ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION COMPETITION COALITION

Advancing common-sense policies to ensure that new investment in transmission projects are competitively bid, reducing electricity costs for all ratepayers.

/ ABOUT

Electricity Transmission Project Competition Is Essential

The Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition is committed to increasing competition in America’s electricity transmission infrastructure to meet the United States’ net-zero carbon emission goals while providing savings to ratepayers.

Electricity transmission competition has broad support

Electricity transmission competition has support from the Biden Administration, as well as Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. ETCC represents a diverse group of more than 70 companies and organizations from 48 states that all advocate for increased competition.

Competition will help the U.S. achieve its net-zero carbon emissions goals at lower costs

If the U.S. is to meet its net-zero carbon emission goal by 2050, we need to expand electricity transmission by 60% by 2030 and triple it by 2050. Electricity transmission competition can help us achieve these goals while saving money for ratepayers.

Investment in electricity transmission are key to managing the energy transition

The continued expansion of electrification requires substantial investment in electric transmission, which represents the fastest growing cost for consumers – to the tune of $800B by 2035. ETCC supports the goal of reducing carbon emissions and firmly asserts that capital spending in the private sector should be done as efficiently as possible to minimize the impact of costs to consumers.

Policymakers should embrace policies that encourage competition

Studies show that the current level of competition in electric transmission has been limited, with only 3% of transmission projects subject to competition. Policymakers should reject policies that give preferential treatment to incumbent monopoly utilities.

/ KEY FINDINGS

Competition Cuts Costs

Requiring competition in building out the transmission grid leads to competitively priced transmission projects, construction of projects that meet reliability requirements, and ensures that transmission investments are market-driven.

/ KEY FINDINGS

Competition Cuts Costs

/ WIDE SUPPORT

What People Are Saying

State commissions, federal agencies, trade associations, consumer groups, and environmental advocates agree that transmission competition is needed to ensure the creation of cost-effective and efficient transmission projects.

"FERC’s transmission planning and interconnection policies should continue to support robust competition and should temper the ability of incumbent transmission providers to expand their monopoly control over the electric grid."

-National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates

“Given the existing, and increasing, financial burden on transmission customers, it is imperative that oversight of transmission spending effectively ensures that customers do not pay for suboptimal, unnecessary, or imprudent projects."

-California Public Utilities Commission

“Enhancing opportunities for competition is another important step in ensuring a cost-effective development of the transmission grid.”

-The Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia (“D.C. People’s Counsel”)

“Competition for constructing new transmission infrastructure, if implemented as ETCC recommends, will produce the innovation, cost discipline, and accountability on which just and reasonable rates can be derived.”

-Resale Power Group of Iowa

“Eliminating competitive carve-outs that enable regulatory evasion under Order No. 1000 should be prioritized, and R Street supports the comments of the Electric Transmission Competition Coalition in this proceeding.”

-R Street Institute

“The Commission should move forward aggressively to eliminate the absolute power held by incumbent public utilities to prevent competition in the development of new transmission through rights-of-first-refusal or other anti-competitive measures that prevent competition for new transmission development.”

-Industrial Customer Organizations

News & Resources

The Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition is a leading source for news, policy, research, and education on electricity transmission competition.

Iowa Supreme Court Blocks “Anticompetitive” Right of First Refusal Bill

March 24, 2023

The Iowa Supreme Court struck a blow against anticompetitive monopoly interests in its decision to issue an injunction against the state’s Right of First Refusal (ROFR).

Consumers Disappointed by Mississippi Governor Reeves’ Decision to Sign Unconstitutional, Anti-Competitive Electricity Transmission Bill into Law

March 7, 2023

An 86-member consumer coalition expressed disappointment in Mississippi Governor Reeves’ decision to sign a new bill that would prevent transmission competition projects.

Montana Right-of-First-Refusal Law Fails to Advance-Consumers Win!

March 1, 2023

Lawmakers in Montana yesterday voted 11-1 in favor of tabling Senate Bill 353 that would favor incumbent utility monopolies and lead to higher electricity prices for consumers.