Mandatory reliability standards, economics and public policy initiatives are playing an increasing role in planning improvements to the electric transmission grid. American Transmission Co. has released its 10-Year Transmission System Assessment, calling for $3.8 to $4.4 billion in new and upgraded lines and facilities through 2020.

“Local reliability of the electric system is always the top priority for any transmission owner,” noted Jeff Gillen, director of system planning at ATC. “The trend now, though, is to perform broader-based planning, which is driven by regional transmission organizations, government agencies and electricity market economics.”

The 10-year outlook calls for expenditures of $1 billion each in specific network projects and asset maintenance. It also calls for $0.7 billion in regional multi-value projects that provide economic savings and the ability to move renewable energy from where it is generated to where it can be used. The cost of other capital expenditures, including developing or unspecified network projects, interconnection projects and infrastructure relocation, ranges from $1.1 to $1.7 billion.

Included in the latter category is a package of preliminary 138-kV and 345-kV projects to address emerging issues in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In addition to planned, proposed and provisional projects within the ATC service area, the report also describes a number of regional planning studies and emerging national policies and priorities.