MISO Gets Extension to June 2026 on FERC Order 1920 Compliance Filing

MISO, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which manages the transmission grid across 15 US states and the Canadian province of Manitoba, secured a 12-month extension from FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, on its Order 1920 regional compliance filing, pushing the deadline to June 12, 2026, for a process that will impact over 40 million customers and involve billions of dollars in transmission investments, with FERC having initially set the deadline for June 12, 2025, according to a FERC announcement on February 10, 2026.

FERC Order 1920 requires long-term regional transmission planning over a 20-year horizon, plus a cost-allocation methodology, with MISO needing extra stakeholder time to align state regulators, as noted by the Clean Energy Grid in its overview of Order 1920 compliance obligations, which highlights the complexity of the planning process and the need for coordination among various stakeholders, including state regulators, transmission owners, and load-serving entities, with the extension granted by FERC allowing MISO to continue working with these stakeholders to develop a compliant filing.

What Changed

The extension granted to MISO changes the timeline for compliance with FERC Order 1920, giving the grid operator an additional 12 months to complete its regional transmission planning and cost-allocation methodology, with the new compliance deadline set for June 12, 2026, according to FERC’s announcement, which also notes that the extension will allow MISO to ensure that its compliance filing is thorough and accurate, and that it has adequately addressed the concerns of all stakeholders, including state regulators and transmission owners, as explained in FERC’s explainer on transmission planning and cost allocation.

Why It Matters

The extension granted to MISO is significant because it will impact the development of the regional transmission plan and the allocation of costs among transmission owners and customers, with the plan and cost-allocation methodology required by FERC Order 1920 expected to shape the future of the transmission grid in the MISO region, and influence the development of new transmission infrastructure, which will be critical to supporting the integration of renewable energy sources and ensuring the reliability of the grid, as noted by FERC in its final rule on transmission planning and cost allocation.

Critical Perspective

According to Seth Parker, a staff attorney at the Clean Energy Grid, the extension granted to MISO highlights the complexity and challenges of implementing FERC Order 1920, which requires a fundamental shift in the way transmission planning is conducted, with a focus on long-term regional planning and cost allocation, and the need for close coordination among state regulators, transmission owners, and load-serving entities, as noted in the Clean Energy Grid’s overview of Order 1920 compliance obligations, with the extension providing MISO with the time it needs to ensure that its compliance filing is thorough and accurate, and that it has adequately addressed the concerns of all stakeholders, including state regulators and transmission owners.

Related Coverage

• RTOs Advance FERC Order 2222 Compliance: RTOs advance compliance with FERC Order 2222
• FERC Order 2222: CAISO and ISO-NE Complete DER Compliance: CAISO and ISO-NE complete DER compliance with FERC Order 2222
• FERC Order 1977 Clarifies Interconnection Rights: FERC Order 1977 clarifies interconnection rights