The Regulators Forum - States to Feds: Don't tread on Me

How far do states rights go in transmission planning?

The energy industry, coming off a remarkably difficult few years, had to deal with the huge Aug. 14 blackout, the ramifications of which have now reached regulatory policy. By putting transmission planning and reliability in the spotlight, the blackout could boost merchant transmission owners, as regulators and politicians scramble to make sure such an event does not happen again.

But before states can tackle the tough issues facing them, they must battle the feds. The especially high-stakes arena of electric transmission has state regulators fighting for their rights over siting, eminent domain, and which utility can join which regional transmission entity.

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Pacific Northwest Stalwart

Idaho: Seeking Regional Solutions

Paul Kjellander, president, Idaho Public Utilities Commission

Fortnightly: After the August blackout, what is your commission doing to ensure such an event doesn't take place again?

Paul Kjellander: When the grid went dark in the East, many regulators in the West took the opportunity (with the lights on) to review the lessons learned from our own major blackouts in the summer of 1996.

Immediately following our 1996 blackouts, the Western Electricity Coordination Council (WECC) launched an investigation that led to over 140 recommendations.