Missouri Public Service Commission

JEFFERSON CITY---The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved an agreement reached by parties in a case filed by NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest, LLC which sought a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) to construct, install, own, operate and maintain approximately nine miles of a 345 kV (kilovolt) transmission line and associated facilities in Barton and Jasper counties.

This transmission line is part of a 94-mile, single-circuit 345 kV transmission line between the existing Blackberry Substation, owned by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Jasper County and the existing Wolf Creek Substation, owned by Evergy Kansas Central, Inc. in Coffey County, Kansas.

In a filing with the Commission on September 22, 2022, the PSC Staff recommended the application be approved with certain conditions. Staff supported the conclusion that the proposed transmission line would provide needed reliability, subject to its recommended conditions.

The Commission approved the agreement determining: 1) There is a need for the service; 2) NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest, LLC is qualified to provide the proposed service; 3) NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest, LLC has the financial ability to provide the service; 4) NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest, LLC’s proposal is economically feasible; and 5) The service promotes the public interest.

The Commission noted in its order that the need for this transmission line was identified by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) in its 2019 Integrated Transmission Planning Assessment Report (2019 ITP). “The 2019 ITP identified this proposed transmission line as a project that was required to address multiple needs, and in particular, an economic need to increase the transmission capability and relieve transmission congestion from west to east within SPP,” said the Commission.

The Commission’s order approving the agreement takes effect on December 18, 2022.

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Case No. EA-2022-0234