About
ITC Midwest

A Message From Dusky Terry, President, ITC Midwest

There’s no doubt the utility industry is changing beneath our feet. From extreme weather events to the unprecedented transition to renewable energy generation, from the rapid adoption of electric vehicles to the increasing focus on energy system resilience, our industry is suddenly in the national spotlight. All of these forces reinforce the critical role of the transmission grid to support the changing landscape and ensure consumers have access to low-cost, clean and reliable electricity.

As an independent electric transmission provider, ITC Midwest is responding to these changes as we deliver electricity from the point of generation to distribution utilities that directly serve consumers. Despite the forces of change, our focus remains on providing reliable, cost-effective transmission service.

Over the past 16 years, ITC Midwest has invested nearly $5 billion to modernize and improve the electric grid in our region. These investments provide value in the form of enhanced reliability with system outages reduced by 70%, access to more renewable energy resources, and capacity for economic growth.

But the changes in the region’s energy landscape don’t allow the electric utility sector to rest on our past successes. Many of these changes require infrastructure investment to ensure grid stability. Consider a few of the trends contributing to the changing energy landscape: 

• More renewable generation sources –Consumer demand and declining costs are driving the move toward renewable energy resources. To meet that demand, utilities and renewable energy developers are adding wind and solar farms across the upper Midwest. The development of robust transmission infrastructure must keep pace to connect these renewables to the power grid. 

• System storm resilience – When it comes to extreme weather, we’ve experienced firsthand the powerful effects of Mother Nature. The widespread power outages caused by the devastating derecho in Iowa in 2020 and the extended sub-freezing temperatures across much of the U.S. demonstrate the importance of a resilient and reliable electric power grid.

• Electric Vehicles – Buzz around vehicle electrification is intensifying. Major automakers have announced phase-outs of gas-powered vehicles over the next 15 years. In the near future, fast vehicle charging stations will require large amounts of electricity from the transmission grid.

As the energy landscape continues to rapidly evolve, we encourage everyone to stay informed and engaged in the discussion. Being informed means understanding your electric service as well as the costs and benefits associated with it.

Modernizing the power grid is key to harnessing the full potential of low-cost renewable energy sources, weathering more intense storms, and charging a growing fleet of electric vehicles. By investing in our transmission system, we are meeting consumer demands in a cost-effective manner.