LS Power, Hoosier Energy, and Big Rivers Selected by MISO for First Competitive Transmission Project

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Dec 20, 2016, 02:48 ET

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- LS Power, Hoosier Energy, and Big Rivers are pleased to have been selected by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO) to implement, own, and operate the Duff-Coleman EHV 345 kV Competitive Transmission Project to be located in Indiana and Kentucky.

The competitive process for Duff-Coleman was the first conducted by MISO pursuant to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Order No. 1000, which was designed to foster competition in transmission. The process garnered broad interest with eleven proposals submitted from transmission developers across the country.

MISO determined that Republic Transmission (a LS Power/Hoosier Energy partnership) together with Big Rivers provided the best balance of high-quality design and competitive cost, best-in-class project implementation, and top-tier plans for operations and maintenance. Republic Transmission's proposal provided the greatest overall value with a low cost, the lowest risk, and a high degree of certainty. "The binding cost containment provisions we offered, including a cap on costs, demonstrate the benefits that competition for transmission provides consumers," said Paul Thessen, President of LS Power.

LS Power, Hoosier Energy, and Big Rivers worked exclusively together for the Duff-Coleman competitive process. "Our partnership allowed us to provide both lower costs and greater risk protection for MISO and consumers," explained Mike Chambliss, Vice President of System Operations at Big Rivers. "Together, the team has the capabilities to deliver, maintain, and operate all aspects of the Project efficiently."

The selection of a project developer by MISO is a key step in project implementation; the team will now complete public outreach, routing, permitting, and design. "We look forward to working closely with our partners, MISO, and the communities in which the project is located to bring the project to fruition," said Dave Sandefur, Vice President of Power Supply for Hoosier Energy. Construction could begin as early as 2018 with an in-service date prior to January 1, 2021.

ABOUT LS POWER:

Founded in 1990, LS Power is an employee-owned, independent company with offices in New York, New Jersey, Missouri, California and Texas. LS Power is a developer, owner, operator and investor in power generation and electric transmission infrastructure throughout the United States for which it has raised over $30 billion. The company has significant experience in delivering competitive transmission in an efficient and cost effective manner. For more information, visit www.LSPower.com.

ABOUT HOOSIER ENERGY

Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a generation and transmission cooperative with headquarters in Bloomington, Indiana. The Indiana segment of the Duff-Coleman Project traverses Hoosier Energy's service territory for which it provides electric power and services to 18 electric distribution cooperatives in southern and central Indiana and southeastern Illinois. Hoosier Energy operates generating facilities and a 1,700-mile transmission network. For more information, visit www.HEPN.com.

ABOUT BIG RIVERS

Big Rivers Electric Corporation, Inc. is an electric generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in Henderson, Kentucky. The Kentucky segment of the Duff-Coleman Project traverses Big Rivers' service territory for which it provides service to 3 distribution cooperatives that deliver electric power and energy in portions of 22 western Kentucky counties. Big Rivers operates generating facilities in Kentucky and a 1,300-mile transmission network. For more information, visit www.BigRivers.com.

SOURCE LS Power