Summaries of the agenda items for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's monthly open meeting to be held on January 22, 2026, pursuant to the sunshine notice released on January 15, 2026.
Electric
E-1 – Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (Docket No. ER25-2454-002). On June 6, 2025, Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO) filed proposed revisions to its Open Access Transmission, Energy and Operating Reserve Markets Tariff in order to amend its Attachment X, Generator Interconnection Procedures (GIP). Namely, MISO sought to refine its previous Expedited Resource Addition Study (ERAS) proposal and address concerns raised during its internal stakeholder process. The modified ERAS process would provide for an improved framework for the accelerated study of generation projects that are capable of addressing urgent resource adequacy and reliability needs in the MISO footprint. According to MISO, the ERAS also would complement its recent submittals implementing a proposed cap in the queue as well as other improvements to the GIP including increased milestone payments, withdrawal penalty requirements, and Site Control rules. A number of industry stakeholders and market participants filed comments, protests, and interventions with respect to the ERAS proposal. In a protest submitted on June 16, 2025, a group of independent power producers in the MISO region asserted that the ERAS would be patently discriminatory and would "almost certainly lead to similarly situated resources being treated differently" due to MISO delegating such designations to electric retail regulatory authorities rather than under its own cohesive approach. Conversely, certain elected officials filed respective comments in support of the ERAS, finding that, as a temporary measure, it would bolster reliability in the region and ensure that resource adequacy is met until broader reforms to the interconnection queue are implemented by the 2028/2029 MISO queue cycle. On July 21, 2025, the Commission issued an order approving the proposed Tariff revisions in order to incorporate the modified ERAS process. On August 20, 2025, Clean Wisconsin, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and the Sustainable FERC Project (collectively, the Public Interest Organizations) submitted a request for rehearing of the July 21 order, contending that the Commission acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner. Specifically, the Public Interest Organizations stated that the "preferential interconnection process" is unduly preferential to ERAS projects, contravening section 205 of the Federal Power Act (FPA). Agenda item E-1 may be an order on the rehearing request.
E-2 – Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (Docket No. ER25-2296-002). On May 22, 2025, Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) filed proposed revisions to its Open Access Transmission Tariff in order to implement its ERAS, similar to MISO in agenda item E-1. For its part, SPP would create a new Attachment AW in the Tariff to provide a framework for a one-time accelerated study of generation projects for resource adequacy purposes over the next five years, citing load growth associated with data centers. SPP stated that projects would qualify for ERAS if it would demonstrably help to meet the projected resource adequacy deficit for the Load Responsible Entities (LREs) within SPP. Additionally, SPP clarified that the ERAS process would remain separate from ongoing and effective interconnection processes under Attachment V of its Tariff. A number of industry stakeholders and market participants filed comments, protests, and interventions with respect to the ERAS proposal. On July 21, 2025, the Commission issued an order approving the proposed Tariff revisions in order to incorporate the ERAS process. On August 6, 2025, SPP filed an initial compliance filing pursuant to the July 21 order. On August 20, 2025, respectively, the Public Interest Organizations as well as a group of Clean Energy Associations filed requests for rehearing of the July 21 order. In their rehearing request, the Clean Energy Associations alleged that the Commission erred as a matter of law in applying the independent entity variation standard in approving ERAS, a standard that may only apply where an independent entity that lacks financial interests in the generation seeking to interconnect manages the interconnection queue. Agenda item E-2 may be an order on the rehearing requests.
E-3 – Brookfield Renewable Trading and Marketing LP (Docket No. ER21-59-004). On May 20, 2022, the Commission issued an order addressing 13 market-based bilateral wholesale spot power contracts that were executed by Brookfield Renewable Trading and Marketing LP (BRTM) in August of 2020. The contracts had been the subject of a prior sub-docket and were executed at prices or above the established soft price cap of $1,000/MWh previously created by the Commission for the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) region. In the order, however, the Commission found that the contracts could not be deemed just and reasonable under section 205(a) of the FPA. The Commission stated that the spot market sale prices above the soft cap, during a period of extreme weather caused by a heat wave in August of 2020, did not comport with the FPA and, accordingly, directed BRTM to issue refunds on a portion of the contracts. On June 21, 2022, BRTM filed a request for rehearing of the May 20 order, asserting that the Commission committed a legal error, as the Commission does not have the authority under the Mobile-Sierra presumption to modify a wholesale electricity contract, previously agreed to in good faith, unless the contract demonstrably harmed the public interest. On June 21, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) filed a request for rehearing of the May 20 order, stating that BRTM had justified making the spot market sales at the average index price but did not sufficiently justified the premiums added to the index price. On June 29, 2022, the Western Power Trading Forum and the Electric Power Supply Association submitted a letter requesting that the Commission reaffirm its adhere to the Mobile-Sierra presumption absent a demonstration of public harm as well as seek to harmonize the WECC offer cap with the offer cap available to the adjoining CAISO region under Order No. 831. Agenda item E-3 may be an order on either the rehearing requests or the letter.
