This paper examines transmission planning in the western United States, looks for gaps in the performance of transmission planning and expansion functions, and presents some options for filling them. It addresses this central question: will the best outcomes be achieved over time through today’s pluralistic approach or through a more central, regional approach?...

The United States' electricity system is regional in nature, because of the operation of the interconnected grids and the markets defined by them. The future of regional entities will depend on now well regional functions are performed. This paper is intended to provide a basic description of the functions a regional state multi-state entity (MSE) might perform w...