Washington, D.C. – The Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition (ETCC) and the Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA) filed a Protest with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today in opposition to an anticompetitive filing by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO).[1] MISO is seeking approval to exempt $1.95 billion of regionally funded transmission projects, known as Multi-Value Projects, from long-standing competitive bidding requirements. Instead of utilizing its cost-reducing competitive process, MISO asks that it be allowed to directly assign those projects to select utilities.

Paul Cicio, Chair of ETCC stated “FERC should reject MISO’s filing with prejudice and mandate MISO’s adherence to the competitive process already in its Tariff. MISO’s filing would prevent utilities from competing with one another to build these large transmission projects that would substantially reduce ratepayer costs. MISO’s filing is hardly a narrow clarification of its Tariff. Rather, it is a request for authority to bypass FERC’s core transmission planning, competition, and interregional coordination requirements whenever MISO chooses to do so. If accepted, MISO’s proposed Tariff revisions would establish a framework under which MISO may remove transmission facilities from the Commission’s required competitive and interregional planning processes based solely on its own unilateral characterization of those facilities.”

Without competition, an incumbent monopoly utility has zero incentive to reduce costs. An historical assessment of 19 transmission projects in CAISO, MISO, and SPP from 2021-2025 that were subject to competition shows an average cost reduction over initial project estimates of 34 percent, with cost overrun protections and schedule guarantees common among selected bidders.[2] In contrast, a similar analysis of transmission projects during the FERC Order No. 1000 era that were not competitively bid shows an average cost overrun of 89 percent, with no cost overrun protections or schedule guarantees. The numbers speak for themselves.”[3]

ETCC urges FERC to protect ratepayers, not electric utilities seeking to extract monopoly profits. FERC must act to ensure that competition – not preferential treatment – guides the buildout of America’s electric grid.

About the Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition

The Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition (ETCC) is a broad-based, nation-wide coalition committed to increasing competition in America’s electricity transmission infrastructure. We advocate for common-sense policies and solutions that result in competitively priced transmission projects, which reduce energy costs for all ratepayers – from large manufacturers to residential consumers. The ETCC represents a diverse group of 95 companies and organizations from all 50 states, including manufacturing groups, retail electric consumers, state consumer advocates, think tanks, and non-incumbent transmission developers.

For more information, visit: www.electricitytransmissioncompetitioncoalition.org.

Press Contact:

Ginger Felberg

Gfelberg@signaldc.com