Nino Amato: Letter Supporting Study of ATC’s Dane County Planning

TO:    Scott A. McDonell
  Dane County Board Chair

FROM:  A.J. (Nino) Amato
     Dane County Citizen

Date:  May 17, 2006

Re:     Support for Resolution 322, 05-06

Since I am out of town and unable to attend Thursday’s meeting, I am writing in support of Resolution 322 which calls for an independent study of ATC’s planning assumption for new transmission lines in Dane County.

Economic growth and business retention are key elements to our state’s economic health and we should make every effort to implement initiatives that improve reliability in the most cost-effective manner.

Therefore, the Dane County Board of Supervisors support for an independent study from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) will contribute to an open and transparent review process that will foster accountability for all parties involved.  Furthermore, an accurate and full consideration of all feasible alternatives for new transmission lines, including energy efficiency upgrades and conservation are essential study components of a cost-effective energy solution for Dane County

It is also important that the planning and forecast assumptions of ATC’s Energy Initiative Study (EI) be supportive by accurate, verifiable data and additional analysis, in order to build and sustain public trust in the outcome of the current and upcoming regulatory process at the PSCW. 

An independent study is important because the Public Service Commission is understaffed and would benefit from the additional technical assistance in examining the cost-effectiveness of ATC’s proposed transmission lines.  The PSCW needs to determine the “least-cost-option” to managing an annual 29 hour peak energy demand problem for Dane County in the year 2012.  

These are unfortunate times for Wisconsin ratepayers.  Wisconsin’ utility rates have gone from being the lowest cost for residential and industrial customers to now the highest cost among the eight regional states.  Given Wisconsin new high cost status, its time that a comprehensive integrated resource planning study of Wisconsin’s energy infrastructure be conducted independently.  ATC is a for-profit-corporation with a vested interest in the outcome.

Without an independent review by citizen utility experts, ratepayers will no longer have the consumer safeguards to balance the financial interests of the powerful utility monopolies.  These entities have already spent millions of dollars on PR firms and governmental affair activities. Therefore, I hope the Dane County Board of Supervisors will support a comprehensive resource integrated planning study. The study would be implemented by an independent group of utility experts.  A rigorous, quantitative and qualitative analysis would determine the least-cost alternatives on behalf of utility ratepayers.  This study would challenge the prevailing forecast projections and planning assumptions of ATC’s proposed transmission project for Dane County.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

A.J. (Nino) Amato
Dane County Resident