E-4 – EDF Power Solutions, Inc. (Docket No. ER26-498-000). On November 12, 2025, Byron Solar, LLC (Byron Solar) filed a request for a limited and prospective tariff waiver necessary to permit the competition of its 107 MW solar energy generating facility, to be located in Minnesota. Specifically, Byron Solar requested a waiver of Section 4.4.4 of Attachment X of the MISO Tariff, as well as Section 2.3.1 of the Generator Interconnection Agreement among itself, MISO, and Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, such that the commercial operation date would be extended from September 1, 2027 to September 1, 2029. In the request, Byron Solar stated that delays due to its inability to secure an engineering, procurement, and construction contract with workers in Minnesota has presented the likelihood of a delay in meeting the commercial operation date. Agenda item E-4 may be an order on the tariff waiver request.
E-5 – Greenswitch Wind, LLC (Docket No. ER26-535-000). On November 17, 2025, Greenswitch Wind, LLC (Greenswitch Wind) filed a request for a limited and prospective waiver necessary to permit the competition of its 200 MW wind energy generating facility, to be located in Illinois. Specifically, Greenswitch Wind requested a waiver of Section 4.4.4 of Attachment X of the MISO Tariff, as well as Section 2.3.1 of the Amended Generator Interconnection Agreement among itself, MISO, and Ameren Services Company, such that the commercial operation date would be extended from December 15, 2027 to December 15, 2029. Greenswitch Wind stated that, due to circumstances beyond its control including certain supply chain issues and a new federal approval process for contractors, the project will now achieve commercial operation by April 15, 2029. Agenda item E-5 may be an order on the tariff waiver request.
E-6 – TransAlta Energy Marketing (U.S.), Inc. and TransAlta Energy Marketing (California), Inc. (Docket No. ER21-58-002). On October 7, 2020, and as supplemented on July 19, 2021, TransAlta Energy Marketing (U.S.) Inc. (TransAlta) submitted a Notice and Justification for Spot Sales above the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) Soft Cap, pursuant to Section 205 of the FPA. In the notice, TransAlta detailed certain arrangements where it delivered electricity to buyers, as a power marketer, during periods of scarcity at prices exceeding the threshold established by the WECC Soft Cap. TransAlta asserted that none of the buyers had retroactively sought Commission authorization for refunds of those purchases. On June 17, 2022, the Commission issued an order directing TransAlta to refund to buyers a portion of amounts paid for compensation for the delivery of electricity exceeding the WECC Soft Cap prices. On July 15, 2022, TransAlta filed a request for rehearing of the June 17 order, arguing that the Commission had acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner and contravened the intent of Order No. 831, in which it was deemed reasonable to permit certain transactions above the Soft Cap when warranted. On November 17, 2022, the Commission issued an order addressing the arguments on rehearing, finding the same result as the July 17 order but modifying the discussion, pursuant to section 313(a) of the Federal Power Act (FPA). Agenda item E-6 may be an action from the Commission relating to the previous orders or other substantive material issues arising from the respective WECC offer cap proceedings, possibly in tandem with agenda item E-3.
