FERC reversed its earlier stance that would have required nonpublic utility transmission owners in MISO and SPP to explicitly commit to providing refunds.

FERC said it will let MISO and SPP work with their stakeholders to determine whether they should require refund commitments from nonpublic utility members.

Electric cooperatives accused FERC of overstepping its authority by opening proceedings that could force refund obligations on nonpublic utilities, while MISO and SPP asked the commission to let them work out the issue in stakeholder proceedings.

FERC ordered ordered Section 206 proceedings in MISO and SPP, questioning the RTOs’ failure to require nonpublic TOs to provide refunds in the manner it requires of public utility owners.