Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission

Chairman Rich Glick

Commissioner James Danly

Commissioner Allison Clements

Commissioner Mark Christie

Commissioner Willie Phillips

All state Task Force members will serve one-year terms starting September 1, 2021 and ending August 31, 2022

Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners:

• Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
• Chair Jason Stanek, Maryland Public Service Commission

Mid-America Regulatory Conference:

• Chair Andrew French, Kansas Corporation Commission
• Chair Dan Scripps, Michigan Public Service Commission

New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners:

• Commissioner Riley Allen, Vermont Public Utility Commission
• Chair Matthew Nelson, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities

Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners:

• Commissioner Kimberly Duffley, North Carolina Utilities Commission
• Chair Ted Thomas, Arkansas Public Service Commission

Western Conference of Public Service Commissioners:

• Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen, California Public Utilities Commission
• Chair Thad LeVar, Utah Public Service Commission

A link to the Webcast will be available on the day of the event

Event Details 

Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Time: 8 am - 10:30 am Central Time (9 am - 11:30 am Eastern Time)

Place: New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, LA

Access Link for Public Viewing: Link will be added

On June 17, 2021, the Commission established a Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission (Task Force) to formally explore transmission-related topics outlined in the Commission’s order.[1]  The Commission stated that the Task Force will convene for multiple formal meetings annually, which will be open to the public for listening and observing and on the record.[2]  The next public meeting of the Task Force will be held on November 15, 2022, at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, LA, from approximately 8:00 am to 10:30 am Central Time.  Commissioners may attend and participate in this meeting.

The meeting will be open to the public for listening and observing and on the record.  There is no fee for attendance and registration is not required.  The public may attend in person or via Webcast.[3]  This conference will be transcribed.  Transcripts will be available for a fee from Ace Reporting, 202-347-3700.

Commission conferences are accessible under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  For accessibility accommodations, please send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free 1-866-208-3372 (voice) or 202-208-8659 (TTY), or send a fax to 202-208-2106 with the required accommodations.

As explained in the Establishing Order, the Commission will issue agendas for each meeting of the Task Force, after consulting with all Task Force members and considering suggestions from state commissions.[4]  The Establishing Order set forth a broad array of transmission-related topics that the Task Force has the authority to examine with a focus on topics related to planning and paying for transmission, including transmission to facilitate generator interconnection, that provides benefits from a federal and state perspective.[5]  All interested persons, including all state commissioners, are hereby invited to file comments in this docket suggesting agenda items relating to this topic by October 7, 2022.  The Task Force members will consider the suggested agenda items in developing the agenda for the November 15, 2022 public meeting.  The agenda will be issued in the above-captioned docket no later than November 1, 2022, for the meeting to be held on November 15, 2022.

Comments may be filed electronically via the Internet.[6]  Instructions are available on the Commission’s website, https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview.  For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or
toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.  Although the Commission strongly encourages electronic filing, documents may also be paper-filed.  To paper-file, submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to:  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the Secretary, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.  Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to:  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the Secretary, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

More information about the Task Force, including frequently asked questions, is available here: https://www.ferc.gov/TFSOET.  For more information about this meeting, please contact: Gretchen Kershaw, 202‑502-8213, gretchen.kershaw@ferc.gov; or Jennifer Murphy, 202-898-1350, jmurphy@naruc.org.  For information related to logistics, please contact Benjamin Williams, 202-502-8506, benjamin.williams@ferc.gov; or Rob Thormeyer, 202-502-8694, robert.thormeyer@ferc.gov.

Webcast Recording

Fourth Meeting of the Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission

As first announced in the Commission’s May 23, 2022 Notice in the above-captioned docket,[1] the next public meeting of the Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission (Task Force) will be held on July 20, 2022, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina in San Diego, California, from approximately 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm Pacific time.  Commissioners may attend and participate in this meeting.  Attached to this Notice is an agenda for the meeting.

Discussions at the meeting may involve issues raised in proceedings that are currently pending before the Commission.  These proceedings include, but are not limited to:

Comments

Comments may be filed electronically via the Internet.[6]  Instructions are available on the Commission’s website, https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview.  For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.  Although the Commission strongly encourages electronic filing, documents may also be paper-filed.  To paper-file, submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to:  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the Secretary, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.  Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to:  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the Secretary, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

Accessibility Information

Commission conferences are accessible under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  For accessibility accommodations, please send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free 1-866-208-3372 (voice) or 202-208-8659 (TTY), or send a fax to 202-208-2106 with the required accommodations.

Contact Information

More information about the Task Force, including frequently asked questions, is available here: https://www.ferc.gov/TFSOET.  For more information about this meeting, please contact: Gretchen Kershaw, 202‑502-8213, gretchen.kershaw@ferc.gov; or Jennifer Murphy, 202-898-1350, jmurphy@naruc.org.  For information related to logistics, please contact Benjamin Williams, 202-502-8506, benjamin.williams@ferc.gov; or Rob Thormeyer, 202-502-8694, robert.thormeyer@ferc.gov.

