Sign in Subscribe
Social services

Direct Testimony of James Aurand in Support of the Grid Forward Central Wisconsin Project

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

James P. Aurand, a Rate Consultant for Northern States Power Company, testified on behalf of the company and American Transmission Company LLC, supporting their applications for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to rebuild existing transmission infrastructure and construct the Grid Forward Central Wisconsin Project. The project aims to connect the Tremval-Arpin-Columbia substations in Trempealeau, Wood, and Columbia counties, Wisconsin. Aurand's testimony focused on the methodology used to calculate the present value revenue requirement (PVRR) of the project's components and the impacts on Northern States Power Company's retail customers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Aurand testified that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-approved Interchange Agreement (I/A) between Northern States Power Company and Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation, allows for the sharing of power, energy, and transmission costs between the companies.
  • The I/A establishes charges from each company to the other for the sharing of power, energy, and transmission costs, and records these billings as power and transmission operations and maintenance (O&M) expense.
  • Aurand explained that the I/A costs are shared between the companies based on the ratio of their respective contributions to the NSP System coincident monthly peak demands.
  • Aurand stated that through the I/A, Northern States Power Company has access to diverse, reliable, economic, and environmentally responsible generation, allowing the company to support its energy requirements through a diverse and economic mix of power supply resources.
  • Aurand's testimony also highlighted the benefits of the Grid Forward Central Wisconsin Project, including the reconstruction of existing transmission infrastructure and the construction of a new 345 kV transmission line connecting the Tremval-Arpin-Columbia substations.

Statistics:

  • NSPW shares in approximately 16 percent of total NSP System power and transmission (P&T) costs, with NSPM responsible for the remaining 84 percent. (Source: Aurand's testimony)
  • The I/A establishes the charges from each NSP Company to the other for the sharing of power, energy, and transmission costs. (Source: Aurand's testimony)
  • The Grid Forward Central Wisconsin Project aims to connect the Tremval-Arpin-Columbia substations in Trempealeau, Wood, and Columbia counties, Wisconsin. (Source: Aurand's testimony)
  • The project's goal is to reconstruct existing transmission infrastructure and construct a new 345 kV transmission line. (Source: Aurand's testimony)

Sources:

  • Direct testimony of James P. Aurand in support of the joint application, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, Docket No. 05-CE-157
  • Interchange Agreement between Northern States Power Company and Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/etd/2022/11/21/20221121-FERC-11.pdf

Read more