Our latest newsletter highlights our late winter and spring activities and offers a preview of WIRES’ summer efforts. | |
WIRES Report on Transmission Formula Rates | |
WIRES published in February a primer on transmission formula rates (TFRs), prepared by London Economics International. The primer explores what TFRs are, describes how FERC applies such rates, and assesses in an objective manner the positive ratemaking characteristics inherent in the use of TFRs for customers, regulators, transmission owners, and other industry stakeholders. It also provides a brief history of the inception and use of formula rates, as well as a high-level comparison of the use of the traditional stated rates approach and formula rates. | |
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The report finds that TFRs have characteristics that advance ratemaking objectives of transparency and oversight, timeliness of cost recovery, as well as reduced regulatory burden and enhanced administrative efficiency (particularly when compared to full, lengthy stated rate cases). These attributes result in benefits that flow through to customers, FERC, transmission owners, and other industry stakeholders involved in transmission rate proceedings.
Be sure to read this valuable resource. Click to access the report.
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2023 WIRES Spring Member Meeting
We were very pleased to welcome FERC Chairman Phillips and many members of his staff to our Charleston, SC meeting. The Chairman made clear that this is “a pivotal moment” in the energy landscape and that FERC “needs to double down and follow through on our commitment regarding transmission reform, and send the right signals to investors to let them know we are doing everything we can to speed this process up.”
The Chairman offered many insights and was generous with time during the Q&A period. We encourage you to listen to the recording of his address and the Q&A in addition to the panels on Environmental Justice and Interregional Transmission.
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Summer Member Meeting
July 26-27th at the Omni Grove Park Inn
Plan ahead – be sure to mark your calendar for our Summer Member Meeting in Asheville, NC.
In addition to a keynote from MISO’s CEO John Bear, there will be two panel discussions on transmission planning and grid security. For more details, visit our Summer Member Meeting event page.
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In total, WIRES’ membership accounts for ~165,000 miles of high voltage transmission, nearly 25% of all transmission lines in the U.S. | |
Full Supporting Member
PPL Electric Utilities delivers safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to more than 1.4 million homes and businesses in eastern and central Pennsylvania. It regularly ranks among the country’s best utility companies for reliability and customer satisfaction. PPL Electric is committed to creating a reliable and resilient transmission system and continuously invests in projects that better protect the grid from extreme weather, reduce outages and enable renewable energy interconnections to advance a cleaner energy future. Since 2012, PPL Electric’s system upgrades have reduced the frequency of transmission system outages by 92%. In October 2022, PPL Electric became the first U.S. utility to integrate a Dynamic Line Rating System into a transmission line, reducing congestion and promoting market efficiency. PPL Electric, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, understands that our customers depend on us to power their way of life – and we deliver.
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Associate Member
Stantec is one of the most respected environmental and design firms in North America, with an extensive nationwide portfolio of power projects that we have helped to bring online. We have a team of recognized experts dedicated to energy project development and are known and trusted as credible experts. In the US alone, we have nearly 10,500 staff in over 880 offices and have provided services on over 15,000 power projects since 2010. We leverage our diverse team to successfully support energy projects that include diverse ecosystems, stakeholders, and design requirements.
Founded in 1954, the Stantec community collaborates across disciplines and industries to bring environmental, buildings, energy and resource, and infrastructure projects to life. As a result of our responsiveness to the largest Investor-Owned Utilities via our dedicated, local delivery teams, we have become a trusted advisor for program and project management services on large operation and maintenance and capital expenditure programs to the transmission and distribution industry.
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Larry will be speaking at a number of industry events this spring:
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Follow Us on Social Media | |
WIRES is a non-profit trade association of investor-, publicly-, and cooperatively owned transmission providers, transmission customers, regional grid managers, and equipment and service companies. WIRES promotes investment in electric transmission and progressive state and federal policies that advance energy markets, economic efficiency, and consumer and environmental benefits through development of electric power infrastructure. For more information, visit www.wiresgroup.com. | | | | |
