FERC issues Generator Interconnection Reforms

On April 19, 2018, FERC issued Order No. 845 which revised its pro forma Large Generator interconnection Procedures (LGIP) and pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA) to improve certainty for interconnection customers (ICs), promote more informed interconnection decisions, and enhance the interconnection process.  In Order No. 845, FERC adopted ten different reforms in three general categories.  First, in order to improve certainty for ICs, Order No. 845:  (1) removed the limitation that ICs may only exercise the option to build a transmission provider’s (TP) interconnection facilities (sole use facilities from ownership demarcation to the point of interconnection) and stand-alone network upgrades (network upgrades that an IC may construct without affecting day-to-day operations of the transmission system) in instances when the TP cannot meet the dates proposed by the IC (with this new rule, the IC has unilateral decision-making on the option to build TP’s interconnection facilities and stand-alone network upgrades); and (2) required that TPs establish interconnection dispute resolution procedures that allow a disputing party to unilaterally seek non-binding dispute resolution.  Second, to promote more informed interconnection decisions, Order No. 845:  (1) required TPs to outline and make public a method for determining contingent facilities; (2) required TPs to list the specific study processes and assumptions for forming the network models used for interconnection studies; (3) revised the definition of “Generating Facility” to explicitly include electric storage resources; and (4) established reporting requirements for aggregate interconnection study performance.  Third, Order No. 845 aimed to enhance the interconnection process by:  (1) allowing an IC to request a level of interconnection service that is lower than its generating facility capacity; (2) requiring TPs to allow for provisional interconnection agreements that provide for limited operation of a generating facility prior to completion of the full interconnection process; (3) requiring TPs to create a process for ICs to use surplus interconnection service at existing points of interconnection; and (4) requiring TPs to set forth a procedure to allow TPs to assess and, if necessary, study an IC’s technology changes without affecting the IC’s queued position.

FERC received twelve requests for rehearing or clarification of Order No. 845.  FERC granted rehearing regarding the option to build reform to: (1) require that TPs explain why they do not consider a specific network upgrade to be a stand-alone network upgrade; and (2) allow TPs to recover oversight costs related to the interconnection customer’s option to build.  FERC also granted rehearing regarding the surplus interconnection service reform to explain that FERC does not intend to limit the ability of RTOs/ISOs to argue that an RTO/ISO variation from FERC’s surplus interconnection service requirements is appropriate.  FERC also found that, regarding the reform for requesting interconnection service below a generating facility capacity, an IC may propose control technologies at any time in the interconnection process that it is permitted to request interconnection service below generating facility capacity.  Additionally, FERC granted clarification regarding the option to build by finding that: (1) the Order No. 845 option to build provisions apply to all public utility TPs, including those that reimburse the interconnection customer for network upgrades; and (2) the option to build does not apply to stand-alone network upgrades on affected systems (another system that is affected by the interconnection).  FERC also granted clarification with regard to transparency regarding study models and assumptions to find that: (1) TPs may use FERC’s critical energy/electric infrastructure information (CEII) regulations as a model for evaluating entities that request network model information and assumptions; and (2) the phrase “current system conditions” does not require TPs to maintain network models that reflect current real-time operating conditions of the TP’s system.  Regarding the interconnection study deadlines reform, FERC granted clarification that the date for measuring study performance metrics and the reporting requirements do not require TPs to post 2017 interconnection study metrics – the reporting requirements will begin in 2020.  Regarding requesting interconnection service below generating facility capacity, FERC granted clarification that a TP must provide a detailed explanation of its determination to perform additional studies at the full generating facility capacity for an IC that has requested service below its full generating facility capacity. 

