Insights from policy experts: Philip D. Moeller, Former FERC Commissioner

In this issue, WIRES is delighted to share a thoughtful perspective from Philip D. Moeller, former FERC Commissioner, on the importance of acknowledging key decisions and maintaining open, ongoing dialogue with policymakers.

In July, WIRES welcomed the Honorable Judy Chang, FERC Commissioner, as our keynote speaker at our Summer Member Meeting at the Woodstock Inn in Vermont’s Green Mountains. The scenic setting and dynamic program earned rave reviews from our members and guests.

We are also excited to share our latest whitepaper, “Use of Advanced Transmission Technologies and Innovative Practices in Power Systems: Potential Benefits, Lessons Learned, and Recommendations”. Prepared by London Economics International, the paper explores advanced transmission technologies (ATTs) and innovative practices on the U.S. electric grid. It includes case studies and policy recommendations aimed at accelerating adoption.

Beyond Approval: Ongoing Communication with Policymakers Matters

Philip D. Moeller, Former FERC Commissioner

Did you ever fail to follow up with someone who helped advance your career to thank them, and subsequently update them on your progress? I suspect we all have.

A similar dynamic plays out frequently in the energy industry with public officials. These leaders make the difficult decisions to support critical infrastructure investments, and those votes often go unacknowledged. Additionally, and more importantly, industry neglects to keep them informed of the progress of these investments and the benefits that accrue to customers.

During my nearly 10 years as a commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, I voted on scores of highly controversial projects. I recall the Capacity Performance Plan for PJM. Regardless of your view of the merits of this plan, its underlying goal was clear: to strengthen system reliability by ensuring that facilities receiving payments through PJM’s Capacity Market would perform when needed most — ultimately benefiting customers during periods of high demand. Generators, in turn, benefited through increased capacity market prices.

It was a costly and hotly debated proposal that faced intense opposition before eventually being approved. While recognition for carrying out my regulatory duties was not expected, I did assume I would be kept informed of the plan’s implementation and effectiveness. Unfortunately, that ongoing communication did not occur.

Similar experiences followed with transmission projects and liquified natural gas facilities — all contentious proposals that involved heated opposition from interest groups and politicians. After approval, communication often went silent, making it difficult to assess how these controversial decisions played out.

In contrast, one significant proposal followed a different path. MISO’s Multi Value Projects (MVP) in the 2010 timeframe was also extremely controversial due to its cost and wide-ranging impact throughout the Midwest. This project had the benefit of several years of collaboration by state officials who worked to coalesce support for this extensive build out of the transmission system. Although it faced significant opposition from customer groups and some governors, the MVP projects were eventually approved. What distinguished this process, however, was the ongoing engagement. MISO along with the regional leaders were greatly appreciative and kept the Commission updated throughout the extensive implementation period — a level of transparency that was informative and constructive. It’s difficult to imagine MISO today without the MVP projects in service.

As our nation continues to need extensive investments in transmission projects, it’s essential that we support the public officials — especially at the state level — who have the courage to endorse these investments. And as the infrastructure is being developed, the industry needs to proactively plan and maintain a communication approach that keeps these officials updated on both the progress of development and the benefits that accrue to customers. It’s essential to develop a plan and execute it, involving CEOs, regulatory experts and legislative experts. Involving third-party voices such as the EPC contractors and labor only helps the cause.

So, WIRES members, go forth and build! And don’t forget to express appreciation and keep the public officials updated and informed. Consistent communication is essential for earning continued trust and support.

2025 WIRES Summer Member Meeting – July 9-10, 2025

WIRES recently welcomed our members and guests to the charming Woodstock Inn set in the foothills of the Green Mountains of Vermont. We were honored to have FERC Commissioner Judy Chang as our keynote speaker. She was generous with her insights and time, both during her remarks and throughout a lively Q&A period.

Our first panel session explored advanced transmission technologies, offering compelling use cases that highlighted where these new tools are effective and where they were not a fit. Key take away: these advanced technologies and techniques are an important addition to the transmission toolbox and warrant careful evaluation. However, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to implementation.

The second panel delved into the growing scope and frequency of threats to the electric grid. Attendees especially valued firsthand accounts from grid operators, including anecdotes of near misses and narrowly averted catastrophes. A critical insight: reliability is not the same as resilience. Resilience is the ability to quickly adapt and recover from highly disruptive events — something only possible if the grid was planned with resilience in mind. A stark reminder that the future demands a resilient grid.

Visit our website to watch recordings of the Summer Member Meeting.

WIRES commissioned a new whitepaper by London Economics International (LEI) that explores advanced transmission technologies (ATTs) and innovative practices on the U.S. electric grid. Drawing on extensive research, interviews, and a survey of transmission owners and technology providers, the report details the breadth of offerings, the benefits and challenges of their deployment, and presents real-world examples of how these tools are already being deployed by transmission owners to enhance system performance.

As demand on the electric grid intensifies, utilities are responding not only by investing in new infrastructure but also adopting innovative software, hardware, and advanced methods in design, construction and operations. These solutions are helping to improve reliability, resilience and cost effectiveness. While it is important to recognize that ATTs and Innovative Practices are not a substitute for building new transmission lines, they are increasingly seen as critical tools in the toolbox that can complement and support traditional investments by maximizing the capabilities of new and existing assets.

The report offers:

• An overview of the universe of advanced transmission technologies and practices including their core benefits.
• Case studies showcasing successful deployments and key lessons learned.
• Recommendations for policymakers and regulators to help facilitate adoption of these technologies — ranging from support for collaborative pilot projects, adoption of long-term planning frameworks, better information sharing, regulatory innovation, and realignment of financial incentives.

Together, these insights aim to help transmission owners and stakeholders evaluate and implement ATT+ solutions more effectively — supporting the development of a more modern, resilient, and cost-effective electric grid.

Visit our website to download the whitepaper and accompanying one-pager.

A sought-after speaker on transmission issues, Larry Gasteiger is regularly featured at industry and WIRES member events. Most recently he spoke in May at The Edison Conference and in June at the Infocast Transmission & Interconnection Summit and the Global Transmission Report’s 5th Annual Conference on Transmission Infrastructure.

WIRES is widely regarded as a leading authority on transmission issues, with trade and business media regularly seeking out Larry’s insights on transmission policy and the latest developments at FERC.

Recent articles:

7/22/25 – WESA 90.5 – Pittsburgh NPR affiliate – AI & energy execs credited Trump for $90B of investments in Pa. Many projects were already underway

7/11/25 – RTO Insider – Chang highlights interrelated challenges facing industry at WIRES

7/11/25 – Utility Dive – Misaligned interconnection, transmission planning could hurt competitive markets: FERC’s Chang

6/29/25 – RTO Insider – Future of transmission planning and policy in focus at Infocast summit

6/24/25 – Axios – 1 big thing: White House sets its sights on FERC

For a complete listing of earned media, visit the WIRES In the News page.

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