(SPP) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) signed off on a landmark initiative by Southwest Power Pool (SPP) to revolutionize its generator interconnection (GI) and long-term planning processes. SPP’s Consolidated Planning Process (CPP) — approved by FERC on March 13, 2026, and effective March 1, 2026 — streamlines SPP’s transmission planning and GI study processes and stands as a first-of-its kind blueprint for keeping the regional grid reliable and affordable.
To simplify, CPP is a new method of planning that determines exactly what grid upgrades are needed all at once, instead of separately, as it’s historically been done. This could solve a few big problems, such as produce clearer cost estimates, faster grid expansion, lower overall cost, and more reliable power.
In their concurrences to the FERC Order, Commissioner Judy Chang wrote to, “commend SPP on taking a bold step to address the needs of its system.” Commissioner David Rosner wrote, “CPP represents the innovation that America needs to facilitate cost-effective transmission buildout and generator interconnection, reduce costs, and enhance system reliability. Today’s order is a step toward building a grid that can win the AI race, bring back American manufacturing, and deliver the abundant, reliable, and affordable energy we need.”
SPP’s board approved the CPP in August 2025. SPP anticipates the CPP will reduce administrative overhead and optimize future transmission planning portfolios, yielding hundreds of millions of dollars in savings.
“FERC’s approval of SPP’s CPP filing marks a defining moment, further demonstrating the value of a regional transmission organization,” said Casey Cathey, SPP vice president of engineering. “The CPP unlocks the ability to plan and build the grid at a scale and speed the future demands. It’s a powerful step toward a more reliable, resilient, and valuable system that can meet unprecedented load growth and connect the next generation of resources.”
Currently, SPP handles GI requests and its annual Integrated Transmission Plan (ITP) separately. The CPP will introduce a streamlined approach to transmission planning that forecasts overall needs and takes all grid requirements into account. It will provide more certainty to investors in planning their budgets and a revamped funding structure to meet multiple needs.
SPP will open its first CPP window in April and publish the first Generalized Rate for Interconnection Development-Contribution (GRID-C) this fall: a new, standardized rate for system upgrade contributions that gives developers far greater upfront cost certainty before they commit to interconnection. Transitional work will bridge the gap between the current ITP/GI and CPP frameworks.
Southwest Power Pool serves approximately 18 million people in 14 states.
Tagged with grid, transmission