Webcast Recording

• Part 1 | Third Meeting of the Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission
• Part 2 | Third Meeting of the Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission

Event Details

Date: 10 am - 4 pm ET Friday, May 6, 2022

Access Link for Public Viewing: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84621433105

On June 17, 2021, the Commission established a Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission (Task Force) to formally explore transmission-related topics outlined in the Commission’s order.[1]  The Commission stated that the Task Force will convene for multiple formal meetings annually, which will be open to the public for listening and observing and on the record.[2]  The Task Force has convened for two public meetings: on November 10, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky;[3] and on February 16, 2022, in Washington, DC.[4]  The third public meeting of the Task Force will be held virtually on May 6, 2022, from approximately 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Eastern time.  Commissioners may attend and participate in this meeting.

As explained in the Establishing Order, the Commission will issue agendas for each meeting of the Task Force, after consulting with all Task Force members and considering suggestions from state commissions.[6]  The Establishing Order set forth a broad array of transmission-related topics that the Task Force has the authority to examine with a focus on topics related to planning and paying for transmission, including transmission to facilitate generator interconnection, that provides benefits from a federal and state perspective.[7] 

Discussion at the May 6, 2022 meeting will be focused on examining barriers to the efficient, expeditious, and reliable interconnection of new resources through the FERC-jurisdictional interconnection processes, including the allowance of participant funding for interconnection-related network upgrades in regional transmission organizations and independent system operators.  All interested persons, including all state commissioners, are hereby invited to file comments in this docket suggesting agenda items relating to this topic by April 12, 2022.  The Task Force members will consider the suggested agenda items in developing the agenda for the May 6, 2022 public meeting.  The Commission will issue the agenda no later than April 22, 2022, for the meeting to be held on May 6, 2022.

Comments

Comments may be filed electronically via the Internet.[8]  Instructions are available on the Commission’s website, https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview.  For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.  Although the Commission strongly encourages electronic filing, documents may also be paper-filed.  To paper-file, submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to:  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the Secretary, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.  Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to:  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the Secretary, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

Accessibility Information

The meeting will be open to the public for listening and observing and on the record.  There is no fee for attendance and registration is not required.  The public may attend via Webcast.[5]  This conference will be transcribed.  Transcripts will be available for a fee from Ace Reporting, 202-347-3700.

Commission conferences are accessible under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  For accessibility accommodations, please send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free 1-866-208-3372 (voice) or 202-208-8659 (TTY), or send a fax to 202-208-2106 with the required accommodations.

Webcast Recording | Transcript

Event Details 

Date: 10 am - 2 pm ET Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Place: Washington Renaissance Hotel, Potomac Ballroom, Washington D.C.

Access Link for Public Viewing: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87095410473

As first announced in the Commission’s December 14, 2021 Notice in the above-captioned docket,[1] the second public meeting of the Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission (Task Force) will be held on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, from approximately 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Eastern time.  The meeting will be held at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel in Washington, DC.  Commissioners may attend and participate in this meeting.  

Discussions at the meeting may involve issues raised in proceedings that are currently pending before the Commission.  These proceedings include, but are not limited to:

Agenda

Covid Guidance

Pursuant to Mayor’s Order 2021-148, beginning on February 15, 2022, indoor event and meeting establishments, including hotel meeting facilities in the District of Columbia “shall not permit a guest, visitor, or customer over twelve (12) years old to enter their indoor premises without displaying proof of vaccination against COVID-19.”[2]  Unless exempt, patrons must present photo identification and proof of vaccination upon entry to the Renaissance Downtown Hotel. Additionally, pursuant to Mayor’s Order 2022-018, all persons are required to wear masks indoors in the District of Columbia,[3] including in all areas of the Renaissance Downtown Hotel.

Accessibility Information

The meeting will be open to the public for listening and observing and on the record.  There is no fee for attendance and registration is not required.  The public may attend in person or via audio Webcast.[4]  This conference will be transcribed. Transcripts will be available for a fee from Ace Reporting, 202-347-3700.

Commission conferences are accessible under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  For accessibility accommodations, please send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free 1-866-208-3372 (voice) or 202-208-8659 (TTY), or send a fax to 202-208-2106 with the required accommodations.

Webcast Recording 

Event Details 

Date: 1 pm - 6 pm ET Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Place: Omni Louisville Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky

Access Link for Public Viewing: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88071202278 

As first announced in the Commission’s August 30, 2021 order, the first public meeting of the Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission (Task Force) will be held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, from approximately 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm Eastern time.  The meeting will be held at the Omni Louisville Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.  Commissioners may attend and participate in this meeting.  

Discussions at the meeting may involve issues raised in proceedings that are currently pending before the Commission.  These proceedings include, but are not limited to:

What is the Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission and what is the purpose of this Task Force?

