FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2026
Consumers Condemn SPP RTO Decision on $3.8 Billion Transmission Projects
Washington, DC – On Tuesday February 3rd, 2026, the Southwest Power Pool Board of Directors voted to exempt four transmission projects – estimated to cost $3.8 billion – from competitive bidding. Rather than utilize a robust competitive process, SPP will no-bid the projects, directly assigning them to incumbent electric utilities under the justification of “short-term need.”
The “short-term need” justification does not withstand scrutiny. The large, complex 765 kV greenfield projects cannot be completed within FERC’s three-year Short-Term Reliability Project window or built faster through no-bid assignment given shared supply-chain constraints. SPP’s own track record shows that competition protects customers from cost overruns and schedule delays – protections eliminated by this decision, to the detriment of ratepayers.
In a statement Paul Cicio, Chair of the Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition said: “SPP has decided to ignore the pleas of ratepayers and the spirit of Order 1000 in favor of a no-bid process that shields incumbent utilities from competition. As proposed, these projects would have no cost containment requirements. Competition ensures accountability, lower estimated costs of 20-40 percent, and often includes cost caps and other incentives like schedule guarantees. This decision amounts to a vote to raise utility bills in the middle of an affordability crisis – at a time when we need to build a modern electric grid quickly while keeping rates affordable, and competition is essential to achieving both.”
The decision runs counter to the Trump Administration’s emphasis on affordability and disciplined infrastructure development. President Trump has repeatedly stressed that grid expansion must lower consumer costs and avoid unnecessary regulatory and financial burdens -principles undermined by no-bid transmission development that eliminates competition and cost accountability.
See examples of transmission projects that were competitively bid and the cost savings, as well as projects that were not subject to competition and the cost overruns
here.
About the Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition
The Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition (ETCC) is a broad-based, nation-wide coalition committed to increasing competition in America’s electricity transmission infrastructure. We advocate for common-sense policies and solutions that result in competitively priced transmission projects, which reduce energy costs for all ratepayers – from large manufacturers to residential consumers. The ETCC represents a diverse group of 95 companies and organizations from all 50 states, including manufacturing groups, retail electric consumers, state consumer advocates, think tanks, and non-incumbent transmission developers.
Press Contact:
Ginger Felberg
