WASHINGTON, D.C. – A strong, flexible transmission system that is capable of coping with a wide variety of conditions is key for the reliable supply and delivery of electricity. In recognition of the crucial role that transmission adequacy plays, Congress, in its Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, directed NERC to conduct the Interregional Transfer Capability Study (ITCS).
Since that mandate, NERC has made enormous progress on addressing this complex initiative. The ITCS Overview of Study Need and Approach—the first of four planned ITCS reports—provides the foundation for the project by detailing transfer capability calculations and the methodology used to make recommendations for prudent additions.
The goal of the ITCS is to identify locations between Transmission Planning Regions where enhanced transfer capability would strengthen the grid’s reliability. As the United States and Canada share an interconnected bulk power system, NERC deemed that a Canadian analysis would be necessary to provide a more complete review of transmission capability.
In addition to the Overview, the project will consist of the following reports:
- Transfer Capability Analysis (Part 1): Describes the total transfer capability between neighboring Transmission Planning Regions (August)
- Prudent Additions (Part 2) and Recommendations (Part 3): Identifies “prudent additions" to transfer capability between neighboring areas and the recommendations to meet and maintain transfer capability (November)
- Canadian Analysis: Evaluates transfer capabilities from the United States to Canada and between Canadian provinces (Q1 2025)
The ITCS is crucial to the future of reliability. All project information is available on the ITCS web page.
Full Announcement | ITCS Overview of Study Need and Approach | Infographic | Video
