FERC Reviews Major Regional Grid Operator Compliance Filings for Order 1920 Long-Term Transmission Plans

WASHINGTON, DC — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) commenced formal regulatory review on Sunday of comprehensive long-term regional transmission planning compliance dockets submitted by major Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), including PJM Interconnection and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO).

Order 1920 Architecture and 20-Year Planning

The filings satisfy mandatory requirements under FERC Order 1920, which obligates regional grid operators to conduct forward-looking, 20-year transmission planning that accounts for changes in the regional power generation mix, extreme weather events, and surging industrial electricity demand from manufacturing and computing facilities.

The joint RTO submissions propose over $24 billion in high-voltage 500kV and 765kV transmission corridors connecting clean power generation regions in the Midwest with heavy load centers in the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes.

"Long-term transmission planning is essential to ensure regional power reliability, lower wholesale electricity costs for consumers, and connect abundant domestic energy resources to high-demand population hubs," FERC administrative filings noted.

State Cost Allocation and Multi-State Coordination

A critical element of the compliance review involves regional cost allocation frameworks, which establish formulas for sharing capital transmission costs among states based on quantifiable reliability and economic benefits.

State utility commissioners in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois commended the multi-value planning process while emphasizing that cost assignments must accurately reflect consumer benefits in each participating state.

Public Comment Period

FERC opened a 60-day public comment period on the transmission compliance filings, with final commission determinations scheduled for late 2026.