What’s driving the transmission plan
Since ATC was formed over two decades ago, the energy landscape has rapidly evolved. Our customers and other organizations across the Upper Midwest are pursuing new energy policy goals that are driving changes in generation resources. At the same time, we are experiencing significant load growth, more severe weather and the continued electrification of buildings and vehicles.
To address these challenges, we are developing efficiencies and deploying technologies that strengthen the grid and support the safe and reliable delivery of all forms of power.
We also evaluate the lifecycle maintenance needs of our existing assets, employing an asset management strategy that complements new infrastructure projects to achieve greater benefits and cost savings. Our management of transmission assets also supports our planning strategy for reliability and economic benefits.
In a collaborative process, our asset management and planning teams work with other functional groups and stakeholders to develop the best value solutions to meet our customers’ needs. Asset management staff monitor the system through maintenance and inspection programs to identify issues related to equipment performance or condition. Equipment deemed as underperforming is discussed internally and with customers to determine whether replacement in kind is required and whether other reliability needs exist within the area. System needs are evaluated using various alternatives to determine the best means of maintaining reliability and maximizing the benefits from our investments. These discussions with customers occur at 10-Year Assessment stakeholder meetings and MISO system planning meetings.
System improvement need drivers:
- Generation Interconnections of New or Retiring Generation – Changes in both fossil fuel and renewable generation connected to the transmission system impact the location and amount of power flowing as well as system stability.
- Economics – Greater access to the wholesale energy marketplace provides economic opportunities to utility customers.
- Enhanced North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Reliability Standards – A greater degree of redundancy and analysis is required to assure reliable, resilient operation.
- Public Policy – Renewable energy mandates and pending air quality regulations affect how the transmission system will be built and used.
- Asset Renewal – Replacing equipment approaching the end of its useful life improves system safety and performance.
- Distribution Interconnections – Changes in how our customers distribute electricity to consumers requi
- Economic Development and Load Growth Load Changes– Large new requests from major technology companies will add unprecedented loads to our system and could transform the energy landscape.
- New Technologies – Synchronized phasor measurements, demand‑side management and distributed energy resources affect how the grid is planned and operated to maintain reliability.
- Communications – Improvements in communication technology, such as fiber optics, are incorporated to support an ever‑increasing need to observe and control what is happening on the transmission system in real time.