FERC Order 2023 introduced graduated site control thresholds for MISO's Definitive Planning Phase (DPP). MISO uniquely requires both facility site control and tie-line site control to meet thresholds independently at every stage — across 15 US states and Manitoba, Canada.
Under FERC Order 2023 (effective 2024-06-12), MISO requires increasing site control coverage at each DPP milestone. Both facility and tie-line site control must meet the threshold independently. Options count at full weight (1.0) through Facilities Study but are excluded at DSA execution.
| Queue Stage | Coverage Threshold | Options Allowed | Option Weight | Encumbrance Policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application (GIP Section 4.1) | 50% | Yes | 1.0 | Flag |
| Feasibility Study | 50% | Yes | 1.0 | Flag |
| System Impact Study | 90% | Yes | 1.0 | Disqualify |
| Facilities Study | 90% | Yes | 1.0 | Disqualify |
| DSA Execution | 100% | No | 0.0 | Disqualify |
| Commercial Operation | 100% | No | 0.0 | Disqualify |
Both facility site control and tie-line site control must independently meet the threshold at every stage. Eligible instruments at DSA execution: fee simple, executed lease, easement, ROW agreement. Source: MISO GIP Section 4.1, Attachment E affidavit, FERC Order 2023 compliance filing.
For the full cross-RTO comparison, see FERC Order 2023 Thresholds by RTO and Stage.
DPP Application (GIP Section 4.1)
50% facility + 50% tie-line site control. Attachment E affidavit required. Encumbrances flagged but not disqualifying.
Feasibility Study
50% threshold maintained. Options still count at full weight (1.0).
System Impact Study
90% threshold. Encumbrances now disqualify coverage. Options still allowed at full weight.
Facilities Study
90% threshold maintained. Last stage where options count toward coverage.
Definitive System Agreement Execution
100% site control with executed instruments only — no options. Both facility and tie-line must independently reach 100%.
Commercial Operation
100% site control maintained. No options.
Per-stage thresholds, eligible instruments, option weights, and encumbrance policies for all 7 RTOs under FERC Order 2023.
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How option expirations drop coverage below MISO thresholds and the conversion timeline your land team needs before DSA execution.
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12 questions covering FERC Order 2023, the 5-filter audit, SNDA requirements, Williamson Act, and interconnection queue deadlines.
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MISO uniquely requires both facility site control and tie-line site control to independently meet each threshold. A project at 95% facility coverage but only 45% tie-line coverage fails the 50% application requirement. Land teams must track and report both categories separately.
MISO's 15-state territory is dominated by agricultural land in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and the Dakotas. Farm leases have unique timing constraints tied to crop seasons, and landowners often have existing USDA conservation program obligations that can create encumbrances.
MISO's footprint hosts intense competition between wind and solar projects for the same interconnection capacity. Queue congestion means longer study timelines, giving options more time to expire before DSA execution — where options are excluded entirely.
MISO requires the official Attachment E affidavit form as part of site control demonstration — a tariff-specific document that must be completed correctly. Errors or omissions in the Attachment E filing are a common cause of application deficiencies and delays.
Zonevex parses your lease PDFs, matches parcels to the project boundary, applies MISO's stage-specific thresholds for both facility and tie-line control, and tells you exactly where your coverage stands — before you file.
50%
Application threshold
90%
SIS threshold
100%
DSA execution
5
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