Idaho Investor-Owned Utility Transmission Siting Process

Population growth, increased energy demand, and the expansion of renewably generated electricity require the modernization of the electric grid to ensure its reliability and meet future needs. Upgrades and new electric transmission lines are necessary, but the siting of lines is complex. Multiple levels of regulation, environmental concerns, citizen opposition, permitting procedures, and public lands are just a few of the variables that further complicate the process for investor-owned utilities (IOUs), government officials, and stakeholders.The regulatory structure is different in each state, so the following has been written as a general description of the process an IOU needs to follow to site a transmission line in Idaho. It provides a description of the process flow which is illustrated in Figure 1. The numbered headings correspond to the process steps outlined in the diagram.This document is intended to provide a broad overview so that different actors understand the whole process, rather than solely the parts that directly impact their authority or interests