The Organization of MISO States has adopted a stricter protocol for entering closed session during board meetings.
OMS will now require requests for closed session be circulated a few days before a meeting with an explanation for the private conversation. If an objection is raised, the OMS Executive Committee will decide by simple majority if the topic deserves closed session treatment. Acceptable closed session topics include personnel and legal matters, discussion of commercially sensitive materials, and issues subject to attorney-client privilege. (See “Closed Session Procedure Outlined,” OMS May Add Voice to Pseudo-Tie Fracas.)
“At least in Wisconsin, we have to assume that meetings are open. … You better have a darn good reason to go closed,” Wisconsin Public Service Commissioner Michael Huebsch said at the May 18 OMS board meeting.
The new rule was approved by acclimation.
OMS President and Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Angela Weber led the move to draft new rules after some organization members requested a closed session in February to discuss MISO and PJM’s FERC filing to implement targeted market efficiency projects. OMS held closed sessions again this spring over the creation of a seams policy document. Neither of the matters warranted closed discussion, Weber said.
MISO May End Automatic Steering Committee Leadership Posts
MISO stakeholders are considering a change to the Stakeholder Governance Guide that could shake up Steering Committee membership, and OMS is telling its members to prepare for a sector vote next month during the RTO’s Board of Directors week.
The vote could allow a Steering Committee leaders to be selected through an independent stakeholder vote.
Under the Stakeholder Governance Guide, the vice chair of the Advisory Committee serves as chair of the Steering Committee, with the Advisory chair serving as the Steering vice chair.
Manitoba Hydro’s Audrey Penner currently serves as the Advisory Committee chair and the Steering Committee’s vice chair; NRG Energy’s Tia Elliott is the Steering Committee chair and Advisory Committee vice chair.
Ted Thomas, chair of the Arkansas Public Service Commission, said OMS members should be prepared for an Advisory Committee vote to change the governance guide at the June 21 meeting in Branson, Mo., although no agenda items are yet listed for the meeting. A vote in favor of severing the Advisory Committee leadership from the Steering Committee leadership might trigger Steering to hold an almost-immediate election for new leadership, as the selection method of its current leadership would no longer be valid, Thomas said.
“Now, generally I think that it is a good idea, and I don’t have any conflict with it. But it might be a problem if the people in those positions have [problems with their own removal]. To me, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze [if there are problems],” Thomas said.
He said he didn’t want the move to create any “dramatic” issues with a sudden change in leadership.
“It’s a dangerous precedent to make it immediate, and just remove the people there,” Huebsch said.
MISO spokesperson Mark Brown confirmed that some stakeholders have “initiated conversations about the idea of having separately elected Steering Committee leadership” but declined to identify who. He said MISO’s Stakeholder Relations team has yet to receive any motions or agenda suggestions for the June Advisory Committee meeting.
— Amanda Durish Cook
