FERC is giving respondents until Sept. 2 to provide comments on recommended changes to Order 1000 following a June technical conference at which some participants suggested complete overhauls of the landmark rule and others said it’s too early to tell if changes are necessary (AD16-18). (See Five Years Later, FERC Takes Another Look at Order 1000.)

The order, which sought to increase transmission development by eliminating incumbent utilities’ right of first refusal and creating incentives for more innovative, cost-effective and efficient projects, has been slow to produce results.

PJM’s Artificial Island project has been a magnet for controversy and was canceled last week. (See PJM Board Halts Artificial Island Project, Orders Staff Analysis.) SPP canceled its first Order 1000 project because of falling load projections. (See SPP Cancels First Competitive Tx Project, Citing Falling Demand Projections.) MISO and NYISO have yet to award any Order 1000 projects.

FERC asked for comments on “the use of cost containment provisions, the relationship of competitive transmission development to transmission incentives, and other ratemaking and transmission planning and development issues.”

— Rory D. Sweeney