This Task Force was established on June 17, 2021, Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission, 175 FERC ¶ 61,224 (2021) (Establishing Order), pursuant to section 209(b) of the Federal Power Act, which authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the Commission or FERC) to confer with state commissions, including through joint hearings, “regarding the relationship between rate structures, costs, accounts, charges, practices, classifications, and regulations of public utilities subject to the jurisdiction” of such state commissions and FERC.

The purpose of this Task Force is to jointly explore transmission-related issues in order to secure the benefits that transmission can provide.  Developing new transmission infrastructure implicates a host of different issues, including how to plan and pay for these facilities.  Federal and state regulators each have authority over transmission-related issues, meaning that transmission developers must successfully navigate different federal and state regulatory processes.  In addition, the development of new transmission infrastructure often affects numerous different priorities of federal and state regulators (e.g., reliability, customer protection, environmental considerations).  As a result, the area is ripe for greater federal-state coordination and cooperation.

What will the Task Force discuss?

The Task Force will focus on topics related to efficiently and fairly planning and paying for transmission, including transmission to facilitate generator interconnection, that provides benefits from a federal and state perspective. Topics that the Task Force may consider include the following:

• Identifying barriers that inhibit planning and development of optimal transmission necessary to achieve federal and state policy goals, as well as potential solutions to those barriers;
• Exploring potential bases for one or more states to use FERC-jurisdictional transmission planning processes to advance their policy goals, including multistate goals;
• Exploring opportunities for states to voluntarily coordinate in order to identify, plan, and develop regional transmission solutions;
• Reviewing FERC rules and regulations regarding planning and cost allocation of transmission projects and potentially identifying recommendations for reforms;
• Examining barriers to the efficient and expeditious interconnection of new resources through the FERC-jurisdictional interconnection processes, as well as potential solutions to those barriers; and
• Discussing mechanisms to ensure that transmission investment is cost effective, including approaches to enhance transparency and improve oversight of transmission investment including, potentially, through enhanced federal-state coordination.

What will be the outcomes of the Task Force?  Will FERC take specific action based on Task Force discussions?

The Task Force will convene for multiple formal meetings annually.  The initial public meeting of the Task Force will be held on November 10, 2021.  The Task Force has the authority to examine several identified issues, including soliciting oral and written input from interested parties.  The Task Force may make recommendations to FERC on potential modifications to FERC’s regulations, present recommendations at a monthly FERC open meeting, and develop a record to be incorporated into FERC and/or state commission proceedings.

Who will decide the agenda for each Task Force meeting?  Who can provide input into the agenda?

The agenda for each Task Force meeting will be established with input from all Task Force members.  Also, all state commissions and interested parties will be invited to suggest agenda topics for public meetings of the Task Force. 

Will the states represented by the 10 state commissioner representatives be the only states represented on the Task Force?  How can other state commissions participate in the Task Force?

In order to ensure the Task Force captures the diverse views of transmission-related matters from across the country, FERC requested that NARUC nominate two state commissioner representatives from each NARUC region.  In the Establishing Order, FERC explicitly recognized “that transmission-related issues may be viewed differently not only within, but also among different parts of the country.”  In order to directly participate, all state commissions will be invited to suggest agenda topics for public meetings of the Task Force.  Task Force meetings will be open to the public to listen and observe. Finally, interested Parties can submit comments into the docket (AD21-15) at any time.  

How were the state commissioner representatives on the Task Force selected?

In the Establishing Order, FERC solicited nominations for 10 state commissioner representatives for the Task Force from NARUC and requested that two nominees originate from each NARUC region.  NARUC submitted the list of nominations on July 19, 2021, in the Task Force FERC docket (AD21-15).  FERC issued an order on August 30, 2021 listing the state commissioner representatives and establishing the time and place of the first Task Force meeting.

How can the public and other stakeholders not represented by the state commissioner representatives participate in the Task Force?

In order to ensure that the Task Force is capturing the diverse views of transmission-related matters from across the country, the Commission requested that there be two state commissioner representatives from each NAURC region.  The NARUC regional associations can be found here.

Additionally, any interested party may observe the public meetings of the Task Force and submit comments in the Task Force FERC docket (AD21-15).  These submissions may be incorporated into state commission proceedings or made part of a record that the Task Force has been given the authority to develop, as noted in the Establishing Order.  Additionally, in an order on August 30, 2021, the Commission solicited input from interested parties into the agenda for the first Task Force meeting.

Will the Task Force provide input into the FERC Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR), Building for the Future Through Electric Regional Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation and Generator Interconnection (Docket No. RM21-17)?

The Task Force is welcome and encouraged to consider all matters raised in the ANOPR.  The agenda for each Task Force meeting will be established with input from all Task Force members and may include matters raised in the ANOPR.  Also, all state commissions will be invited to suggest agenda topics for public meetings of the Task Force.