Establishes an Office of Transmission within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
The Office is tasked with independent review and oversight of transmission planning and operation across various Transmission Planning Regions.
Defines key terms related to transmission, including “distributed renewable energy resource,” “energy burden,” and “interregional transmission facility.”
The Office will be administered by a Director appointed by the Chairman of FERC.
Responsibilities of the Office include:
Reviewing inputs, assumptions, and modeling relevant to transmission planning.
Identifying inefficiencies in transmission planning that could lead to unjust rates or hinder renewable energy integration.
Tracking project costs and verifying benefits from competitive solicitations and capital investments.
Providing technical assistance to improve transmission planning and outcomes.
Composing and presenting an annual public report for each Transmission Planning Region detailing performance, deficiencies, and recommendations.
Requires Transmission Planning Regions to share operating data and planning assumptions with the Office.
The Commission is responsible for collecting necessary data to assess the information shared by Transmission Planning Regions.
Allows the Director to appoint experts as needed for the Office’s functions.
Ensures that the establishment of the Office does not override existing authority of the Commission.
Authorizes necessary appropriations to support the Office’s activities.
