SPP has filed a landmark proposal with FERC to merge its transmission planning and interconnection processes. (Utility Dive)
Its proposed consolidated planning process (CPP) would combine generation interconnection and transmission expansion studies into a single, forward-looking framework that identifies multi-driver upgrades benefiting both load and generation.
Under the plan, developers would pay a standard per-MW fee toward regional upgrades through a new GRID-C mechanism, while the remainder of costs would flow through SPP’s revised highway/byway cost allocation.
Why it matters: Facing 130 GW in the queue and double-digit load growth, SPP says the CPP will improve cost certainty, reduce restudies, and better align transmission buildout with expected demand.