Document:

EX-10.80

Exhibit 10.80

INTERNATIONAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY

MANAGEMENT SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFIT PLAN

     The International Transmission Company Management Supplemental Benefit Plan (the “Plan”),
established by International Transmission Company effective May 10, 2005, is hereby restated in its
entirety and sponsored, effective as of December 1, 2008, by ITC Holdings Corp. (“ITC”) as the
successor to International Transmission Company.

     1. Purpose.

     The Plan is designed to supplement the pension benefits of Joseph L. Welch (“Executive”), the
president and chief executive officer of ITC Holdings Corp. and ITC.

     2. Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, all defined terms shall have the
same meaning as provided under the ITC Retirement Plan.

          a. Actuarial Equivalent. “Actuarial Equivalent” means an amount calculated as specified under
Section 7, Step 2, below using the applicable mortality and interest rate specified in the ITC
Retirement Plan from time to time.

          b. Average Final Compensation. “Average Final Compensation” is equal to one-fifth of
Executive’s Compensation during the 260 weeks of Service that results in the highest average of
Executive’s Compensation.

          c. Board. The Board of Directors of the Company.

          d. Company. Where the context requires in respect of the liability for the payment of any
benefit to the Executive or his beneficiary, the term “Company” shall mean ITC or such other
affiliate of ITC employing or who employed Executive. All corporate officers and other
administrative personnel referred to herein refer to officers and administrative personnel of ITC.

          e. Company Service. Executive’s years of service with the Company. Company Service is
calculated to the nearest whole month. As of the effective date of this restated Plan, Executive
has 5 years and 9 months of Company Service.

          f. DTE Service. All years of service with The Detroit Edison Company (“DTE”) (or any of its
predecessors, affiliates or other members of its controlled group) calculated to the nearest
completed calendar month. For purposes of this Plan, Executive is treated as having 32 years and 1
month of DTE Service.

          g. Compensation. “Compensation” as defined in the ITC Retirement Plan; provided,
however, that for purposes of this Plan, “Compensation” shall be Executive’s Normal Pay,
any bonuses paid to Executive without restrictions, and compensation related to Executive’s service
with DTE, and shall be calculated without regard to any limitation imposed by Section 401(a)(17) of
the Code. For purposes of compensation related to service with DTE, including all
pay from other sources while placed on a suspension of employment, see Exhibit B. The
foregoing notwithstanding, the Executive’s “Compensation” shall not include any “Special

 

 

Bonus
Amounts” awarded, paid, accrued, vested or deferred at any time after May 17, 2006 under the ITC
Holdings Corp. Executive Group Special Bonus Plan.

          h. Normal Pay. Executive’s annual base salary received from the Company for a standard
forty-hour work week, calculated without regard to any limitation imposed by Section 401(a)(17) of
the Code, including amounts deferred by Executive under the Company’s qualified and non-qualified
savings plans. “Normal Pay” does not include any bonuses, special pay, or premium for overtime
work.

          i. ITC Retirement Plan. The ITC Retirement Plan is a qualified defined benefit pension plan
sponsored by ITC for its eligible employees.

          j. Service. Executive’s Company Service and DTE Service, collectively.

     3. Eligibility. Executive is the only individual eligible to participate in this
Plan.

     4. Target Percentage of Average Final Compensation. Payments from the Plan are based
upon the “Target Percentage” of Executive’s Average Final Compensation as calculated below. The
Target Percentage is determined by years of Service, and shall be determined as follows:

	 	 	 
	Target Percentage	 	 
	of Average Final	 	Service
	Compensation	 	Index
	60%
	 	25

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Target Percentage shall be increased by 0.5% for each year that
the number of years of Executive’s Service is greater than the Service Index. The Target
Percentage is adjusted accordingly if the Service Index results in fractional years. The final
determination of Executive’s Target Percentage (e.g., 60% plus any increases) of Executive’s
Average Final Compensation shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Final Percentage.”

