Stakeholders told MISO on Wednesday to rework a proposal that allows the RTO to remove stakeholders and committee leadership in certain situations.
MISO is seeking to codify in the stakeholder governance guide its ability to remove a stakeholder committee chair and to unilaterally ban disorderly stakeholders from meetings in response to an incident involving a stakeholder in 2019.
However, the Advisory Committee put the proposal on ice during the meeting Jan. 20, with members saying vague language needs wordsmithing.
The grid operator said it should be able to bar stakeholders when they cause a disruption or damage while on MISO property, become physically or verbally abusive, or threaten physical harm to other staff and stakeholders. These threats can be written or spoken, General Counsel Timothy Caister said.
The RTO said it should also be able to remove stakeholders if it is made aware of “information that would justify or otherwise provide a reasonable basis for such an action.”
Caister said MISO needs to be able to prevent building damage and physical harm. He said the proposal’s language is intentional “because of past experience.”
“We do believe it’s appropriate to add this in light of findings and lessons learned,” Caister said.
In August 2019, MISO removed a stakeholder from its facilities after the individual sent threatening emails to multiple MISO executives. The incident resulted in two MISO executives filing orders of personal protection against the stakeholder.
MISO also wants to list grounds for removing a stakeholder chair from their committee. It recommended that staff or stakeholders initiate removal when a chair is repeatedly not available for committee meetings, is not fulfilling their leadership role, not observing stakeholder governance rules, or “demonstrating, condoning or otherwise not managing unprofessional behavior during meetings.”
Madison Gas and Electric’s Megan Wisersky said she worried the proposed language is too vague and permits MISO “way too much latitude for what could be very subjective reasons.”
“I’m not saying it’s going to be, but it could be potentially abused,” she said, adding that stakeholders can always vote to remove committee leadership.
“MISO already has the ability to oust anyone who’s abusive or is doing damage to property,” Wisersky added.
