By Amanda Durish Cook

CARMEL, Ind. — MISO is weighing how it can improve its interregional process and joint operating agreement with SPP to make it easier to develop cross-seams projects that have so far remained elusive.

The RTOs have conducted two coordinated system plan studies that have failed to produce an approved interregional project, although they have studied several candidate projects. (See MISO Confident in Tx Process with SPP Despite Lack of Projects.)

“The assumption is the coordinated system plan is not setting us up for success,” Eric Thoms, MISO manager of interregional planning and coordination, told stakeholders at a Feb. 14 Planning Advisory Committee meeting.

Planning staff for both RTOs have agreed to meet this spring to devise ways to improve their joint study process.

Thoms said MISO is considering lowering hurdles for interregional projects, including removing the $5 million cost threshold and eliminating the joint model study requirement, which he said is unnecessary when the RTOs’ separate regional evaluations can adequately examine prospective interregional projects.

He also said the RTOs might identify more joint benefit metrics that could better illustrate the value of potential transmission projects and clarify to stakeholders the process for approving interregional projects.

However, some stakeholders said the RTOs must first address their disparate transmission usage charges before working toward interregional project approval.

“I’m glad to see MISO is trying for constituency between seams, but MISO and SPP have incompatible [unreserved usage charges],” said Minnesota Public Utilities Commission staff member Hwikwon Ham. Until the RTOs have comparable transmission usage charges, interregional projects will be difficult to approve, Ham said.

Xcel Energy’s Drew Siebenaler agreed the RTOs must discuss transmission service charges and resolve the issue of MISO consistently bearing more costs for potential projects that stand to benefit both sides of the seam.

Adam McKinnie, chief economist with the Missouri Public Service Commission, asked that the charges not be the lone hang-up in approving a possible near-term interregional project. Thoms promised to return to the PAC in April to further discuss the topic.

The next Interregional Planning Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting will be held Feb. 27. Officials from both RTOs plan to present a more detailed coordination plan during the meeting.