On March 19, 2026, FERC approved Southwest Power Pool, Inc.’s (SPP) proposal to establish a Consolidated Planning Process (CPP) framework to streamline its regional transmission planning and generator interconnection process. FERC determined that SPP’s CPP framework complies with the regional transmission planning and cost allocation requirements of Order Nos. 890 and 1000, as well as the generator interconnection rules of Order Nos. 2003 and 2023. FERC accepted SPP’s proposed tariff revisions to implement CPP effective March 1, 2026, and directed SPP to submit a compliance filing making certain limited changes to the tariff revisions.

SPP plans and manages the expansion of its transmission system to meet reliability, economic, and public policy needs through its Integrated Transmission Planning (ITP) process. SPP conducts an annual ITP Assessment that evaluates the transmission system for a 10-year planning horizon and proposes a list of transmission projects for review and approval. SPP then allocates the costs of approved ITP upgrades using its Highway/Byway cost allocation method, which applies different cost allocation methodologies depending on the project’s voltage. Under SPP’s existing generator interconnection procedures (GIP), Interconnection Customers submit interconnection requests during an annual 11-month window, and then SPP conducts a three-stage Definitive Interconnection System Impact Study. Interconnection Customers are also directly assigned the cost of any necessary interconnection facilities identified in the study process.

In SPP’s filing proposing to implement CPP, SPP explained that its region is experiencing historic load growth and challenges interconnecting generation and load in a timely manner, with fewer generation resources and transmission facilities being built than needed to serve future needs. SPP argued that its existing separate, parallel processes for regional transmission planning and generator interconnection (i.e., separate ITP and GIP) leads to suboptimal transmission planning, siting, and cost allocation outcomes. SPP explained that the CPP will combine SPP’s regional transmission planning and generator interconnection processes into a consolidated, holistic assessment of regional transmission needs to plan for and benefit both load and interconnection customers through the development of a robust regional transmission system to serve combined load and generation needs.

As part of its filing, SPP proposed a new Attachment AY to its tariff that would include both the CPP Transmission Assessment Procedures and Generator Interconnection Procedures (GCP). SPP explained that the CPP will consist of two forward-looking planning assessments, a 20-Year Assessment (CPP-20) and a 10-Year Assessment (CPP-10). The CPP-20 will determine the general rates for interconnection development contributions (GRID-C) and planned interconnection locations (PIL). The annual CPP-10 will include an Interconnection Cluster Study (ICS), the outcomes of which will inform recommended transmission system upgrades for regional planning assessment.

FERC held that SPP’s proposed CPP is just and reasonable and complies with the regional transmission planning and cost allocation requirements of Order Nos. 890. FERC explained that it agreed with SPP that the proposal to integrate its regional transmission planning and generator interconnection process is “an innovative approach to more efficiently and cost-effectively plan its transmission system” and explained that the GRID-C cost allocation methodology complies with cost causation principles. FERC also held that the GCP complies with the generator interconnection rules established in Order Nos. 2003 and 2023. Specifically, FERC explained that the GCP satisfies the independent entity variation standard because it is just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory or preferential, and accomplishes the purposes of Order Nos. 2003 and 2023 by helping to ensure that interconnection customers can connect to the transmission system in a reliable, efficient, transparent, and timely manner. FERC approved SPP’s proposed tariff revisions to implement CPP effective March 1, 2026, and directed SPP to submit a compliance filing within 60 days, making certain limited changes to the tariff revisions.

Commissioner David Rosner wrote a brief concurrence explaining that “CPP represents the innovation that America needs to facilitate cost-effective transmission buildout and generator interconnection, reduce costs, and enhance system reliability,” and encouraging other transmission providers to consider developing similar integrated solutions. Commissioner Judy Chang similarly wrote a brief concurrence “commend[ing] SPP on taking a bold step to address the needs of its system” and to encourage other regional transmission operators and independent system operators to explore comparable reforms.

FERC’s order, issued in Docket No. ER26-414, is available here.