Eight Midwest Utilities Seek MISO Membership

INDIANAPOLIS -- -

INDIANAPOLIS -- James P. Torgerson, president and CEO of the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (MISO), announced today that eight utilities have submitted conditional applications to join the MISO. Indianapolis Power & Light Co. (IPL), Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA), Lincoln (Neb.) Electric System, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Co., Sunflower Electric Power Corp. and UtiliCorp United applied for membership in the MISO on Wednesday. Another, Manitoba Hydro, intends to participate through a coordination agreement. To be eligible to move power in either the Midwest ISO or the Alliance Regional Transmission Organization under a "super regional" tariff, an entity had to sign either organization's transmission owners' agreement by Feb. 28. The new tariff is one component of a settlement among numerous parties that was reached last week. The settlement agreement, which was the product of a month of negotiations ordered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is scheduled to be filed with the Commission by March 19 for approval. "The willingness of these parties to apply for membership in the Midwest ISO reflects the broad support from customers, state regulators, consumer groups, marketers and others for the settlement in creating a seamless market for transmission throughout the Midwest," Torgerson said. SOURCE: Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator CONTACT: Mary Lynn Webster of MISO, 317-295-5448;