Utilities Challenge Competitive Bidding for Transmission Lines

OGE and Empire District Electric join complaint seeking to suspend FERC's competitive solicitation policy

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:53pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A photorealistic studio still life of a polished metal electrical transmission tower pylon against a clean white background, using dramatic lighting and shadows to conceptually represent the abstract challenges of power grid infrastructure and regulatory policy.A gleaming transmission tower pylon stands as a symbol of the high-stakes regulatory battle over the future of the nation's power grid.Joplin Today

Nine utilities, including Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OGE) and Empire District Electric Company, have filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking to temporarily suspend the competitive bidding requirement for new high-voltage power line projects across 18 states. The utilities argue the competitive process adds significant delays and costs for consumers, and goes against the Trump administration's 'Speed to Power' initiative to rapidly build out the grid for data centers and AI development.

Why it matters

The request, if approved, could impact nearly 910,000 customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas served by OGE, as well as around 4,800 retail electric customers in Oklahoma served by Empire District Electric. The utilities claim the competitive bidding process adds 16-20 months to project timelines, undermining efforts to quickly expand the grid to support new power demands from data centers and emerging technologies.

The details

The list of utilities filing the complaint includes ITC Transmission, Ameren Services, American Transmission, Cleco Power, Entergy Services, Evergy, OGE, Empire District Electric, and Xcel Energy Services. They argue the competitive bidding requirement in FERC's Order 1000 adds significant delays and costs for consumers, going against the administration's 'Speed to Power' initiative to rapidly build out the grid for data centers and AI. The utilities say they have an 'obligation to serve' these new power demands, which the competitive process is interrupting.

  • The utilities filed the complaint with FERC on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.

A major utility serving nearly 910,000 customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas.

The Empire District Electric Company

A utility company based in Joplin, Missouri that serves approximately 4,800 retail electric customers in Oklahoma, as well as customers in Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

The federal agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil.

Southwest Power Pool (SPP)

A regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid and wholesale power market for a 14-state region, including Oklahoma.

Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)

A regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid and wholesale power market for 15 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“There are demands that are unprecedented, that are well-documented, that are on all of our systems, and we have an obligation to serve, and the competitive process is interrupting that obligation.”

— Davis Strobridge, Director of Regulatory Strategy, ITC

“The delays in construction of the transmission lines does not merely shift the timeline; it fundamentally degrades U.S. competitiveness during the period most likely to prove decisive.”

— Dean Ball, Senior Fellow, Foundation for American Innovation

What’s next

FERC will review the utilities' complaint and determine whether to temporarily suspend the competitive bidding requirement for new transmission line projects across the SPP and MISO regions.

The takeaway

This challenge to FERC's competitive bidding policy highlights the tensions between utilities' obligations to rapidly expand the grid versus the added costs and delays introduced by the competitive process. The outcome could have significant implications for grid modernization efforts and the race to build infrastructure to support emerging technologies like AI.