West, which will span eight Western states, also was 
approved by FERC.
Under the proposal approved by FERC, TransConnect could initially own or 
lease the high voltage transmission facilities currently held by Avista 
Corp., Montana Power Company, Portland General Electric, Puget Sound Energy, 
Nevada Power Company, and Sierra Pacific Power Company. Combining 
transmission resources into one independent company may create new 
opportunities to attract capital and improve the transmission infrastructure. 
Among other things, the FERC order approved TransConnect's governance 
structure and found that TransConnect met the Commission's independence 
requirements. The order also determined that TransConnect would qualify to 
file for innovative and incentive rates. Additionally, the order finds that 
the proposed structure for sharing planning and expansion functions is 
consistent with FERC's basic requirements, but reserves final approval 
pendingRajendra K. Pachauri, director of the New Delhi-based Tata 
Energy Research Institute, said he is optimistic of a resolution. 
"It's in everybody's interest to come up with a reasonable settlement. I 
think DPC will accept a renegotiated contract because they are in an impasse 
right now," Pachauri told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview. 
Pachauri is also one of the nine members of the committee appointed by the 
Maharashtra state government to renegotiate the MSEB's controversial power 
purchase agreement with DPC. 
"I do hope that within a month the whole thing can be sorted out. DPC wants 
the negotiations to be short and decisive and if all the parties are willing, 
an agreement won't be difficult," he added. 
The project has been mired in financial disputes since its