A Midwest utility filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this week claiming the region’s grid operator mishandled the competitive solicitation process for a $350 million power line and four substations in Wisconsin.
American Transmission Co. said the Midcontinent Independent System Operator awarded the project to a developer with an estimated 2033 in-service date despite knowledge that three substations that are part of the project are needed years earlier to accommodate one of the region’s largest data centers.
ATC also said MISO’s process of evaluating proposals was unfair because the grid operator failed to consider “rate relief benefits” offered by ATC’s partners, Dairyland Power and WPPI Energy, and relied too heavily on top-line cost.
The Monday filing effectively seeks a do-over, asking FERC to require MISO to rebid the remainder of the project.
