Co-authored by Bill Meehan, Esri, and Kevin Gorham, EPRI
Bill has a confession to make. He is a diehard New England Patriots fan. Kevin is not. The team’s recent struggles have been painful. Over the last two decades, the Patriots dominated with six Super Bowls and frequent playoff appearances. Now, the team must rethink its playbook, recruiting, and spending. Similarly, transmission owners and operators that have long focused on reliability and resilience now face new challenges.
The rules have changed. Decarbonization, AI data centers, EV charging stations, and electrified heating have created huge demand for the aging, fragmented, and congested grid. Climate change and affordability remain key drivers. Some forecasters, like NREL, predict a doubling or tripling of grid capacity—akin to adding three new Buffalo Bills teams to the NFL.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can help utilities rewrite the playbook. All the while, they must comply with the latest regulatory requirements, such as FERC 1920.
Along Comes FERC Order 1920
Let’s talk about it:
- Mandates long-term transmission planning, where location matters
- Demands fair cost allocation requiring a view of where costs accrue
- Requires enhanced reliability and resiliency, determining where risk, congestion, and losses can be minimized
- Improve transparency and engagement through visualization
Imagine you’re the coach of a team that once dominated but now struggles to win games—like the New England Patriots post-Brady. Your fans (the public and regulators) demand more wins: cleaner energy, better grid reliability, and fairer cost allocation. FERC 1920 is your new playbook. It’s ambitious, forcing you to think long-term about your strategy.
GIS to the Rescue
Enter GIS, your complete team. It provides a comprehensive solution, like a strong defense, top-tier backfield, receivers, an agile QB that can run and pass, and a dynamite offensive line. It provides a sweeping, strategic approach to dealing with the complexities of the new electric transmission requirements. It reads the field, identifies gaps in coverage, and delivers insights to keep your compliance game strong.
The Game Plan: Long-Term Regional Transmission Planning
A struggling team needs a long-term strategy, as FERC 1920 requires for grid expansion. A team can’t hope things change by doing the same things they did in the past. They need to focus on a long-term strategy to address the new demands of the industry, just like today’s NFL teams can’t depend on one player to carry them into the future.
GIS is the ultimate playbook tool for mapping transmission lines, substations, and demand centers. It identifies weaknesses (overloads, aging assets) and opportunities (new businesses, underserved areas). It models “what-if” scenarios like a game analyst—extreme weather, load growth, and renewables. Wisely targeting investments helps transmission providers fortify their grid, ensuring they stay ahead in the energy game.
Equitable Cost Allocation: Who Pays for the New Playbook?
Cost allocation under FERC 1920 is like assigning blame after a tough loss—some regions may feel they are overpaying. GIS brings clarity by mapping energy flows, congestion points, and renewable zones, showing who truly benefits. It ensures fair investments, highlights disproportionate burdens and builds confidence that the grid’s “salary cap” is spent wisely. It promotes transparency and builds confidence that cost allocation under FERC 1920 is fair and effective.
Aligning with Public Policy: Running the Green Energy Playbook
FERC 1920 isn’t just about compliance. It’s about aligning with broader public policy goals—think carbon reduction targets and the rise of inverter-based resources (IBRs) such as large-scale renewable energy projects. This is the “new offense” everyone wants to run, but it requires precise execution. GIS maps IBR resources like wind and solar, and hydroelectric generation alongside grid infrastructure. It identifies the best spots to “throw the ball”—like siting new solar farms or wind turbines for minimal energy loss and maximum output.
As more localized IBRs spread like agile new players, GIS helps utilities integrate them into the grid while maintaining stability. It’s like managing rookies—high potential but tricky to coordinate.
By layering public policy maps with transmission plans, GIS ensures projects meet regulatory goals while delivering real results, scoring touchdowns by integrating clean energy into the grid efficiently and reliably.
Data-Driven Play Calling
Football thrives on stats—third-down conversions, yards after catch, red-zone efficiency. FERC 1920 compliance is no different—it’s about accurate reporting. GIS simplifies complex grid data into clear, actionable insights, automating reports on energy demand, infrastructure growth, and renewable integration. Like scouts analyzing game recordings, it provides easy-to-understand visuals. By centralizing data, it removes guesswork and errors. Regulators demand transparency, and a unified system delivers. Shared access helps transmission providers, balancing authorities, and policymakers collaborate—like a team reviewing plays to refine strategy. Compliance reporting becomes streamlined and data-driven.
Every great team needs a coach with a big-picture view. Spatial intelligence helps decision-makers prioritize investments, track progress, and communicate effectively. It identifies where resources—funding or maintenance—will have the most impact, like drafting the right player. Visualizing grid bottlenecks and aging infrastructure prevents costly “fumbles.”
Clear insights make it easier to communicate challenges and solutions. With the right tools, leaders can strategize, rebuild, and deliver a resilient grid that meets FERC 1920 demands.
Final Whistle
FERC 1920 presents challenges as daunting as rebuilding a losing football team. The stakes are high, the critics are loud, and success won’t happen overnight. GIS has the spatial intelligence to read the field, make smart plays, and build a winning strategy.
From long-term planning and cost allocation to public policy integration and streamlined compliance, GIS ensures not just meeting regulatory requirements—but also positioning the grid to thrive in the face of change.
So here’s the game plan: trust GIS, put the right plays into action, and prepare to compete. FERC 1920 may be the challenge, but with GIS, you’ve got the tools to lead your team back to the playoffs—and beyond.
For more on how GIS can enable transmission operators, visit Esri.com/utilities and EPRI at www.EPRI.com