     5. Payments to Commence only after Termination of Employment. Payments from the Plan
are not payable until Executive terminates employment with the Company (by death or otherwise).
References in this Section and in the following provisions of the Plan to “terminating employment”,
“terminates employment” or “employment termination” or similar provisions shall mean termination of
employment with the Company, and shall be synonymous with the meaning given to the term “separation
from service” as provided under Section 409A of the Code, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.

          a. Normal Retirement. Executive shall receive an unreduced Final Percentage if
Executive terminates employment at age 60 or older.

          b. Early Retirement. Executive shall receive a reduced or adjusted Final Percentage
if Executive terminates employment (including due to his death) at or after age 55 but prior to
achieving age 60. The early retirement adjustment schedule is as follows:

2

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Age At
		 	Early Retirement
	 	Termination		 	Adjustment Percentage
	 	55
		 	 	60	%
	 	56
		 	 	68	%
	 	57
		 	 	76	%
	 	58
		 	 	84	%
	 	59
		 	 	92	%
	 	60 or older
		 	 	100	%

Age at termination is calculated to the nearest whole calendar month and the Early Retirement
Adjustment Percentage is determined accordingly.

     6. Payment of Benefit. The retirement benefit provided for under this Plan shall be
paid to the Executive upon the termination of his employment for any reason in the form of a
Guaranteed Term Plus Life Benefit. The Guaranteed Term Plus Life Benefit payment option provides
for a minimum of 15 years of payments to Executive and, if he lives beyond such 15-year period, the
payments shall continue to be made to him for life. Payments shall be made monthly. If Executive
dies before the end of the 15-year period, payments will continue to be made to his beneficiary or
estate (if no beneficiary election is on file) for the balance of the 15-year period. At the end
of this 15-year period, all payments cease, the Company will have no further liability to Executive
or his beneficiary or estate, and the Plan shall terminate. In accordance with Section 409A of the
Code, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, payments hereunder will be delayed and
shall commence on the first business day following the date that is six months after the date of
termination of Executive’s employment (or the Executive’s date of death, if earlier); provided that
in addition to the regular monthly amounts payable under the Plan commencing at that time, a lump
sum amount shall be paid equal to the total of all payments under this Plan that would otherwise
have been payable during the period of delay required by Code Section 409A.

     7. Benefit Payment Calculation. Monthly payments made from the Plan pursuant to
Section 6 above are determined as follows:

     Step 1. Determine Gross Target Benefit Amount

     The “Gross Target Benefit Amount” is determined by multiplying the Final Percentage by
Executive’s Average Final Compensation.

     Step 2. Determine ITC Retirement Plan Benefit

     Executive will be a participant in the ITC Retirement Plan. At the time Executive’s
benefits are calculated for this Plan, his total benefits under the ITC Retirement Plan will
be determined, including: (i) the value of his cash balance account as of the calculation
date, and (ii) any other annuity benefit that is payable to Executive
thereunder. The total of such benefit amounts will be converted into an annuity that is
equal to the Actuarial Equivalent of the Guaranteed Term Plus Life Benefit (the “ITC Plan
Benefit”).

3

 

     Step 3. DTE Retirement Plan & DTE MSBP Offset

     The Plan benefit shall be reduced by the sum of the benefits provided under the DTE
Retirement Plan and the DTE Management Supplemental Benefit Plan (“DTE Plans”). Pursuant to
that Separation Agreement entered into by and between Executive and DTE dated November 22,
2002, the aggregate amount of such benefits is equal to $98,368.44, payable as a life
annuity. For purposes of the Plan, the life annuity amount must be converted to an amount
that is equal to the Actuarial Equivalent of the Guaranteed Term Plus Life Benefit. For
purposes of such calculation, the Actuarial Equivalent shall be determined as of November
2002. This amount is $95,496 (the “DTE Plans Offset”).

     Step 4. Determine Base Annual Target Benefit Amount

     The “Base Annual Target Benefit Amount” is determined by subtracting the ITC Plan
Benefit and the DTE Plans Offset that would be payable at retirement (without regard to
whether Executive elects to defer receipt of the benefit) from the Gross Target Benefit
Amount.

     Step 5. Determine Adjusted Annual Target Benefit Amount

     The “Adjusted Annual Target Benefit Amount” is determined by multiplying the Base
Annual Target Benefit Amount by the Early Retirement Adjustment Percentage.

     Step 6. Determine Monthly Target Benefit Amount Under the Guaranteed
Term Plus Life Benefit

     The “Monthly Target Benefit Amount” of the Guaranteed Term Plus Life Benefit is
determined by dividing the Adjusted Annual Target Benefit Amount by 12.

