39 Miss. Code. R. 1-29- 102
The periodic filing by electric utilities of an IRP report provides transparency for the Commission, Mississippi ratepayers, and other interested stakeholders. IRP filing requirements do not change the fundamental regulatory relationship between the electric utilities and the Commission, or otherwise relieve such utilities from their statutory obligation to provide reasonably adequate service at just and reasonable rates. These obligations require that electric utilities maintain local control of their resource planning process and decision-making, because utilities are the entities that will be held accountable for their planning decisions by the Commission.
The IRP reporting requirements embodied in this Rule are not intended to drive any specific outcome or dictate any specific utility investment decisions. To that end, these IRP reporting requirements do not supplant or equate with a prudence determination or otherwise replace the Commission's existing regulatory processes for petition and approval of requisite certificates of convenience and necessity for new resources. Consistency between an electric utility's filed IRP and subsequent Commission proceedings will, however, be a factor for the Commission to consider in evaluating the prudence of utility investments, construction of infrastructure, and rate applications. Any changed circumstances that occur after the IRP has been developed and filed will also be considered in such proceedings.
39 Miss. Code. R. 1-29- 102