Midwest ISO Issues 2008 Summer Assessment

Grid Operator Projects Adequate Power to Meet Demand

CARMEL, Ind., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (Midwest ISO) announced Thursday the region will have sufficient generation capacity to meet the expected summer peak power demand.

The summer evaluation is an annual review that examines the expected use of power compared to the amount of generation available to meet the needs within the Midwest ISO footprint.

The just completed final evaluation for the summer of 2008 estimates a peak net demand of 100,009 megawatts (MW) within the footprint of the Midwest Energy Markets, approximately three percent below last summer's 103,891 MW peak set in the Midwest ISO Market footprint on August 8, 2007. The forecast peak demand for 2008 is significantly below the adjusted record peak of 109,157 MW set during the summer of 2006.

Within the larger Midwest ISO reliability footprint, which includes companies that do not participate in the Midwest Energy Market but for which the Midwest ISO serves as reliability coordinator, the coincident net peak demand is forecasted to reach 119,428 MW, a decrease of approximately two percent from last summer's peak of 122,405 MW.

"We experienced a net increase in generation resources over the past year as well as slower growth in demand due to the economy," said Clair Moeller, Midwest ISO Vice President of Transmission Asset Management. "As a result, we are confident that our region will have the electricity it needs to meet this summer's peak demand."

The projected reserve margin for the 2008 summer is 21,543 MW or 21.5% of the coincident net internal demand, which exceeds the State and Planning Reserve Sharing Group's established minimum requirement of 16,390 MW or 14.5%.

The evaluation was presented as part of the Midwest ISO's Summer Readiness Workshop on May 1, an annual gathering at which operations teams from member companies, market participants, regulators, and other stakeholders meet to hear the seasonal assessment, and to learn about new and refined operating procedures in advance of the peak summer demand season.

About the Midwest ISO

The Midwest ISO ensures reliable operation of, and equal access to, 93,600 miles of interconnected, highvoltage power lines in 15 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. The Midwest ISO manages one of the world's largest energy markets, clearing nearly $3 billion in energy transactions monthly. The Midwest ISO was approved as the nation's first regional transmission organization (RTO) in 2001. The non-profit 501 (C)(4) organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors, and is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana with operations centers in Carmel and St. Paul, Minnesota. Membership in the organization is voluntary. For more information, visit www.midwestmarket.org.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.

CONTACT: For Media, contact Midwest ISO, +1-888-MISO-NEWS (647-6639)

Web site: http://www.midwestmarket.org/

2008-05-01 17:49:56 0351066 PRNEWSWIRE