     Exhibit A displays examples of the Plan payment calculation procedure as set forth in this
Section 7.

     In the event Executive receives an assessment of Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes
from the Internal Revenue Service, or of state or local income taxes, which treats any amount
payable to Executive under this Plan as taxable for such purpose prior to the actual payment of
such amount to Executive, the Company shall pay an amount equal to such taxes to or on behalf of
Executive. Further, in the event Executive receives an assessment of income taxes from the
Internal Revenue Service which treats any amount payable to Executive under this Plan as includible
in his gross income prior to the actual payment of such amount to Executive due to the failure of
this Plan to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, the Company shall pay an amount equal to such taxes to or on behalf of Executive. In
either event, such payment will be made within 30 days after receipt of written notice from
Executive of such assessment, which notice Executive shall timely give to
the Company. Thereafter, the Base Annual Target Benefit Amount (Step 4 above) shall be
reduced by an amount equal to all such payments by the Company and the amounts calculated under
Steps 5 and 6 shall be reduced accordingly, so long as the Board determines that the reduction of
such amount will not result in additional taxes being imposed on Executive under

4

 

Code Section 409A.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company decides to challenge the Internal Revenue
Service’s assessment, the Company shall promptly notify Executive in writing of such decision and
the Company shall have the right to challenge such assessment, on behalf of Executive, at the
Company’s cost and expense.

     Each payment under this Plan shall be reduced by any federal, state or local taxes, which ITC
determines should be withheld from such payment.

     8. Establishment of Grantor Trust. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Plan, the Company shall establish a grantor trust (a “Rabbi Trust”), which is intended to
be a grantor trust within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter J, chapter 1, subtitle A of
the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which shall not affect the status
of the Plan as an unfunded arrangement for purposes of Title I of ERISA. Assets transferred to the
Rabbi Trust shall be in cash or other securities in the discretion of the Company.

     9. Beneficiary Designation. Executive may name any beneficiary to whom payments
under the Plan are to be paid in case of Executive’s death. Each designation will revoke all prior
designations and shall be on a form prescribed by ITC and will be effective only when filed by
Executive with the ITC Human Resource Department. In the absence of any such designation, payments
due shall be paid to Executive’s estate.

     10. Taxation. The Company makes no representation as to the tax consequences of the
payment option provided under this Plan. Executive is urged to consult his tax advisor for
information and advice.

     All payments under this Plan are intended to be in compliance with Section 409A of the Code,
but in no event shall the Company be responsible for any tax or penalty owed by Executive or his
beneficiary with respect to payments hereunder. Between the original effective date of this Plan
(May 10, 2005) and the effective date of this amended and restated Plan, this Plan was
administered in good faith compliance under Code Section 409A, taking into account the statutory
language, legislative history and interim guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service relating
to Code Section 409A.

     11. Non-Secured Promise; Amendments.

          a. Executive has the status of general unsecured creditor of the Company. This Plan
constitutes a promise by the Company to make benefit payments in the future. The Company intends
that this Plan be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of ERISA. The Company
intends that this Plan be maintained solely for Executive.

          b. Payments as they become due under the Plan shall be paid by the Company from its general
assets; provided, however, that no provision of the Plan shall preclude the Company from
segregating assets which are intended to be a source for payment of benefits under the Plan in the
Company’s sole discretion, including the Rabbi Trust.

          c. ITC reserves the right to amend, modify, or discontinue this Plan at any time; provided,
however, that no such amendment, modification or termination shall adversely affect the rights of
Executive or his beneficiaries who are receiving or are immediately eligible to

5

 

receive benefits
from this Plan at the time of such amendment, modification, or termination, without such person’s
prior written consent.

          d. In the event of dissolution, merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company, the
Plan shall terminate as to the Company unless the Plan is continued by a successor thereto (subject
to the consent of the Chairman of the Board). In the event the Plan is terminated, Executive shall
nevertheless receive payment of his accrued benefit hereunder in accordance with Code Section 409A,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          e. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, no amendment, modification, or
termination of the Plan may be made after the occurrence of a Change of Ownership (as defined in
the Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Purchase and Option Plan for Key Employees of ITC Holdings,
Inc. and its Subsidiaries), that would adversely affect the rights of Executive, who is receiving
or upon termination would thereupon be entitled to receive benefits under the Plan, without his
prior written consent.

