NEW ORLEANS — MISO plans a Tariff filing in March to create a pool of alternate representatives to serve on the six-member Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. Deputy General Counsel Eric Stephens told the Advisory Committee the ADR panel can fall short of its four-member quorum in disputes that result in multiple recusals because of conflicts.

MISO lawyers also are drafting changes to language requiring elections of the Board of Directors be conducted at the annual meeting. In the last election, 7% of members voted via electronic ballots before the meeting — the highest response rate ever — said General Counsel Steve Kozey. MISO made paper ballots available at the meeting to comply with the current rules but no one used them, he said.

Kozey said MISO will make a FERC filing this summer to eliminate the need for the paper ballot “safety valve.”

Consumer Reps Seek Funding for ROE Fight

Consumer representatives asked MISO to approve $200,000 in funding so that they can hire outside experts to help them in their bid to convince FERC to lower transmission owners’ return on equity (EL14-12).

Robert Mork, of the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, representing the Public Consumer sector, said the group had used its own resources during settlement discussions but that it needs additional expertise now that the case has been scheduled for hearing. “We know how to litigate rate cases at the states; we do that all the time. But we don’t know how to do it at FERC,” he explained.

The consumers and other parties filed testimony in the case last week.

Kip Fox of American Electric Power questioned the need for the spending, saying there were nearly two dozen groups claiming to represent consumers in the docket.

“It’s wonderful that others are involved, but we think we have a central role,” Mork responded.

Fox said transmission owners would be essentially funding their opposition. Mork noted that utilities pay their lawyers and experts from revenues generated from retail ratepayers. In this case, he said, “it’s a matter of the shoe being on the other foot.”

Fox asked Kozey if the request might set a precedent for other groups seeking funding from MISO.

“Yes, and that’s the problem,” Kozey responded, saying the issue raises the question of what constitutes a “MISO expense.”

Kozey noted that MISO got itself removed as a defendant in the case. “It’s not our job to defend the transmission owners’ ROE. Nor do we think it’s our job to oppose” it, he said.

Kozey said stakeholder sectors will be given two weeks to file comments on the request.

“Absent stakeholder feedback, I would not be pushing my board” to authorize the payment, Kozey said.

Three Elected to Finance Subcommittee

The Advisory Committee elected three new members to the Finance Subcommittee: Venkata Bujimalla, manager of policy development for the Iowa Utilities Board (representing State Regulators); Marty Blake, a principal of The Prime Group who has represented Southern Illinois Power Cooperative and Hoosier Energy (representing Transmission Owners); and Mitchell Myhre, a manager of regulatory affairs for Alliant Energy (representing Municipals, Cooperatives and Transmission Dependent Utilities).

Advisory Committee Charter

Members approved a revised Advisory Committee charter with little discussion. The new charter reflects MISO’s 2013 name change (replacing “Midwest” with “Midcontinent”) and its increase to 10 sectors from nine.

‘Hot Topic’ Process Change?

Members assigned the Steering Committee to consider whether there should be a more formal procedure for organizing and conducting the Advisory Committee “Hot Topic” drafting team meetings.

The issue arose because of the intense interest in last week’s Hot Topic on resource adequacy, which resulted in complaints that some people were being excluded from drafting the questions. (See related story, MISO Stakeholders Call for Seasonal Resource Construct; Cool to Mandatory Capacity Market.)

“We’ve expressed concerns that the framing of the questions can sometimes lead to a [policy] direction. The Advisory Committee is designed to be balanced by sector,” said Alcoa Power Generating’s Dewayne Todd, representative of the End Use Customers sector.

“It’s increasingly becoming more of an issue,” said Michigan Public Service Commissioner Sally Talberg. “It became abundantly clear there was a problem” on the resource adequacy issue.

“We see it as more of a one-time concern,” said Great River Energy’s Matt Lacey, who noted it is difficult to get members involved in planning most Hot Topic discussions.

The Steering Committee put the issue on its March agenda for discussion.

— Rich Heidorn Jr.