The Organization of MISO States (OMS) held a conference in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on May 8 and 9 to discuss methods of assuring adequate supply of electric generation capacity in the area served by the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO), a region covering parts of 14 states and the province of Manitoba, Canada. The members of OMS are state utility regulators from the states in the region.

The conference included presentations by reliability organizations in the Midwest and other regions, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and transmission system operators in other regions. OMS President Steve Gaw noted that the presentations called attention to the role reliability councils play in assuring long-term resource adequacy.

The OMS was formed in 2003 to enable its member state commissions to better understand and coordinate with MISO. MISO manages the electricity transmission grid of the region and operates markets for energy supply. It is now studying ways its energy markets can help assure an adequate supply of generation in the future.

"The OMS intends to play a significant role in the development of long-term resource adequacy,” said Judy Jones, vice president of the OMS. “This meeting provided an opportunity for state regulators to become more familiar with the specifics of the MISO energy markets and the capacity markets that are being utilized in other regions.”