US — Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) have announced the formation of a joint federal-state task force on electric transmission.

Noting that the efficient development of new transmission infrastructure is essential as the nation continues to transition to clean energy resources, FERC and NARUC are forming a task force that will work on identifying and realizing transmission benefits, while ensuring fair cost allocation, reports Transmission Hub.

The task force will be comprised of all FERC commissioners, as well as representatives from 10 state commissions. The state commission representatives will serve one-year terms from the date of appointment by FERC, and in no event will serve on the task force for more than three consecutive terms, the order said, adding that state commission representatives will sit in an advisory capacity.

The task force will convene for multiple formal meetings annually, with FERC issuing orders fixing the time, place, and agenda for each meeting, after consulting with all task force members and considering suggestions from state commissions, the order said.

Noting that meetings will be open to the public for listening and observing, and on the record, FERC said that it expects that the initial public meeting of the task force to be held in the fall.

The task force will expire three years after the first public meeting, but may be extended for an additional period of time prior to its expiration by agreement of FERC and NARUC, the order said.

Topics that the task force may consider include identifying barriers that inhibit planning and development of optimal transmission necessary to achieve federal and state policy goals, as well as potential solutions to those barriers; exploring potential bases for one or more states to use FERC-jurisdictional transmission planning processes to advance their policy goals, including multi-state goals

Reviewing FERC rules and regulations regarding planning and cost allocation of transmission projects and potentially identifying recommendations for reforms.

Source: Transmission Hub