Core Sector: Electricity/Energy

Transmission Infrastructure

Development of new transmission is essential to prepare for the deployment of large amounts of new energy resources to meet emerging large loads on the grid. State and federal utility regulators are tasked with addressing issues of how to plan and pay for new transmission development and navigating related jurisdictional issues. For this reason, NARUC offers opportunities for collaboration and cooperation between state utility commissions, subject matter experts, impacted stakeholders, and federal regulators to identify barriers to and opportunities for transmission expansion.

NARUC facilitates the Transmission State Working Group to support commissioners and commission staff in exploring state commission roles and influence on transmission development and evaluation. The working group is open to all NARUC members. For more information, or to join the working group, contact Deborah Reynolds.

 

NARUC Transmission Resources

  • FERC Order 1920 Webinar for States: Taking Action on Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation, December 6, 2024
    A webinar for state energy offices and public utility commissions to learn more about how and when states can engage in transmission planning and cost allocation required by FERC Order 1920 and FERC Order 1920-A hosted by the Department of Energy Grid Deployment Office, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, and the National Association of State Energy Officials. Presentation and recording available here.
  • Collaborative Enhancements to Unlock Interregional Transmission, June 2024
    The objective of this report is to confront the barriers to interregional transmission that exist today and address them with potential reforms and collaborative solutions. This report identifies solutions with the potential for immediate beneficial impact on interregional transmission with the ultimate goal of allowing more effective identification and advancement of interregional transmission projects that create the most positive net value to the participating systems. It distinguishes between states, federal government, and system operators as key actors in implementing solutions designed to be flexible to accommodate regional differences.
    • On June 27, 2024, an informational webinar to provide an overview of the report was hosted by NARUC and E3. View the webinar presentation and recording.
  • Webinar: Storage as a Transmission Asset, NARUC, May 1, 2023 (see recording and presentation)
  • Webinar: Approaches to Maximizing Existing Transmission Capacity, NCEP, August 3, 2021 (see recording and presentation)

Transmission Resource Library

  • NARUC has developed a list of resources divided into key topic areas to enable further learning on energy transmission challenges, potential solutions, and technologies. The links included are provided to share relevant resources but are not endorsed by NARUC or its members. Explore the Transmission Resource Library. 

State Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation Workshop

NARUC facilitated an interactive workshop on February 23, 2025, at the Winter Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. The workshop provided in-depth training on cost allocation methods, facility evaluation process and selection criteria, and scenario development. The training was followed by facilitated discussion to help states navigate broad issues of cost allocation and regional planning of electric transmission, including issues related to FERC Orders 1920 and 1920A. Presentations and agenda here. Presentations and agenda here.

Transmission State Working Group Meetings

Joint Federal State Task Force on Electric Transmission Meetings

In June 2021, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) established the Joint Federal State Task Force on Electric Transmission with NARUC to facilitate cooperation and the exchange of perspectives with states on transmission-related issues. The first meeting was held in November 2021; the last meeting was held in February 2024. Members of the Task Force consisted of all five FERC commissioners and ten state commissioners, with two state task force members representing each NARUC region.

Funder:

NARUC is grateful to the U.S. Department of Energy Grid Deployment Office for funding to support state utility regulators in these efforts.

Transmission State Working Group Participants:

  • Arkansas Public Service Commission
  • California Public Utilities Commission
  • Colorado Public Utilities Commission
  • District of Columbia Public Service Commission
  • Delaware Public Service Commission 
  • Georgia Public Service Commission
  • Illinois Commerce Commission
  • Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
  • Iowa Utilities Commission
  • Kansas Corporation Commission
  • Louisiana Public Service Commission
  • Maryland Public Service Commission
  • Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
  • Missouri Public Service Commission
  • New Mexico Public Regulation Commission
  • New York Public Service Commission
  • North Carolina Utilities Commission
  • Ohio Public Utilities Commission
  • Oklahoma Corporation Commission
  • Oregon Public Utility Commission
  • Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
  • Public Utilities Commission of Texas
  • Vermont Public Utility Commission
  • Wisconsin Public Service Commission