Links
​​​​Following are links to U.S., Canadian, and Mexican agencies and organizations that provide a wealth of information on various aspects of the electricity industry.
 
U.S. Government
Acronym Organization Description
FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil.  The Energy Policy Act of 2005 gave FERC additional responsibilities, including ensuring the reliability of the high-voltage interstate electricity transmission system via its oversight of NERC.
DOE Department of Energy Mission is advancing the national, economic, and energy security of the US; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex.
DHS Department of Homeland Security Provides the unifying core for the vast national network of organizations and institutions involved in efforts to secure the nation.
EIA
​Energy Information Administration
Statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides policy-independent data, forecasts, and analyses to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment. The EIA website has a wealth of information, including descriptions of how the electricity industry works, how electricity is created and transported to customers, and a comprehensive Glossary.​
U.S. Trade Organizations
Acronym Organization Description
APPA American Public Power Association National trade association representing more than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities. Public power utilities are operated by local governments.  The APPA website has industry statistics and links.
EEI Edison Electric Institute National trade association for U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies and their worldwide affiliates. Website has information including industry statistics. Access the websites of these utilities via U.S. Shareholder-Owned Electric Companies.
EPRI Electric Power Research Institute Independent, nonprofit center for public interest energy and environmental research. Research areas include nearly every area of electricity generation, delivery, and use, including health, safety, and environment.
EPSA Electric Power Supply Association National trade association representing competitive power suppliers, including generators and marketers.
ELCON Electricity Consumers Resource Council Association of industrial consumers of electricity.
NAESB North American Energy Standards Board Industry forum for the development and promotion of standards for the wholesale and retail natural gas and electricity markets.
NARUC National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
Non-profit organization whose members are the state government regulators of energy, telecommunications and water utilities. NARUC's mission is to improve the quality and effectiveness of public utility regulation. Their website has links to the state utility commissions.
NASUCA National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates Association of state consumer advocates, designated by law to represent the interests of utility consumers before state and federal regulators and in the courts.
NEM National Energy Marketers Association Non-profit trade association representing wholesale and retail marketers of energy, telecom and financial-related products and services. Website has information on energy prices.
NRECA National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
National service organization representing cooperative electric utilities and their consumers.
Other
Acronym Organization Description
NASEO National Association of State Energy Officials Nonprofit organization that represents the Governor-designated energy officials from each state and territory, and is dedicated to improving the effectiveness and quality of state energy programs and policies
NATF North American Transmission Forum The North American Transmission Forum's members include investor-owned, state-authorized, municipal, cooperative, U.S. federal, and Canadian provincial utilities. The forum promotes the highest levels of reliability in the operation of the electric transmission systems.
NCSL National Conference of State Legislatures Bipartisan organization that provides research and technical assistance to the legislators and staffs of the U.S. states.
ISO/RTO Various Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations.
  Local electric companies
You can link to the websites of local electric companies via:
  Utility Connection
Provides links to 4,032 electric, gas, water and wastewater utilities, utility associations, organizations, news, magazines, utility financial resources, and related state & federal regulatory and information sites.
Canadian Government
Acronym Organization Description
NEB
 
Independent federal agency that regulates aspects of Canada's energy industry, and promotes safety and security, environmental protection and efficient energy infrastructure and markets in the Canadian public interest.
OEE Office of Energy Efficiency
 
Centre of excellence for energy conservation, energy efficiency and alternative fuels information.  OEE provides energy conservation advice to consumers and businesses, and has links to hundreds of related sites.
  Statistics Canada National statistical agency providing data on many subjects including energy.
NRCAN Provincial utility regulato​ry agencies
The Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE), Canada's centre of excellence for energy conservation, energy efficiency and alternative fuels information, is playing a dynamic leadership role in helping Canadians save millions of dollars in energy costs while contributing to a healthier environment.
Canadian Trade Organizations
Acronym Organization Description
EC
Electricity Canada​
National trade association of the electricity industry. The website has a Glossary, History, Facts and an extensive list of links to industry and governmental entities. The site also has links to members, which include utilities, independent power producers, and marketers.​​
CEEA Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance Non-profit, member organization providing energy efficiency information and resources for design and energy professionals, and the general public.
CERI Canadian Energy Research Institute Independent, non-profit research institute committed to excellence in the analysis of energy economics and related environmental policy issues in the producing, transportation, and consuming sectors.
PS Public Safety Canada Public Safety Canada (PS), formerly known as Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC), was created in 2003 to ensure coordination across all federal departments and agencies responsible for national security and the safety of Canadians.
ECC Energy Council of Canada Canadian member of the World Energy Council, dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness of the national energy strategy
Mexico
Acronym Organization Description
CFE
Comisión Federal de Ele​ctricida​d
Government-owned utility. CFE was previously a vertically integrated utility but under the 2013-2014 electricity reforms, CFE, has been restructured into separate distribution, transmission, and generation organizations. Under an agreement between WECC and CFE, WECC has been monitoring CFE’s compliance with certain standards in the portion of CFE’s system in Baja California Norte that is interconnected to California.
​CRE Comisión Reguladora de Energia ​Federal energy regulator. On March 3, 2016, CRE commissioners approved Resolución RES/151/2016, containing the first Grid Code (Codiga de Red) under Mexico’s 20132014 electricity reforms. Under these reforms, CRE has many new responsibilities and authorities, including establishing regulations for electric reliability and security. The Grid Code contains the criteria for “efficiency, quality, reliability, continuity, security, and sustainability of the National Electric System” in Mexico, and the initial version incorporates ten NERC Reliability Standards. 

CRE is required to update the Grid Code annually for the next five years. In June 2016, NERC and WECC conducted a workshop for Mexican subject matter experts to provide a comprehensive overview of NERC and WECC Reliability Standards in order to assist them in providing technical advice to CRE during the development of the second Grid Code.
CENACE Centro Nacional de Control de Energía Independent system and market operator for all parts of the Mexican electric system.