To whom must electric utilities report losses of large amounts of firm system loads?

Electric utilities are required to report losses of large amounts of firm system loads to the Department of Energy (DOE). This responsibility is part of the DOE's role in ensuring the reliability and security of the nation's energy supply. The DOE monitors and analyzes the performance and reliability of the electric grid, and significant load losses can indicate potential disruptions or vulnerabilities within the system that need to be addressed.

Reporting such losses allows the DOE to stay informed about the state of the electric grid, which is critical for making decisions related to energy policy, resource allocation, and emergency response measures. It also facilitates collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders to improve grid resilience and preparedness for various scenarios, including natural disasters and systemic failures.

While other agencies like NERC and FERC play important roles in overseeing electric reliability and market operations, respectively, they do not have the same direct reporting requirements concerning large load losses as the DOE does.