E-7 – New England Power Generators Association v. ISO New England Inc. (Docket No. EL25-106-000). On July 25, 2025, New England Power Generators Association (NEPGA) filed a complaint, pursuant to section 206 of the FPA, against ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE). In the complaint, NEPGA alleged that the ISO-NE tariff has been unjustly holding capacity resources to a performance standard exceeding their Capacity Supply Obligation during critical emergency hours. Specifically, NEPGA stated that in June of 2025, while committing resources during a summer heat wave, its member companies were told to pay $51 million in charges arising from two rules. NEPGA requested that the Commission should set an immediate refund effective date, find the uncapped Balancing Ratio and allocation of deficient Capacity Performance Payments unjust and unreasonable, and ensure that there are no further improper charges going forward. On July 28, 2025, ISO-NE filed a preliminary answer to the complaint, requesting an extension of the comment period in order to formulate a sufficient response. On August 5, 2025, the Commission granted the request from ISO-NE for an extension of time. On August 21, 2025, ISO-NE filed a response to the complaint, contending that it would not be unjust and unreasonable to cap the Balancing Ratio at one while maintaining ISO-NE's existing stop-loss cost allocation approach, or to continue to employ different cost allocation mechanisms in ISO-NE and PJM. However, ISO-NE conceded that the extraordinary conditions of the heat wave led to a "theoretical possibility that was unlikely to happen in practice," and therefore, ISO-NE would not oppose Commission action directing it to cap the Balancing Ratio at 1.0. A number of parties filed comments in support of the complaint, generally stating that the stop loss provisions in the ISO-NE tariff are unjust and unreasonable and unduly discriminatory, such that resources were unfairly penalized due to issues with the Balancing Ratio and not with the performance of those resources. Most comments also advocated that the Commission direct ISO-NE to split the bonus pool (after adjustments) among over-performing generators. Agenda item E-7 may be an order on the complaint.
E-8 – PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (Docket No. ER24-2045-003). On May 16, 2024, PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) submitted its initial compliance filing with respect to Order Nos. 2023 and 2023-A. On June 20, 2024, Longroad Energy Holdings, LLC (Longroad) filed a motion to intervene and protest in response to PJM's compliance filing, arguing that PJM's request to not accept surety bonds at all in the cluster study process should be rejected because surety bonds are typically structured and without conditions that undermine their use as financial security. On the same day, various parties submitted seven separate protests in response to PJM's compliance filing, arguing that PJM failed to meet the requirements of the Commission's Order No. 2023 and lacked adequate justification for a deviation under the independent entity variation. The protesters include: (1) EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR); (2) New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; (3) Environmental Law and Policy Center, Illinois Citizens Utility Board, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Penn Future, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Sustainable FERC Project (collectively Public Interest Organizations); (4) Shell Energy North America (US), L.P., Shell New Energies US, LLC, and Savion, LLC (collectively Shell Companies); (5) the American Clean Power Association, Advanced Energy United, and the Solar Energy Industries Association (collectively, the Clean Energy Associations); (6) the WATT Coalition; and (7) Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC (Leeward) and RWE Clean Energy, LLC (RWE). On the same day, EDFR filed comments in response to PJM's Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) filing submitted with its initial compliance filing, identifying three issues with PJM's proposal and recommending changes PJM could make to meet the requirements without slowing their reform efforts. On July 12, 2024, PJM submitted a Motion for Leave to Answer and Answer in response to the numerous protests and comment, arguing its OATT already substantially complies with the Commission's requirements and that changing its interconnection process reforms midway would be counterproductive and disruptive. On July 26, 2024, EDFR submitted a Motion for Leave to Reply and Reply Comments in response to PJM's Motion for Leave to Answer and Answer, restating that PJM should adopt the changes proposed by EDFR to be consistent with Order No. 2023's requirements. On July 29, 2024, Longroad submitted a Motion for Leave to Answer and Answer in response to PJM's answer to Longroad's protest to restate their position that PJM's proposal to not accept surety bonds in the interconnection process should be rejected. On July 31, 2024, the Commission issued a Deficiency Letter in response to PJM's May 16 compliance filing requesting additional information. On August 12, 2024, PJM filed a Motion for Leave to Answer and Answer to EDFR's Motion for Leave to Reply and Reply Comments, stating that EDFR's proposed changes are meritless and could not be implemented "without adversely impacting PJM's ability to achieve the objectives of its interconnection process reforms." On October 29, 2024, PJM submitted its response to the Commission's July 31st deficiency letter. On November 19, 2024, various parties submitted protests of PJM's compliance order and its response to the Commission's deficiency letter, stating PJM fails to substantiate its request for numerous deviations under the independent entity standard. The various protesters include: (1) the Clean Energy Associations; (2) Public Interest Organizations; and (3) the Shell Companies. On December 4, 2024, PJM submitted another Motion for Leave to Answer and Answer to the protests filed by various parties on November 19, 2024. On December 26, 2024, Swift Current Energy, LLC (Swift Current) submitted a Motion for Leave to Answer and Answer in response to PJM's motion, stating that PJM's responses and answers have failed to justify its request for an independent entity variation. On July 24, 2025, the Commission issued an order on compliance, finding that PJM's filing partially complies with Order Nos. 2023 and 2023-A. Namely, the Commission directs PJM to submit a further compliance filing within 60 days that proposes Tariff revisions to incorporate the required public interconnection information requirements into the Tariff (i.e., Queue Scope), including how the Queue Scope tool is updated, as required under Order No. 2023. Further, the Commission directs PJM to revise its Tariff to remove the provisions that permit transmission owners to waive scoping meetings and to require PJM to hold those meetings. On August 25, 2025, PJM filed a request for rehearing of the July 24 order. On October 23, 2025, PJM filed a further compliance filing in accordance with the directives of the Commission in the July 24 order. Agenda item E-8 may be an order on the rehearing request and/or the further compliance filing.
