Frontlines

Pancakes for Breakfast?

Two new transcos wake up to a stack of protests.

With the first deadline only a month away, electric utilities have launched trial balloons before filing plans at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for regional transmission organizations (RTOs).

And, like water flowing uphill, these balloons want to float upwind, toward the money.

I'm thinking in particular of two new ventures. The first is International Transmission Co., proposed by DTE Energy, the parent company of Detroit Edison. The second is American Transmission Co. LLC., the transco (stand-alone transmission company) created in Wisconsin by state legislation that claims six utility members plus a municipal utility as an equity partner.

Regardless of motive, these two balloons share the same goal: Lock in the profits before the feds close the door. For credibility, each looks to state PUC ratemaking.