Advanced Energy Perspectives

America has not been building the kind of transmission lines it needs to reliably and cost-effectively power our grid, and a major part of the problem has been our short-term, just-in-time planning process. On May 13, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released Order No. 1920, meant to modernize the transmission planning process by viewing the system through a wider lens to plan for and construct the transmission system we need for the future.

The United States electric grid is undergoing a transformation and significant changes need to occur for Americans to fully realize the benefits of these improvements. The key is the transmission system. As the federal agency charged with regulating interstate transmission of electricity, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is uniquely positioned to create new rules that better ensure Americans can achieve equitable, affordable access to energy, secure our grid’s future reliability, and accelerate the transition to clean generation and advanced grid technologies.