E-9 – Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (Docket Nos. ER24-2026-001, ER24-2026-002). On May 16, 2024, Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) submitted a compliance filing, pursuant to Order No. 2023 and Order No. 2023-A, with respect to proposed amendments to the SPP Tariff. Order No. 2023, issued by the Commission on July 28, 2023, reformed the generator interconnection study processes of public utility transmission providers. Primarily, Order No. 2023 required that transmission providers employ a first-ready, first-served cluster study process for large generating facilities exceeding 20 MW. Order No. 2023-A, issued on March 21, 2024, extended the compliance deadline to May 16, 2024. Accordingly, in its compliance filing, SPP proposed to revise its pro forma LGIP, LGIA, SGIP, and SGIA. Two entities filed limited protests, asserting that SPP did not adopt certain customer engagement window provisions which may lead to uncertainty for interconnection customers and that SPP did not properly interpret the directives of Order No. 2023 with respect to commercial operation date extensions. On June 21, 2024, SPP submitted an answer responsive to the issues included in the two limited protests. On June 26, 2025, the Commission issued an order on compliance, finding that SPP's filing partially complies with the requirements of Order Nos. 2023 and 2023-A. Namely, the Commission directs SPP to submit a further compliance filing to address certain items including but not limited to the reinstatement of language regarding transitional notice requirements for generating facility requirements as well as to justify its proposal for the use of certain definitions for site control and network upgrade costs, among others, under the independent entity variation standard. On October 21, 2025, SPP filed a further compliance filing in accordance with the directives of the Commission in the June 26 order. Agenda item E-9 may be an order on the further compliance filing.
Hydro
H-1 – FFP Project 101, LLC (Docket No. P-14861-002). On June 23, 2020, FFP Project 101, LLC filed an application for an original major license to construct and operate the Goldendale Energy Storage Project (Project No. 14861-002) pursuant to Part I of the Federal Power Act. The project, a closed-loop pumped storage facility located in Klickitat County, Washington, would occupy lands within the Columbia River Basin. On February 16, 2024, Commission staff issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project. Subsequently, procedural meetings regarding cultural resource consultations were held in April and May 2025. Agenda item H-1 may be an order on the original license for the project.
H-2 – Central Oregon Irrigation District (Docket No. P-3571-041). On June 29, 2023, the Central Oregon Irrigation District filed an application for a non-capacity amendment of its license for the Central Oregon Siphon Hydroelectric Project (Project No. 3571-041) pursuant to Part I of the Federal Power Act. The amendment proposes to remove approximately 12.6 acres of land from the project boundary that are no longer needed for project operations. On November 5, 2025, Commission staff issued the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing the proposed boundary change. Agenda item H-2 may be an order on the license amendment.
H-3 – Woodland Pulp LLC (Docket No. P-2660-038). On October 31, 2023, Woodland Pulp LLC filed an application to surrender its license for the Forest City Storage Project (Project No. 2660-038) pursuant to Part I of the Federal Power Act and section 6.1 of the Commission's regulations. The applicant proposed to surrender the license and leave the project dam in place and operational. On June 12, 2025, Commission staff issued an Environmental Assessment (EA) concluding that the surrender would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Agenda item H-3 may be an order on the surrender of the license.
