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The recent stretch of prolonged, extreme heat across our region underscored a reality that should matter to every Iowan: electric reliability and affordability isn't an abstract policy issue. It affects the air conditioning in our homes, refrigeration in our stores, technology we rely on every day, the businesses that power our economy, and our energy bills. When temperatures climb and demand surges, a resilient electric transmission grid is what keeps affordable power moving to every customer, small and large.
As the region's independent electric transmission service provider, ITC Midwest sees firsthand that the reliable, economically beneficial grid we count on today did not happen by chance. Our resilient transmission system is the result of deliberate, collaborative planning and nearly two decades of sustained investment, which is producing tangible benefits for energy consumers.
During this summer's heat, when power consumption was well above average, the ITC Midwest transmission system performed exceptionally well, providing reliability with no outages. On the hottest summer days, when electricity use spikes, ITC Midwest's system does more than move power; it relieves line congestion, expands access to the state's diverse generation resources and keeps lower-cost electricity flowing to consumers. In practical terms, a modern grid is one of the most important tools we have to support reliability and help keep electric bills as low as possible.
Along with reliability, the system also operated well to reduce system congestion. That matters because when congestion is reduced, lower-cost wholesale power can reach distribution utilities more efficiently - and ultimately the customers they serve.
The economic stakes are significant. A sustained power disruption can be inconvenient for a household, but for manufacturers, food processors and other businesses, it can interrupt production, spoil inventory and cost millions of dollars. That is why reliability is an affordability issue as much as an energy issue. ITC Midwest's investments in the regional transmission system have helped drive a dramatic decrease in transmission outages, improving reliability for electric consumers. Since 2007, ITC Midwest has reduced the total number of outages by 77%, based on a three-year rolling average. Simply put, when the power keeps flowing, Iowa's homes and businesses keep running.
The lesson is clear: the grid we will need tomorrow depends on the decisions we make today. Just as past planning created the reliable and efficient transmission system we benefit from now, the transmission projects being planned and developed today are essential to Iowa's future affordability and quality of life. Maintaining a reliable and economically beneficial grid requires teamwork, including regulatory approvals from the Iowa Utilities Commission and collaboration with Alliant Energy, CIPCO and the dozens of other distribution utilities ITC Midwest serves.
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the grid planning organization for our region, has spent years developing a phased plan for needed high-voltage transmission infrastructure. Once built out, these new transmission lines will stretch from Webster County, Iowa through Marshalltown and Cedar Rapids, to the Quad Cities, as well as from southwest Iowa, through Ottumwa, and into southeast Iowa and beyond. This transmission expansion offers many significant benefits, including providing an efficiently operating grid to better connect Iowa's renewable generation resources in western Iowa to the consumers in eastern Iowa who will benefit from connections to lower-cost energy resources, strengthening reliability and improving resilience during extreme weather.
When answering the questions around providing electricity that is reliable, affordable and ready for growth, transmission investments are always a key piece of the answer. Transmission infrastructure continues to be the backbone of the state's electric system, ensuring Iowans from the Mississippi to the Missouri have continuous access to affordable, reliable electricity.
We must continue supporting forward-looking policy, coordinated regional planning and targeted investment in the transmission grid. Essential energy infrastructure may span counties, but it serves all our homes, businesses and local communities. By staying informed, engaged and committed to practical solutions, we can help ensure Iowa has the reliable, resilient and responsive electricity grid needed to support continued growth and the quality of life we all value.
Dusky Terry is the president of ITC Midwest and can be reached at dterry@itctransco.com.