroads, highways, and pipelines. Some stakeholders have raised concerns about the potential economic, safety, and security issues related to collocating new HVDC transmission lines along transportation rights of way, particularly for nearby residents and consumers of electric power. Given these issues, Congress included a provision in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 requiring us to assess the siting of HVDC transmission lines along active railroad and other transportation rights of way and report to appropriate congressional committees. In response to this requirement and after discussions with the committees, we examined (1) the role of the federal government in siting HVDC electric transmission lines along active transportation rights of way, (2) advantages and disadvantages of adding transmission lines and using HVDC technology, and (3) benefits and risks associated with the siting of HVDC electric transmission lines along active transportation rights of way. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-347R/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-347R.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-347R/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-347R.pdf GAO-08-347R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-347R Correspondence GAO-08-347R; Transmission Lines: Issues Associated with High-Voltage Direct-Current Transmission Lines along Transportation Rights of Way; Electric energy Electric power generation Electric power transmission Electricity demand Electricity restructuring Energy consumption Energy demand Energy development Energy industry Energy management Energy planning Power transmission Public roads or highways Rail (Railroads) Regulatory agencies Risk management Strategic planning Public Law 109-58 Public Law 110-53