Grid operators feud over transmission lines, payments

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc.’s recent expansion into the South has thrust the Carmel group into a dispute over whether it has to pay for using another firm's power lines.

MISO, which manages the power grid in much of the Midwest, recently received about $9 million in invoices from the Southwest Power Pool, a similar organization based in Little Rock, Ark., for using the latter’s transmission lines. MISO has claimed in a Feb. 18 federal regulatory filing it does not have to pay.

The two groups became ensnarled in a federal regulatory dispute after MISO agreed to acquire transmission lines in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas from Entergy Corp., headquartered in New Orleans.

MISO, which has been in control of Entergy’s old territory since December, has used SPP’s power lines to ship electricity to the north and back. MISO and SPP have a joint operating agreement, but a dispute remains over the terms under which MISO would transmit energy along SPP lines.

Federal energy regulators initially accepted MISO’s interpretation of its joint operating agreement with SPP. But the matter went to a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., which in December vacated the ruling and kicked it back to federal regulators for further review.

SPP has sent MISO two bills for power overages related to use of the lines–about $2.5 million for part of December and almost $6.9 million for January. MISO fired back in the Feb. 18 regulatory filing, saying such charges were not spelled out in their agreement.

Both groups are awaiting a decision from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
 

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Story Continues Below

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In