North Dakota Files Complaint Over Regional Power Line Plan

(Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – State utility regulators have filed a complaint with a federal agency, saying a regional electrical grid planning group’s system for assessing power line needs is misguided and will cost North Dakota ratepayers money.

The North Dakota Public Service Commission  filed the complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The complaint is against the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which manages a regional electric grid that serves 15 states, including part of North Dakota, and parts of Manitoba, Canada.

In December, MISO revealed a plan for 24 transmission upgrade projects with an estimated combined cost of $22 billion.

But the PSC says the group has changed the way it evaluates the costs and benefits of transmission projects to the detriment of North Dakota