The study is intended to identify pressing transmission needs without offering specific solutions or taking into account federal and some state regulations.

Panelists held several discussions on interregional transmission planning, resource adequacy and the risks posed by extreme weather during the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners (MACRUC) annual educational conference held from June 26 through 28.

Americans for a Clean Energy Grid gave MISO and CAISO top grades for regional transmission planning and development; PJM and ISO-NE scored poorly.

An ACORE report found billions of dollars that PJM's queue reforms could unlock in the next few years, but added that proactive transmission planning could lead to even more renewables and their associated benefits being added to the grid.

The cost estimate for MISO’s and SPP’s package of 345-kV lines meant to facilitate the interconnection of generation at the seams has nearly doubled, the RTOs have said in the past week.

A panel of experts discussing NERC’s Summer Reliability Assessment emphasized the need for teamwork in benefiting from increased interregional transmission.

Parties filing comments with FERC on expanding interregional transfer capability mostly supported the concept, though opinions were split on how to get there.