What aspect of the electric transmission system does the Energy Policy Act of 2005 focus on?

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 specifically focuses on improving the reliability of the electric transmission system in the United States, particularly emphasizing the transmission lines that operate at 100 kV or above. This legislation was a response to various reliability issues and aimed to provide a legal framework for establishing and enforcing reliability standards across the grid.

By targeting transmission lines at 100 kV or higher, the act addresses sectors of the electric grid that are critical for the bulk transfer of electricity over long distances. These high-voltage transmission systems are essential for connecting generation resources to load centers and for facilitating the wide-scale movement of electricity across regional and national boundaries.

The act also gave the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authority to enforce reliability standards and established the framework for the development and adherence to these standards in the transmission sector. Thus, the emphasis on 100 kV and above reflects a strategic decision aimed at enhancing the reliability and robustness of the electric transmission network, which is crucial for the overall stability of the energy infrastructure.