ARM 17.20.1606. LINEAR FACILITIES, NEED STANDARD

(1) To establish the basis of need, as required by 75-20-301, MCA, the department must find and determine at least one of the following: (a) the facility is a connecting link based on an explanation of how this facility would augment the existing system; (b) the facility has been designated as a "common carrier" under 69-13-101, MCA; (c) the facility has been identified to relieve a constraint or capacity issue between an energy resource, generation project, market or load center. The constraint or capacity issue(s) are based on existing, projected load or generation; (d) the facility would resolve system reliability or stability issues; (e) the facility would fulfill a requirement or recommendation of a federal, state, local, or other governmental regulatory body, or is recommended through an independent system operator or regional transmission organization planning process or objective; (f) the facility is necessary to correct an existing or potential safety hazard; (g) the facility is necessary to correct existing deficiencies to the existing network and explain how the facility would improve the existing network; (h) the facility has been identified in economic studies to reduce total costs to ratepayers or customers; or (i) the facility would provide firm energy transfer capacity in a path that currently does not exist.