Midcontinent Grid Operator Reports Over $5 Billion in Benefits in 2024

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s market efficiencies, regional coordination, and other grid management strategies generated an estimated $5.1 billion in benefits last year, according to a March 6 press release. This brings the total benefits to over $50 billion since the Value Proposition analysis began in 2007.

The grid operator’s Value Proposition analysis identifies and quantifies key value drivers that contribute to annual savings. These combined efforts reinforce MISO’s role in delivering economic and operational value to its members.

The largest source of value in 2024 is attributed to Resource Capacity Sharing, estimated at $2.9 billion to $3.9 billion. The grid operator’s expansive footprint enables energy to be shared efficiently across the region, reducing the need for excess generation capacity while maintaining reliability. Energy and Ancillary Services, valued at $881 million to $974 million, further enhance cost savings by optimizing market operations, lowering production costs, and improving grid flexibility. Additionally, Renewable Resource Optimization contributes $403 million to $474 million in benefits. Through regional planning, the grid operator minimizes the overall cost of integrating renewable energy, reducing capacity investment needs while supporting clean energy goals.

In recent years, the system operator has made significant efforts to improve grid reliability, including the approval of a historic transmission plan in December 2024. The plan consisted of 488 transmission projects totaling $30 billion and spanning 5,000 miles of transmission lines across 15 states to strengthen grid reliability and resilience during extreme weather.