Regional transmission organizations: FERC Order 2000

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has changed its world. On 20 December 1999, it issued Order 2000, its final rule on regional transmission organizations (RTOs). On 25 February 2000, it followed this with Order 2000-A, which responded to requests for rehearing from many parties with “We meant what we said”, and it also clarified a few fine points. Order 2000 calls for, but does not quite require, companies owning transmission systems to put the grid under the control of RTOs. FERC requires transmission-owning companies under its jurisdiction to file certain papers by late 2000 or early 2001. These papers can be either proposals to form RTOs or progress reports on the development of RTO proposals. RTOs will have sole responsibility for operation and expansion of the transmission system, maintaining short-term reliability, establishing and managing tariffs, and responding to requests for service