The Organization Of MISO States Meets On Electricity Resource Adequacy
Des Moines, IA - The Organization of MISO States (OMS) held a conference in Chicago on May 8 and 9 to discuss methods of assuring adequate supply of electric generation capacity in the area served by the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO), a region covering parts of 14 states and the province of Manitoba. The members of OMS are state utility regulators from the states in the region.
"Because state utility regulators have long been the primary government agencies concerned with planning for future electric generation supplies, it is important for our new regional electricity organizations to work together with states to develop the generating resources our residents and businesses will need in the future," said Steve Gaw, President of the OMS. Gaw also serves as a commissioner of the Missouri Public Service Commission. "This is a critical issue for the future growth and economic health of the Midwest."
The OMS was formed in 2003 to enable its member state commissions to better understand and coordinate with MISO. MISO manages the electricity transmission grid of the region and operates markets for energy supply. It is now studying ways its energy markets can help assure an adequate supply of generation in the future.
"The OMS intends to play a significant role in the development of long- term resource adequacy. This meeting provided an opportunity for state regulators to become more familiar with the specifics of the MISO energy markets and the capacity markets that are being utilized in other regions," said Judy Jones, Vice-President of the OMS and a commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
The conference included presentations by reliability organizations in the Midwest and other regions, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and transmission system operators in other regions. Commissioner Gaw noted that the presentations called attention to the role reliability councils play in assuring long-term resource adequacy.
OMS is a nonprofit, self-governing entity of state public utility regulators with jurisdiction over entities participating in the Midwest ISO. OMS coordinates electricity transmission issues relating to pricing, market monitoring, generation and transmission needs, and general coordination with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Midwest ISO on issues of mutual concern. The purpose of the organization is to act in concert when deemed to be in the common interest of their affected constituencies.
SOURCE: Organization of MISO States