WIRES Newsletter – Summer 2022 | |
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With summer vacations over and everyone in back-to-school mode, WIRES is looking ahead to a busy Fall focused on FERC and some potentially impactful regulatory actions for transmission. In August, WIRES submitted comments mostly in support of FERC’s proposed rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation while offering targeted suggestions on areas for clarification and refinement. On a separate track, WIRES looks forward to providing its comments and suggested revisions on the proposed generator interconnection rule in the weeks ahead. In addition to these proposed rules, WIRES will actively participate in an upcoming FERC technical conference focused on transmission planning and cost management for transmission facilities.
Meanwhile, WIRES continues to serve as a forum for enlightening discussions with industry leaders on cutting edge transmission issues. In July, ISO-NE CEO Gordon van Welie was the featured speaker at the WIRES Summer Meeting that also included panel discussions on offshore wind and the FERC transmission NOPR. And in October, WIRES will welcome FERC Commissioner Willie Phillips as the Keynote Speaker to our Fall Meeting in Washington, DC. Finally, stay tuned as WIRES looks to release in the coming weeks its next report highlighting the benefits of formula rates to customers of transmission infrastructure development, insights that are likely to inform cost issues implicated in the various transmission proceedings currently under consideration at FERC.
Larry Gasteiger
Executive Director, WIRES
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At our Summer Meeting in beautiful Newport, RI, members were welcomed with a video address by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) and a compelling keynote address from ISO-New England’s CEO, Gordon van Welie. The two lively panels on transmission and offshore wind, and the planning and cost allocation NOPR were well received.
Recordings of Senator Whitehouse's, Gordon van Welie’s remarks and the panel discussions are available on our Summer Meeting page.
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Be sure to mark your calendar for our Fall Member Meeting in Washington, DC on October 26-27, 2022 | |
Keynote Speaker Willie Phillips | |
Our popular Member Webinar Series continued this Spring with a number of speakers from FERC. | |
In September we look forward to welcoming Jignasa Gadani, director of FERC’s Office of Energy Policy and Innovation (OEPI). The webinar will be at 10:00 am on September 29th. | |
In total, WIRES’ membership accounts for ~160,000 miles of high voltage transmission, nearly 25% of all transmission lines in the U.S. | |
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Full Supporting Member
Eversource, celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to approximately 4.4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,200 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. In 2021, Eversource invested approximately $1 billion in the electric transmission system. These investments have resulted in strong reliability and safety performance, improved resiliency, economic growth and the integration of more renewable energy in the region. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Associate Member
Currently ranked as the No. 1 firm for Power and T&D by ENR, Burns & McDonnell is helping electric utilities around the globe as they navigate major transformations in an array of energy markets. As a 100% employee-owned firm, Burns & McDonnell provides EPC, construction, and program management services for high-voltage transmission and substation facilities, underground transmission corridors, comprehensive modernization of distribution systems, telecommunications network integration and automation, transit electrification, offshore and onshore wind interconnection hubs as well as utility-scale solar installations, and industrial electrical system upgrades. More than 1,800 Burns & McDonnell T&D professionals provide permitting and studies, detailed engineering, construction program management, final-phase startup and commissioning, and much more from offices located around the globe.
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WIRES is delighted to welcome two new members. Ameren as a Full Supporting Member and Terracon as an Associate Member. | |
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Larry spoke at a number of industry events this spring and summer and will be a general session speaker at the inaugural T&D World Conference & Expo in October.
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ACEG Webinar – Planning for the Future: Diverse Perspectives on the FERC’s Proposed Planning Rule – August 18th
Upcoming
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FERC Technical Conference – October 6, 2022 – Panel 4: Regional Transmission Facility for Reliability Cost Management Practices (1:40pm to 2:50pm)
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T&D World Conf. & Expo – October 5-7, 2022 – Friday Oct. 7th General Session – Transmission Planning for a Cleaner and More Resilient Grid
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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.
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