     12. Administration; Arbitration.

     The Vice President in charge of ITC Human Resources (or the executive officer whose
responsibilities include the Company’s Human Resources department) is responsible for the
administration of the Plan and for the administration of benefits payable under the Plan. The
Board (or its designated representative) has the authority to interpret the provisions of the Plan
and prescribe any regulations relating to its administration. The decisions of the Board (or its
designated representative) with respect thereto made prior to the occurrence of a Change of
Ownership shall be conclusive. The Vice President in charge of ITC Human Resources (or the
executive officer whose responsibilities include the Company’s Human Resources department) shall
review the Plan from time to time and as part of such review is hereby directed to make any
recommendations to amend the Plan he or she in good faith deems necessary for ease of
administration and/or to comply with applicable federal, state and local laws.

     Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, in the event of any dispute, claim
or controversy (hereinafter referred to as a “Grievance”) between Executive and the Company with
respect to the payment of benefits to him under the Plan, the computation of benefits under the
Plan, or any of the terms or conditions of the Plan, such Grievance shall be resolved by
arbitration. Arbitration shall be the sole exclusive remedy to redress any Grievance. The
arbitration decision shall be final and binding, and a judgment on the arbitration award may be
entered in any court of competent jurisdiction and enforcement may be had according to its terms.
The arbitration shall be conducted by the American Arbitration Association and expenses of the
arbitrator(s) and the American Arbitration Association shall be borne by the Company. Neither the
Company nor Executive shall be entitled to attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees, or other expenses
expended in the course of such arbitration or the enforcement of any award rendered thereunder.
The place of the arbitration shall be the offices of the American Arbitration Association in the
Detroit metropolitan area, Michigan. The arbitrator(s) shall not have the jurisdiction or
authority to change any of the provisions of this Plan by alteration of, addition to,
or subtraction from the terms thereof. The arbitrator(s) sole authority shall be to apply any
terms and conditions of this Plan. Since arbitration is the exclusive remedy with respect to any
Grievance, Executive does not have the right to resort to any federal court, state court, local

6

 

court, or administrative agency concerning breaches of any terms and provisions hereunder, and the
decision of the arbitrator(s) shall be a complete defense to any suit, action or proceeding
instituted in any federal court, state court, local court, or administrative agency by Executive or
the Company with respect to any Grievance which can be subject to arbitration as herein set forth.
The arbitration provisions shall, with respect to any Grievance survive the termination of this
Plan.

          13. Non-Alienability and Non-Transferability. The right of Executive, his spouse or
beneficiary to payment of any benefit hereunder shall not be alienated, assigned, transferred,
pledged of encumbered and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. No
account shall be subject in any manner to alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge,
encumbrance, charge, garnishment, execution or other levy of any kind, whether voluntary or
involuntary, including, but not limited to any liability which is for alimony or other payments for
the support of a spouse or former spouse, or for any other relative of Executive. Any attempted
assignment, pledge, levy or similar process shall be null and void without effect.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this restated Plan has been adopted this ___ day of                     , 2008,
effective as set forth above.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	ITC HOLDINGS CORP.	 	 
	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

          CONSENTED TO as of this ___ day of                     , 2008.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	EXECUTIVE	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Joseph L. Welch
	 	 

7

 

EXHIBIT A

Example 1

Assumptions:

	 	 	 
	Date of Termination:

	 	July 31, 2013 
	Age at Termination:

	 	65 Years, 0 Months 
	Position:

	 	Chief Executive Officer 
	MSBP Average Final Compensation:

	 	$2,800,000 
	Service:

	 	42 Years, 6 Months 
	ITC Retirement Plan Cash Balance Account:
	 	$200,000
	ITC Retirement Plan Annuity Benefit

	 	$100,000 
	DTE Total Retirement Benefit:

	 	$98,368.44/yr as life annuity 
	Payment Option:

	 	Guaranteed Term Plus Life (Survivor  benefit — monthly payments) 

(Given the above, the target percentage is 69%)

	 	 	 
	Step 1:

	 	69% x $2,800,000 = $1,932,000
	Step 2:

	 	($200,000/11.157) + ($100,000*0.9108) = $109,006
	Step 3:

	 	$98,368.44 x .9708 = $95,496
	Step 4:

	 	$1,932,000 – $109,006 – $95,496 = $1,727,498
	Step 5:

	 	$1,727,498 x 1.00 = $1,727,498
	Step 6:

	 	$1,727,498 / 12 = $143,958

Monthly Payments of $143,958 will be made for 15 years, or for the life of the Executive if greater
than 15 years.

