MISO has announced its annual Value Proposition study, which details between $2.2 and $2.7 billion in quantitative benefits that MISO provided for the region in 2011. The regional transmission organization provides these benefits through its ongoing grid reliability and efficiency measures. 

“MISO’s Value Proposition continues to affirm our commitment to deliver the greatest benefits to end users, our members, and potential members through a collaborative, region-wide approach to grid planning and management,” said John R. Bear, president and CEO of MISO. “This study breaks down and analyzes hard data to show exactly how those savings occur,” he added.

The study identifies $2.2 to $2.7 billion in economic benefits delivered to the region in 2011 from the following areas:

• Improved reliability ($320 - $479 million)
• Market commitment and dispatch ($426 - $470 million)
• Dispatch of energy
• Regulation
• Spinning reserves
• Wind integration ($163 - $196 million)
• Compliance ($62 - $93 million)
• Generation investment deferral ($1.4 - $1.7 billion)
• Footprint diversity
• Generator availability improvement
• Demand response

New in the 2011 analysis was the addition of compliance as a quantitative benefit.  In its role as both a balancing authority and planning authority, MISO performs many compliance activities that would otherwise fall to its members to complete.  These efforts alone save members between $62 million and $93 million per year.

In addition to quantitative benefits, MISO also continues to demonstrate significant qualitative benefits for its wholesale market participants including:

• Price and informational transparency
• Planning coordination
• Seams management

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