The Southeastern Electric Reliability Council (SERC) unanimously agreed Wednesday to the immediate implementation of an enforceable electric reliability compliance program. SERC's program, known as the Regional Compliance and Enforcement Program (RCEP), requires members participating in the program to face penalties for non-compliance with certain electric reliability standards adopted by the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC).

"We believe that enforceable reliability standards are an enhancement to the SERC processes and serve to minimize the possibility of system disruptions," said Terry Boston, chairman of the SERC Board of Directors. "Following on the lessons learned from the blackout investigations, SERC is voluntarily implementing this program to require compliance with electric reliability standards and provide for their enforcement through penalties for its participating members when they are not in compliance."

"In light of the Aug. 14, 2003 blackout and the various initiatives to further strengthen reliability, we believe SERC should take on a leadership role in implementing the RCEP. SERC sees this effort as a way to show leadership in ensuring a safe and reliable electric system for our customers," said Boston.

Utilities who have signed the RCEP agreement and are participating in its implementation include: Duke Power, Entergy, Southern Company, the Tennessee Valley Authority and Dominion.

The Southeastern Electric Reliability Council is the Regional Reliability Organization responsible for promoting, coordinating and ensuring the reliability and adequacy of the bulk power supply systems in the area served by the more than 50 regular and associate members of SERC in 13 states in the southeastern United States. SERC promotes the development of reliability and adequacy arrangements among the systems; participates in the establishment of reliability policies, standards, principles, and guides; administers a regional compliance and enforcement program to achieve the reliability benefits of coordinated planning and operations; and provides a mechanism to resolve disputes on reliability issues. SERC membership comprises investor-owned, municipal, cooperative, state and federal systems, independent power producers, and power marketers in its region. SERC is one of the 10 regional reliability councils constituting the North American Electric Reliability Council.