Reconductoring Could Free Grid Room Faster Than Large-Load Plans
Analysts and stakeholders told Utility Dive that grid planners are leaning on flexible interconnection for large loads while overlooking reconductoring and advanced conductors that could add transmission room sooner.
Market Impact
On June 18, FERC issued show cause orders to six system operators, directing them to submit plans for speeding large-load interconnection. All six asked for more time, Utility Dive reports. Skilled labor and grid equipment shortages are also slowing new generation. Transmission spending is rising, but FERC’s 2025 State of the Market report says most projects are still driven by reliability and asset renewal, not load growth.
Planners are mostly trading load flexibility for faster interconnection on existing lines. Johannes Pfeifenberger of The Brattle Group, co-author of a July Energy Systems Integration Group and Brattle report, argues that planning should include “fast and cost-effective near-term options,” such as advanced carbon conductors with fiber sensing and analytics, while longer-term lines are built. That is analyst opinion, not approved scope.
The most concrete effort on this kind of work is at the Southwest Power Pool. It is developing what may be the first regional Intermediate Planning Process, which would speed interconnection with easily deployed upgrades, grid enhancing and advanced transmission technologies, reconductoring and load shedding. It is still in development. SPP’s High Impact Large Load process and its Conditional High Impact Large Load process are FERC-approved, while its Price Adaptive Load Service is pending at FERC.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Separate opinion from scope. Reconductoring appears in the source only as an analyst recommendation and as an element of SPP’s unfinished Intermediate Planning Process. The source gives no dollar values, circuit lists or bid stage. No reconductoring packages exist to price yet.
- SPP is the nearest-term region for line crews. If its Intermediate Planning Process is approved, “easily deployed upgrades” and reconductoring would be among the tools. Line contractors in SPP territory should ask utility clients whether such projects are being scoped. That is an inference, not sourced fact.
- MISO review cycles are getting shorter. Its Expedited Project Review will look at proposed transmission projects every two months, and new planning scenarios allow 120-day studies. Project approvals, and eventually substation and line work, could come faster, but the source names no specific projects.
- Texas is on hold. ERCOT’s Batch Zero large-load processing is paused pending an audit of the queue, ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott. New work tied to that queue is unlikely until the audit ends, which is our inference.
- PJM’s next gate is Nov. 16. That is the extended deadline for PJM to comply with FERC directives on large loads and colocation. PJM’s proposed Interim Resource Adequacy Service would let loads connect without new capacity if they curtail or switch to on-site power. It would not require new lines by itself.
- Think labor, not just scope. The source cites skilled labor shortages. Crews trained on high-capacity conductors and fiber sensing would likely be positioned if analyst recommendations are adopted. That is our inference.
- Long-term transmission is still years out. Most entities began Order 1920 filings this year, and more compliance filings are due in 2027.
