State Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, recently organized and chaired a meeting with federal energy officials to discuss ways to lower electrical costs and increase reliability.

“Kansas is recognized nationally for the extraordinary leadership shown by legislators in developing policies to promote consumer benefits during this era of electric industry regulatory restructuring,” said Sloan, following the meeting in Washington, D.C., on May 14.

Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other energy officials participated in the meeting.

The panel recommended ways to shorten the time it takes regional transmission organizations to authorize construction of new transmission lines. It also discussed ways to develop both an interstate transmission system and independent transmission companies to construct and operate high voltage lines.

The next day, Sloan was the only state legislator to participate in the Southwest Power Pool’s Transmission Planning Summit in Dallas.