The futures assumptions for the MISO 2017 Transmission Expansion Plan (MTEP) are finalized, with the RTO granting its South region a different future weighting.

MISO is recommending two of three Michigan projects requested for expedited review be approved before its 2017 Transmission Expansion Plan.

The MISO Planning Subcommittee discussed how the RTO estimates transmission costs and new rules on non-transmission alternatives.

The MISO three-year transmission overlay study started with the RTO gathering stakeholders to explain the data that will inform the study.

MISO told the Planning Advisory Committee that it will conduct three new separate, but related, studies this year to identify a transmission solution for the RTO’s constrained interface between its North and South regions.

MISO stakeholders are asking to review the scenarios for MTEP 17 because of the uncertainty of carbon-emission policies under the Trump administration.

MISO told its Planning Subcommittee that it and PJM are not optimistic that they can use common assumptions in their interregional transmission planning.

The 2016 MISO Transmission Expansion Plan, with 383 projects totaling $2.7 billion, unanimously passed the Board of Directors’ review Dec. 7.

At last week's MISO Planning Advisory Committee, stakeholders predicted that the proposed changes to the interconnection queue will face challenges at FERC.

The length of the Xcel Energy (NYSE:XEL) project in MISO MTEP 16 will have to be extended, increasing its cost and reducing its benefit-cost ratio.