Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a request for information related to the resilience of the electric grid against severe weather events.

In the request, the DOE notes concern among government agencies, utilities and the public about the risks presented by more frequent and more severe weather events, and that concern has led to widespread discussion about how to make the electric infrastructure systems more resilient against such hazards. It also states its goal is to identify strategies that will be cost-effective.

"This is challenging to do, however, given the many uncertainties and variables associated with weather-related events," the request states.

The DOE seeks to gather information on current consensus-based codes, specifications, standards and other forms of guidance designed to improve the resilience of electric infrastructure systems against severe weather events, with respect to the design and the operation of these systems.

In specific, it seeks information on topics that include specific technical design standards or requirements for physical system components, relevant business practices, and analytic methods and tools for estimating the possible economic benefits from strategies, investments and/or initiatives designed to enhance power system resilience.

"DOE anticipates using this information to catalogue and synthesize a body of existing expert knowledge about how best to enhance the weather-related resilience of the grid, cost-effectively," the request states. "Accordingly, it is important for respondents to supplement specific standards, requirements or practices with the rationale(s) relied upon in developing them and justifying their use."

The DOE is also seeking information about state and local codes and standards that have resilience implications, as well as any other less well-documented requirements or practices.

Those interested in providing comments have until Aug. 23, 2019, to do so.