Stakeholders gave MISO leadership mixed signals on what they expect from seams policy, though they agreed the RTO shouldn’t strive for exacting consistency in how it deals with different neighbors.

State regulators are bringing in the MISO and SPP market monitors to help solve seams issues between the two RTOs.

State regulators in MISO and SPP are making progress on the seams issues that continue to vex the RTOs, but much work remains, stakeholders learned.

SPP stakeholders directed the Seams Steering Committee to stop work on a proposed a waiver from charges for unreserved transmission use across the seams.

FERC approved the first SPP seams project when it accepted Tariff revisions incorporating a cost-sharing and usage agreement with AECI.

MISO said it will approve New Orleans’ request to make the city a cost allocation zone but is deferring action on an interregional cost-sharing plan by TOs.

Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has kicked off an effort to develop an alternative rate structure for recovering its administrative costs.

Regulators from the SPP and MISO footprints are banding together to take on seams issues created by what one industry expert calls “RTO gerrymandering.”

MISO said it will revise its regional cost-sharing practices for interregional projects with SPP to match its process for PJM seams projects.

Interregional transmission planning challenges and the growth of renewable energy, particularly wind power were among the topics of discussion at the 2018 Mid-America Regulatory Conference.