 

 

Exhibit B — Historical Compensation Data

The following schedule of weekly compensation for Mr. Welch’s period of employment at DTE including
all pay from other sources while placed on a suspension of employment. This is to be used for
calculation of Average Final Compensation.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Eligible	 	 	 	 	 	Number	 	Comp to Use	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Number	 	Annual	 	MSBP	 	Lump-Sum	 	Weekly	 	of Weeks	 	for Highest	 	 
	Begin Date	 	End Date	 	of Weeks	 	Salary	 	Bonus(1)	 	Awards	 	Average	 	to Use in Avg.	 	260 Weeks	 	RANK
	Actual History	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	2/12/1990

	 	2/18/1990
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	69,600.00	 	 	 	7,048.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	8,386.46	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	8,386.46	 	 	 	24	 
	2/11/1991

	 	2/17/1991
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	73,700.00	 	 	 	8,721.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	10,138.31	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	10,138.31	 	 	 	25	 
	2/10/1992

	 	2/16/1992
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	77,400.00	 	 	 	6,692.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	8,180.46	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	8,180.46	 	 	 	23	 
	2/15/1993

	 	2/21/1993
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	89,300.00	 	 	 	5,819.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	7,536.31	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	7,536.31	 	 	 	22	 
	2/14/1994

	 	2/20/1994
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	92,900.00	 	 	 	10,502.38	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	12,288.92	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	12,288.92	 	 	 	27	 
	3/14/1994

	 	3/20/1994
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	92,900.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	5,000.00	 	 	 	6,786.54	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	6,786.54	 	 	 	18	 
	2/13/1995

	 	2/19/1995
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	111,000.00	 	 	 	2,774.98	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	4,909.60	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	4,909.60	 	 	 	15	 
	2/12/1996

	 	2/18/1996
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	118,000.00	 	 	 	8,128.13	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	10,397.36	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	10,397.36	 	 	 	26	 
	4/7/1997

	 	4/13/1997
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	139,500.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	1,500.00	 	 	 	4,182.69	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	4,182.69	 	 	 	13	 
	4/14/1997

	 	2/8/1998
	 	 	43.00	 	 	 	139,500.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2,682.69	 	 	 	0	 	 	 	0.00	 	 	 	1	 
	2/9/1998

	 	2/15/1998
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	139,500.00	 	 	 	20,968.21	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	23,650.90	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	23,650.90	 	 	 	31	 
	2/16/1998

	 	3/29/1998
	 	 	6.00	 	 	 	139,500.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2,682.69	 	 	 	0	 	 	 	0.00	 	 	 	1	 
	3/30/1998

	 	4/5/1998
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	145,100.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2,790.38	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	2,790.38	 	 	 	3	 
	4/6/1998

	 	4/12/1998
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	145,100.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2,000.00	 	 	 	4,790.38	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	4,790.38	 	 	 	14	 
	4/13/1998

	 	2/21/1999
	 	 	45.00	 	 	 	145,100.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2,790.38	 	 	 	38	 	 	 	106,034.62	 	 	 	3	 
	2/22/1999

	 	2/28/1999
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	145,100.00	 	 	 	19,873.41	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	22,663.79	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	22,663.79	 	 	 	30	 
	3/1/1999

	 	3/28/1999
	 	 	4.00	 	 	 	145,100.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2,790.38	 	 	 	4	 	 	 	11,161.54	 	 	 	3	 
	3/29/1999

	 	4/4/1999
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	147,900.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2,844.23	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	2,844.23	 	 	 	6	 
	4/5/1999

	 	4/11/1999
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	147,900.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	3,000.00	 	 	 	5,844.23	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	5,844.23	 	 	 	16	 
	4/12/1999

	 	10/10/1999
	 	 	26.00	 	 	 	147,900.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2,844.23	 	 	 	26	 	 	 	73,950.00	 	 	 	6	 
	10/11/1999