H-4 – Rumford Falls Hydro LLC (Docket No. P-2333-094). On September 29, 2022, Rumford Falls Hydro LLC filed an application for a new major license for the Rumford Falls Hydroelectric Project (Project No. 2333-094) pursuant to Part I of the Federal Power Act. The existing license was set to expire on September 30, 2024. Commission staff issued the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project on February 22, 2024. On October 1, 2024, the Commission issued a notice authorizing continued operation under an annual license pending the final relicensing decision. Agenda item H-4 may be an order on the new license application.
H-5 – Ampersand Christine Falls Hydro, LLC (Docket No. P-4639-035). On September 29, 2021, Ampersand Christine Falls Hydro, LLC filed an application for a subsequent minor license for the Christine Falls Hydroelectric Project (Project No. 4639) pursuant to Part I of the Federal Power Act. On October 10, 2025, Ampersand Christine Falls Hydro, LLC filed a request for rehearing (Docket No. P-4639-035) of a Commission order issued in September 2025 that had rejected certain pleadings. On November 10, 2025, the Commission issued a Notice of Denial of Rehearing by Operation of Law, which allows for further Commission consideration. Agenda item H-5 may be an order addressing the merits of the rehearing request.
Certificates
C-1 – East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC (Docket No. CP23-516-003). On July 18, 2023, East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC (East Tennessee) submitted an abbreviated application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) and related authorizations for the Ridgeline Expansion Project, pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). On July 25, 2023, the Commission issued a data request to East Tennessee; subsequently on August 1, 2023, East Tennessee submitted a response to the data request. A number of entities and individuals filed motions to intervene and comments on the CPCN application. On August 18, 2023, Sierra Club and Appalachian Voices filed a protest, asserting that East Tennessee should be required to demonstrate the project serves an economic need and is in the public interest, as well as requesting that the Commission undertake a full environmental analysis of the project. On September 15, 2023 and September 29, 2023, respectively, the Commission issued data requests to East Tennessee in order to assist in the environmental review of the application; East Tennessee filed responses on October 15, 2023 and October 27, 2023. On December 19, 2023, East Tennessee submitted an amendment to the CPCN application in order to reflect that the project would have a larger pipeline diameter at the end of the proposed pipeline spanning 8 miles. Following several additional environmental data requests and responses, the Commission issued the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) on May 24, 2024, finding that approval of the proposed project would have some limited adverse environmental effects; however, with implementation of the mitigation measures recommended in the EIS, these effects would be avoided, mitigated, or reduced to less-than-significant levels. Following another round of additional environmental data requests and responses, the Commission issued the Final EIS on December 20, 2024, again concluding that approval of the proposed project would have some limited adverse environmental effects; however, with implementation of East Tennessee's impact avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures, as well as adherence to the mitigation measures recommended in the EIS, these effects would be avoided, mitigated, or reduced to less-than-significant levels. On April 2, 2025, the Commission issued an order granting the CPCN to East Tennessee. On September 12, 2025, East Tennessee submitted a request for clarification, or alternatively, rehearing of the April 2 order. Specifically, East Tennessee sought clarification on the conclusions in the order that the record does not justify inclusion of the solar array costs in initial rates and removal of the costs of the solar array from the cost of service and recalculation of the initial incremental recourse rates for the project are necessary. Agenda item C-1 may be an order on the clarification or rehearing request.
C-2 – ANR Pipeline Company (Docket No. CP25-79-000). On February 20, 2025, ANR Pipeline Company (ANR) filed an abbreviated application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the Heartland Project, pursuant to sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). The project involves the construction of approximately 68.9 miles of new pipeline and three new compressor stations in Illinois and Wisconsin to provide 473,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation capacity. On October 10, 2025, Commission staff issued the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project, finding that approval would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Agenda item C-2 may be an order on the abbreviated CPCN application.
C-3 – Northwest Pipeline LLC (Docket No. CP25-204-000). On April 10, 2025, Northwest Pipeline LLC filed an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the Kemmerer Horsepower Replacement Project, pursuant to sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). The project proposes to replace four legacy reciprocating engine compressors and one gas turbine with a new natural gas-fired turbine-driven compressor at the Kemmerer Compressor Station in Lincoln County, Wyoming. On October 9, 2025, Commission staff issued the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project, finding that approval would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Agenda item C-3 may be an order on the CPCN application.
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