As promised, PJM and MISO filed a request with FERC last week to eliminate the $20 million threshold for interregional market efficiency projects from their joint operating agreement. The threshold was identified as an obstacle to transmission projects that could ease constraints along the RTOs’ seam.

“Based on lessons learned from recently completed PJM-MISO joint planning studies, the RTOs jointly identified a number of items to address, including potential enhancements to metrics and thresholds used for interregional coordination,” the RTOs said (ER16-488).

Responding to feedback at Interregional Planning Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings, the RTOs identified “short-term reforms” and “long-term issues” aimed at eliminating “unnecessary hurdles” to projects straddling both regions.

Elimination of the $20 million threshold was classified as a short-term change that could help PJM and MISO relieve market-to-market congestion. The RTOs requested the change become effective Feb. 8.

MISO also is considering eliminating its 345-kV minimum on such projects.

The RTOs are being pressured to take action by FERC and Northern Indiana Public Service Co., which filed a complaint in 2013 over its frustrations with the interregional planning process (EL13-88). In February, FERC said it was considering taking action “to improve the efficiency of operations” at the RTOs’ seam (AD14-3). (See Impatient FERC Hints at Action on PJM-MISO Seams Disputes.)

— Suzanne Herel