Further information on the Option to Build – in 2009, FERC allowed MISO to directly assign to ICs 90% of the costs for network upgrades rated 345 kV and above (with the remaining 10% recovered on a system-wide basis) and 100% of the costs for network upgrades rated below 345 kV.  In addition, the MISO OATT provided TPs two options for recovering network upgrade capital costs from ICs – 1) the IC would fund the network upgrades prior to construction, and the TP would not refund the non-reimbursable portion of this capital (the 90% or 100%) and would neither include the capital in its rate base nor charge the IC a return on this capital (as it is fully funded by the IC); and 2) the TP would fund the construction of the network upgrades (either initially or via reimburse IC after construction) and then recover the ICs portion over time through periodic network upgrade charges that include a return on the capital investment.  The TPs had unilateral selection rights.    
In June 2015, FERC initiated a complaint against MISO relating to these network upgrade funding options because FERC determined that allowing MISO TPs to unilaterally select transmission owner funding may be unjust, unreasonable, unduly discriminatory and may increase costs of interconnection service with no corresponding increase in service.   In December 2015, FERC directed MISO to revise its tariff to remove the ability of a transmission owner unilaterally to elect to fund network upgrades.  FERC found that such revision would not deprive MISO transmission owners of the opportunity to earn a return because, pursuant to the IC funding approach, the TPs make no investment on which they are entitled to a return. 

After the TPs appealed the FERC decision to the D.C. Court of Appeals (D.C. Circuit), the DC Circuit vacated and remanded the decision, finding that FERC had not adequately responded to MISO TPs concerns that IC funding compels TPs to construct, own, and operate facilities without compensatory network upgrade charges, thus forcing them to accept additional risk without corresponding return as essentially non-profit managers of network upgrade facilities.  The D.C. Circuit found that the MISO TPs would have to assume certain costs that are never compensated such as liability for insurance deductibles and litigation, including environmental and reliability claims.  Moreover, the D.C. Circuit stated that the orders at issue suggest that FERC does not believe that the TPs are entitled to earn a return on capital for network upgrades funded by the ICs despite TP’s assumption of such costs.  For these reasons, the D.C. Circuit stated that FERC must explain how investors could be expected to underwrite the prospect of potentially large non-profit appendages with no compensatory incremental return.  FERC eventually restored in the MISO OATT the TPs unilateral right to determine the funding of the network upgrades. 

The MISO TPs argued on rehearing in this generator interconnection reform proceeding that providing ICs the unilateral option to build interconnection facilities and stand-alone network upgrades was contrary to the regulatory compact and the D.C. Circuit decision.  They asked for rehearing or, if denied, they requested that FERC clarify that TPs may fund construction costs incurred for the option to build facilities and then charge the IC a return, like the current provision in the MISO OATT.  In other words, the TPs requested that their unilateral right to fund network upgrades be extended to the facilities for which the IC, under the reforms, now has a unilateral right to build.  In Order 845-A, FERC denied the requests, stating that its reforms are not in conflict with D.C Circuit decision as the concerns identified in the D.C. Circuit decision pertain solely to unique features of MISO’s OATT.  Specifically, the D.C. Circuit’s primary concern was with FERC’s requirement that there be mutual agreement between the TP and the IC before the TP can elect to fund the interconnection, which would mean that the IC could effectively prevent the TP from assessing a network upgrade charge and receiving a return on its investment.  FERC said its current reforms do not deprive TPs of the ability to earn a return of, and on, network upgrades, including stand-alone network upgrades.  On the contrary, Order No. 2003 (initially establishing the more limited option to build in effect prior to Order 845) established a mechanism that explicitly allows TPs to earn a return of, and on, the costs of network upgrades that they fund.  The concerns the D.C. Circuit identified are present only in MISO because MISO’s interconnection pricing policy is a unique variation from Order No. 2003 under which MISO directly assigns 90% or 1004 of the network upgrade cost responsibility to ICs.  FERC denied the requests because they are essentially requesting FERC to allow MISO to deviate from the requirements outlined in Order No. 845 based on MISO’s interconnection pricing policy, which is itself a deviation from Order No 2003.  FERC stated that If MISO wishes to make such a request, it should do so when it submits its Order No. 845 and 845-A compliance filing, and FERC will consider it then. 
​
FERC reiterated in this Order that it expanded the option to build for ICs as ICs have incentives greater than those of TPs to reduce network upgrade costs.  FERC also found that concerns that the option to build will compromise system reliability are misplaced because they ignore the safeguards for reliability, including potential for NERC violations. already in place for the existing option to build.  If the IC exercises its option to build, FERC provided for the TP’s recovery of costs of executing the responsibilities enumerated for TPs (project oversight, for example) and expects the TP and IC to negotiate this amount and clearly state it in the LGIA.  Reporting under the reforms will begin in 2020.