MISO is seeking stakeholder input on improving how it estimates costs in its competitive bidding process.
The RTO is proposing separate approaches for transmission lines and substations, MISO transmission design engineer Devang Joshi said at a Feb. 14 Planning Subcommittee meeting.
For transmission lines, MISO will consider length, voltage, structure and conductor type, terrain type and right-of-way cost.
For substations, the RTO will take into account the number of new lines and major equipment positions added; bus and breaker arrangement; land cost, grading, fencing, any equipment to ground the lines and a control enclosure; and major equipment additions such as a reactors, capacitors or transformers.
MISO uses cost estimates to calculate benefit-to-cost ratios on potential market efficiency and multi-value projects. Before Order 1000, transmission owners or other stakeholders provided the estimates. But with the advent of competition for such projects, TOs’ cost estimates are now confidential information.
In evaluating bids, MISO will continue to weigh cost and design at 30%, project implementation at 35%, operations and maintenance at 30% and transmission planning participation at 5%.
Senior Substation Design Engineer Alex Monn said once feedback is received, the RTO will put together a guide on its cost estimation process.
Rules on Non-Transmission Alternatives Ready for PAC Review
After two years of work, Business Practices Manual language on non-transmission alternatives is nearing completion and ready to move to the Planning Advisory Committee for review, principal adviser Matt Tackett said.
Under the new process in BPM 020, once transmission issues are identified for the annual Transmission Expansion Plan, ”the planning process will explore alternative solutions to those issues with the objective of recommending the best overall solutions.” MISO will provide developers minimum planning requirements “to provide for the consideration of both transmission and non-transmission alternatives.”
The RTO said it will “defer, de-scope or cancel the transmission project previously proposed” if a non-transmission alternative is selected over a traditional transmission project.
“I think as we approach the MTEP 18 planning season, most of us would agree to move this on. The vetting isn’t over, but it’s a good time to make a transition to the PAC,” Tackett said.
Generators Identified in MISO Retirement Analysis
MISO has compiled generator data for its MTEP 17 retirement sensitivity study scope.
The study will use 378 forecasted generator retirements from 2004 through 2027 and 30 planned generator additions in MISO, SPP, PJM and SERC Reliability territory to determine transmission system needs.
MISO engineer Anton Salib asked stakeholders to submit any changes to the generator retirement list by Feb. 22. At the beginning of March, the RTO will post the final list of retiring generators and future resource additions to be used in the study. Results will be reviewed in the spring during sub-regional planning meetings.
Salib said the retirement analysis is only an informational study and MISO will not recommend any project in the MTEP 17 cycle based on the study.
The MTEP study will share information with the RTO’s Regional Transmission Overlay Study and market congestion planning study. (See “Studies Could Assist in Relieving North-South Constraint,” MISO Planning Advisory Committee Briefs.)
— Amanda Durish Cook
