Xcel Energy Services Inc. Seeks to Intervene in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Proceeding

Strategic Insights -

The North Dakota Public Service Commission and four other state public service commissions recently filed a complaint against the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and its board of directors. The complaint alleges that MISO's board of directors violated the MISO Tariff by approving $22 billion in transmission projects that fail to meet certain criteria. In response, Xcel Energy Services Inc. has filed a motion to intervene in the proceeding on behalf of its subsidiaries, Northern States Power Company and Northern States Power Company. The companies are transmission-owning members of MISO and provide transmission service in the MISO region.

Key Takeaways:

  • Xcel Energy Services Inc. has filed a motion to intervene in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proceeding under docket EL25-109-000.
  • The motion is submitted on behalf of its subsidiaries, Northern States Power Company and Northern States Power Company, which are transmission-owning members of MISO.
  • The North Dakota Public Service Commission and four other state public service commissions have filed a complaint against MISO and its board of directors, alleging that they approved $22 billion in transmission projects that fail to meet certain criteria.
  • As transmission owners in MISO, the NSP Companies will be directly impacted by the outcome of this proceeding.
  • XES is seeking to intervene to ensure that the interests of the NSP Companies are represented in the proceeding.
  • The FERC proceeding will determine whether MISO's board of directors violated the MISO Tariff and whether the approved transmission projects meet the required criteria.

Statistics:

  • $22 billion: The amount of transmission projects approved by MISO's board of directors that are at issue in the complaint.
  • 4: The number of state public service commissions that have joined the North Dakota Public Service Commission in filing the complaint against MISO.
  • 2.1: The LRTP Tranche 1 and 2 transmission projects at issue in the complaint.

Sources:

  • Xcel Energy Services Inc. (2025, August 18). Motion to Intervene of Xcel Energy Services Inc. under EL25-109-000 [Document Accession #: 20250819-5010]. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. https://elibrary.ferc.gov