In separate filings submitted to FERC, Duke Power and MidAmerican Energy proposed to implement independent grid coordinator plans. For its part, Duke Power wants the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) to serve as its independent transmission coordinator, while MidAmerican plans to contract with a yet-to-be-determined independent transmission service coordinator (TSC).

Under MidAmerican’s proposal, the TSC would administer various open access transmission tariff (OATT)-related functions with respect to transmission service provided over the MidAmerican transmission system [ER05-1235].

In its July 22 filing, MidAmerican noted that its TSC proposal is modeled after the independent transmission coordinator concept that the Commission recently approved for the Entergy operating companies, with differences reflecting the fact that the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. currently provides specified OATT-related services under contractual arrangements with the Mid-Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP) to certain MAPP members, including MidAmerican.

“The TSC proposal will enhance independent and transparent operation of the MidAmerican transmission system and serve to enable customers to be confident that the MidAmerican system will continue to be operated in a fair and reasonable manner,” the power company told FERC.

Meanwhile, Duke Power, in proposed amendments to its open access transmission tariff (OATT), is seeking FERC approval to establish both an independent entity (IE) — MISO — to serve as its transmission coordinator and an independent monitor to provide additional transparency and fairness of the system’s administration. The company is seeking FERC approval of the plan by early 2006. Duke Power will not join MISO, a FERC-certified regional transmission organization (RTO).

Both companies are involved in pending mergers. Duke Power’s parent, Duke Energy, plans to merge with Cinergy, while MidAmerican’s parent, MidAmerican Energy Holdings, is planning to buy PacifiCorp.

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