On August 15, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the challenges filed By various utilities, industry groups, and state commissions that claimed that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the Commission) overstepped its authority when promulgating Order No. 1000.[1] The court’s decision in South Carolina Public Service Authority v. FERC,[2] which FERC Chairman Cheryl LaFleur hailed as “critical to the Commission’s efforts to support efficient, competitive, and cost-effective transmission,”[3] substantially strengthens FERC’s ability to establish the structures necessary to encourage and facilitate competitive transmission planning and development.