FERC Conditionally Approves MISO Tariff Amendment on Cost Allocation
This afternoon, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission conditionally approved the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator's (MISO) proposed tariff amendment regarding allocating the cost of network upgrades for generation interconnection projects meeting MISO's regional expansion criteria and benefits (RECB) standards. See my previous blog entry for a more detailed discussion on the history of the tariff amendment, as well as protests to the amendment filed by AWEA and others.
Under the decision rendered today, FERC found that the proposed solution provides an interim solution, and directs MISO to make a compliance filing (1) to fulfill its commitment to file superseding tariff revisions regarding the Phase II cost allocation methodology on or before July 15, 2010, and (2) to reflect certain conforming changes to its tariff. In addition, FERC expects MISO to provide the Commission with status reports on the Phase II process.
To see any of the documents filed in this proceeding, go to FERC's eLibrary website and enter in Docket No. ER09-1431.
FERC Issues MISO Letter of Deficiency on RECB Cost Allocation Issue
On September 2, 2009, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a letter of deficiency to the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator in MISO's RECB Phase I generator interconnect cost allocation tariff amendment proceedings (Docket No. ER09-1431). See my previous blog entry on AWEA's protest to the MISO filing for additional background.
The letter instructs MISO to provide certain supplemental information within fifteen days. Specifically, MISO is instructed to provide a list of all of the interconnection projects that will be affected by the tariff amendment, an explanation of MISO's position on the relevant date for determining which cost allocation method methodology will apply, and additional support for certain statements made in its filing regarding attrition rates and elimination of certain requirements of interconnecting generators resulting from the filing. Finally, MISO is instructed to provide a timeline and description of the anticipated RECB Phase II methodology stakeholder process that will be followed to permit MISO to meet its commitment to file a succeeding tariff proposal by July 15, 2010.
AWEA, Others File Protests at FERC to MISO Proposed Cost Allocation
On August 13, 2009, the American Wind Energy Association, Wind on the Wires and certain wind developers filed protests at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator's (MISO) recent filing at FERC. The MISO filing proposes to revise MISO's cost allocation methodology for network upgrades for generator interconnection, and resulted from MISO's Regional Expansion Criteria & Benefits (RECB) Task Force.
The current cost allocation methodology in place provides that the cost of network upgrades for generator interconnection are funded initially by generator interconnection customers, and the customer is entitled to a 50% reimbursement where it is demonstrated that the output will serve MISO’s network customers or the facility has been designated a network resource. For facilities rated 345 kV and higher, 20% of the refund cost is allocated to all MISO pricing zones on a postage-stamp basis, and 80% is allocated among pricing zones using a line outage distribution factor (LODF) method.
Under the MISO proposal, cost allocation would be as follows: (i) for network upgrades below 345 kV, 100% to the interconnection customer, and (ii) for network upgrades 345 kV and above, 90% to the interconnection customer and 10% to all transmission customers through a postage stamp-type charge.
To read any of the documents related to the MISO filing, go to the FERC eLibrary website and enter in Docket No. ER09-1431.
