MISO deal to create new jobs in Little Rock

Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO), a regional transmission organization that will be Entergy Arkansas’ new home for transmission coordination, will open a regional headquarters hiring 35 to 50 new white-collar jobs.

The regional operations center, which will invest $5-8 million, will serve as the hub for MISO’s new Southern Region. Average salary for the new hires will be about $85,000.

The move will accommodate MISO’s expanded footprint as it integrates the four-state Entergy operating companies along with several area transmission owners and generators into the MISO system. Entergy Arkansas projects savings of $263 million to its customers over the first 10 years of MISO membership.

“To bring those tangible benefits to consumers, we’re establishing roots in the Southern Region to help serve all of our new stakeholders and consumers,” said John R. Bear, President and CEO of MISO. “Opening this facility in the Little Rock area will provide a command center for the Southern Region so MISO can ensure greater reliability and lower costs across the region while maintaining its close connection to state interests and stakeholders.”

MISO says it is evaluating potential sites in the Little Rock area for its new operations center. It will house MISO’s real-time operations personnel, market operations staff, customer service representatives, government and regulatory affairs staff, information technology, and key support personnel. It will also include facilities to accommodate training and meetings.

“MISO determined that Little Rock is the best fit for MISO,” continued Bear. “Arkansas has a highly-skilled workforce that is familiar with the work we do because of established college-level programs throughout the state.”

MISO expects to finalize a site location within the next few months.