Conclusions of Law

1. The Principles and Minimum Requirements for the Economic Evaluation of Transmission Projects appended as Appendix A should be adopted, with the further guidance provided in this order, for use in CPCN proceedings in which the applicant proposes a transmission project wholly or partly on the basis of expected economic benefits.

2. The Assigned Commissioner or assigned ALJ in a CPCN proceeding should be allowed to modify application of the minimum requirements for economic evaluations adopted in this decision with good cause shown, taking case-specific conditions into account.

3. This order should be effective today so that the adopted principles and guidance can be applied to transmission projects that the Respondents may propose.

4. This proceeding should be closed.