SPP revises minimum design standards for competitively bid transmission upgrades, incorporates 765 kV specifications
The fourth revision of SPP's Minimum Transmission Design Standards, dated July 14, 2026, updates the RFP process for Competitive Upgrades and folds in 765 kV design parameters.
Why it matters → The standards apply whenever SPP issues a request for proposals for a Competitive Upgrade under the Transmission Owner Selection Process set forth in Attachment Y of the SPP open-access tariff, and they set the minimum design that the Qualified RFP Participants responding to that RFP must use.■ They represent only a floor: the standards set the minimum design for the selected Designated Transmission Owner unless the Board-approved project and the RFP itself specify different requirements.■ It also lists typical 765 kV line charging at 4.00 to 5.00 MVAR per mile.■
SPP has issued the fourth revision of its Minimum Transmission Design Standards for Competitive Upgrades, dated July 14, 2026 and credited to SPP Staff working with Sargent & Lundy, describing the update in its own revision history as revising the standards "to improve RFP processes and incorporate 765kV information."1
Coverage notes
Gridlight’s notes on what we looked for and did not find; these statements are Gridlight’s own and are not claim-checked against archived sources.
- As of 2026-08-16, Gridlight did not identify for each disputed number: where it came from, and one available challenge or qualification for this story in the sources it monitors; this article is based on the documents listed in Sources.
- Cost incidence has not been quantified: the standards set technical design minimums and do not address cost allocation or bid pricing.
- No vote or implementation date has been set for when Revision 4 will first govern a specific Competitive Upgrade RFP.
- This article is based on the Minimum Transmission Design Standards for Competitive Upgrades, Revision 4 (dated July 14, 2026); Gridlight identified no docket, tariff filing, or committee/Board record documenting formal SPP approval of Revision 4 as of 2026-08-16.