ITC Midwest Newsletter
March 2026
ITC Midwest Focuses on Customer Value
and Electricity Affordability
In the current economic environment, electricity affordability is a topic of discussion across the country. At ITC Midwest, we recognize this concern, as family budgets are tight and electricity is essential for our quality of life. As a company, we are focused on customer value and electricity affordability.
Recently, ITC Midwest held a roundtable discussion with leaders from Alliant Energy, the Iowa Utilities Commission, the Office of Consumer Advocate, and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) –the regional grid planning organization
for our region – to discuss electricity costs and affordability. Other utility representatives and large industrial customers also participated in the discussion.
The ITC Midwest team is proud of the work we have done to upgrade the transmission grid across the region since taking over the system in 2007. At that time, there was general agreement that the system lacked the capacity to effectively serve rural Iowa, had subpar reliability, and needed substantial investment. As a result of ITC Midwest’s investments over the past 18 years, the company has achieved a 79% reduction in transmission outages. The additional transmission buildout has also reduced congestion on the grid, allowing more low-cost electricity to reach energy consumers.
However, these necessary investments have increased transmission costs, which flow through to distribution utilities and ultimately, energy consumers. There is good news on the horizon regarding ITC Midwest’s transmission rate: substantial load growth is forecast for the system in the next few years. This additional load growth has the potential to reduce upward network rate pressure for the distribution utilities served by our company.
ITC Midwest is committed to working closely with other entities involved in the electricity grid to provide a safe and reliable system, while also pursuing initiatives to provide value and manage costs.
ITC Midwest Begins Construction on
Morgan Valley-Twinkle Project
Following regulatory approval by the Iowa Utilities Commission, ITC Midwest has started construction on the Morgan Valley-Twinkle project. This 61-mile, 345 kV line will connect the Morgan Valley Substation southwest of Cedar Rapids to the new Twinkle Substation under construction in Marshalltown. This is the first of five MISO Long-Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) Tranche 1 projects ITC Midwest will build, totaling approximately 200 miles of new 345 kV lines.
Scheduled to be placed in service by September 2027, the Morgan Valley-Twinkle line will provide numerous benefits and deliver value for electric consumers locally and regionally. When completed, this project will:
Increase transmission infrastructure to improve system reliability
Enhance grid resilience to better withstand extreme weather
Expand access to generation resources by reducing transmission system congestion
Improve distribution of lower-cost energy resources, including renewables
Preparing for Storm Season
As spring and summer approach, ITC Midwest continues to strengthen its readiness for severe weather events that can impact the electric transmission system.
In February, ITC Midwest conducted a comprehensive Storm Response Tabletop Exercise to test and enhance its ability to respond to a high-impact weather event.
The exercise allowed participants to evaluate existing response plans, discuss strategies and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Participants walked through how ITC Midwest assesses impacts to customers and communities, determines the most effective response actions, and ensures crews are positioned to restore service as quickly and safely as possible.
Exercises like this are an important part of ITC Midwest’s year-round emergency preparedness efforts. Planning, training and testing response processes ahead of storm reason helps ensure ITC Midwest is prepared to provide reliable service and clear communication for customers and communities when severe weather strikes.
Get in Touch with ITC Midwest
Do you need to contact our Customer and Business Solutions team? Use the map below to see how you can reach our team – we’re always happy to help!
The Customer and Business Solutions team works with utility and generation stakeholders such as investor-owned utilities, rural cooperatives, municipal electric utilities, large industrial customers and independent power producers to address transmission related issues and identify and align growth strategies for mutual success. The team reviews planned and unplanned outage coordination, facilitates the ITC Midwest response to line move requests and growth opportunities, and handles equipment damage claims.
Where in the Midwest is CBS?
ITC Midwest’s Customer and Business Solutions, or CBS, team has recently attended several key events and conferences focused on economic development and load growth.
ITC co-hosted the Utility Economic Development Association (UEDA) Fall Forum, along with Consumers Energy, in Traverse City, Mich. Company leaders highlighted how reliable energy infrastructure drives economic growth, innovation and community connection. Director of Customer and Business Solutions Cheri Monahan is a member of the UEDA board of Directors.
ITC sponsored the National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA) Fall Conference in Nashville, Tenn. More than 150 rural economic development professionals gathered from across the country. The event fostered collaboration and innovation to strengthen rural communities while reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting rural economic growth.
The Iowa Association of Business and Industry’s (ABI) Legislative Briefing and Reception in Des Moines brought together more than 400 legislators, officials and business leaders. As a sponsor of the event, ITC Midwest underscored its commitment to strengthening the connection between business leaders and policymakers as well as engagement about energy infrastructure, reliability and economic development in Iowa.
ITC Midwest joined local business leaders at the Corridor Business Journal’s Economic Forecast Luncheon in Cedar Rapids. Sponsored by ITC Midwest, the event offered an opportunity to discuss how transmission investments enable job creation and business expansion.
At the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Annual Meeting, businesses and regional leaders celebrated achievements, learned about initiatives shaping economic growth and strengthened partnerships in the community.
You're Invited to Join us for the ITC Midwest
Spring 2026 Partners in Business Meeting!
Partners in Business Meetings help keep our customers, community partners and other important stakeholders updated on ITC Midwest activities and projects. Through these meetings, we work to build connections and share information that benefits stakeholders and allows them to maximize the benefits of our investments in the regional grid.
The spring in-person meeting will be held in Albert Lea, Minn. The fall in-person meeting will be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Both meetings will be hosted live virtually on Microsoft Teams.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Wedgewood Cove Golf Course
2200 W 9th St
Albert Lea, Minn. 56007
9:30 am – 3:00 pm CT
Also hosted live on Microsoft Teams
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