FERC on Monday accepted revisions to PJM and MISO’s joint operating agreement (JOA) but declined a broader review of how interregional planning coordination could be improved with SPP (ER20-34, ER20-36).

MISO and PJM filed identical sets of JOA revisions in October that clarified the coordinated system plan (CSP) process, corrected errors and addressed inconsistencies in earlier versions. The revised JOA:

• Clarifies that a CSP study including a more complex, longer duration study provides for, but does not require, the development of a joint model;
• Clarifies that construction of interregional transmission projects is subject to the regional tariff in which the facilities will be constructed;
• Removes the interregional market efficiency project criterion that at least one dispatchable generator in the adjacent market has a generation-to-load distribution factor of 5% or greater;
• Removes references to use of a joint model from the determination of benefits; and
• Removes a legacy provision that allows testing of any project against interregional cost allocation criteria outside a CSP study.

The RTOs said the revisions reflect their stakeholder processes and “are intended to improve and add greater clarity to the development of the CSP process.”

Units of International Transmission Co. told FERC the revisions were an improvement but said more changes were needed to address planning coordination with SPP.

The companies also said the JOA between MISO and PJM disfavors interregional transmission projects with more broadly-applicable benefits and FERC should consider “elevating interregional transmission planning processes to a more equal footing with their respective regional counterparts.”

FERC rejected ITC’s arguments as out of scope.

Interconnection Changes Approved

On Tuesday, the commission also approved changes tightening MISO’s site control requirements in the definitive planning phase (DPP), the final step of its interconnection studies (ER20–41).

Under the new rules, effective Dec. 4, MISO will require a demonstration of 100% site control 90 days before the DPP begins. It will also eliminate its $100,000 cash deposit in lieu of demonstrating site control.

MISO also is making the M2 milestone payment 50% at-risk unless an interconnection request is withdrawn before the start of DPP phase I. The commission agreed with the RTO that the change would discourage interconnection customers from submitting speculative projects and reduce the harm caused by project withdrawals.

— Christen Smith and Rich Heidorn Jr.