	 	2/20/2000
	 	 	19.00	 	 	 	160,000.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	3,076.92	 	 	 	19	 	 	 	58,461.54	 	 	 	8	 
	2/21/2000

	 	2/27/2000
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	160,000.00	 	 	 	15,628.54	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	18,705.46	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	18,705.46	 	 	 	28	 
	2/28/2000

	 	3/26/2000
	 	 	4.00	 	 	 	160,000.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	3,076.92	 	 	 	4	 	 	 	12,307.69	 	 	 	8	 
	3/27/2000

	 	2/25/2001
	 	 	48.00	 	 	 	171,200.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	3,292.31	 	 	 	48	 	 	 	158,030.77	 	 	 	10	 
	2/26/2001

	 	3/4/2001
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	171,200.00	 	 	 	17,120.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	20,412.31	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	20,412.31	 	 	 	29	 
	3/5/2001

	 	3/25/2001
	 	 	3.00	 	 	 	171,200.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	3,292.31	 	 	 	3	 	 	 	9,876.92	 	 	 	10	 
	3/26/2001

	 	7/1/2001
	 	 	14.00	 	 	 	178,048.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	3,424.00	 	 	 	14	 	 	 	47,936.00	 	 	 	12	 
	7/2/2001

	 	2/24/2002
	 	 	34.00	 	 	 	356,096.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	6,848.00	 	 	 	34	 	 	 	232,832.00	 	 	 	19	 
	2/25/2002

	 	3/3/2002
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	356,096.00	 	 	 	35,609.60	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	42,457.60	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	42,457.60	 	 	 	32	 
	3/4/2002

	 	8/25/2002
	 	 	25.00	 	 	 	356,096.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	6,848.00	 	 	 	25	 	 	 	171,200.00	 	 	 	19	 
	8/26/2002

	 	11/24/2002
	 	 	13.00	 	 	 	365,096.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	7,021.08	 	 	 	13	 	 	 	91,274.00	 	 	 	21	 
	11/25/2002

	 	2/23/2003
	 	 	13.00	 	 	 	350,000.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	6,730.77	 	 	 	13	 	 	 	87,500.00	 	 	 	17	 
	2/24/2003

	 	3/2/2003
	 	 	1.00	 	 	 	350,000.00	 	 	 	146,000.00	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	152,730.77	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	152,730.77	 	 	 	33	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	260	 	 	$	1,430,261.78	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Average Final Compensation as of March 1, 2003	 	$	286,052.00EX-10.81

Exhibit 10.81

INTERNATIONAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY

EXECUTIVE SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN

PREAMBLE

     Benefits under the International Transmission Company Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan
(“Plan”) are available to designated executives and key management employees of ITC Holdings Corp.
(“Company”) and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates. The Company has established this Plan to benefit
executives of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates in a manner that will be in the best
interest of the Company and its shareholders.

SECTION 1.

TITLE, PURPOSE AND EFFECTIVE DATE

     1.01. Title. The title of this Plan shall be the “International Transmission Company
Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan” and shall be referred to in this document as the “Plan”.

     1.02. Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success of the Company and
its Subsidiaries and Affiliates by providing the ability to attract and retain talented executives
by providing such designated executives with additional retirement benefits.

     It is intended that this Plan provide deferred compensation for a “select group of management
or highly compensated employees” within the meeting of Sections 201, 301, and 401 of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (hereinafter referred to as “ERISA”) and,
therefore, to be exempt from the provisions of Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of ERISA.

     1.03. Effective Date. The Plan was established effective March 1, 2003. The Plan is
hereby restated in its entirety, effective as of 

December, 1, 2008.

SECTION 2.

DEFINITIONS

     The following words and terms, as used in this Plan, shall have the meanings set forth below,
unless a clearly different meaning is required by the context in which the word or phrase is used.

     2.01. “Account” means the hypothetical record or bookkeeping entry maintained by the Company
reflecting each Participant’s Compensation Credits, annual Investment Credits and any distributions
under the Plan. The term “Account” should not be construed as an actual segregation of assets for
the benefit of any particular Participant.

     2.02. “Affiliate” means any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under
common control with the Company.

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     2.03. “Anniversary Year” means the 12-month period of active service beginning with the date
an executive is originally designated a Participant under this Plan.

     2.04. “Annual Cash Bonus” means the compensation payable in the Plan Year under the Company’s
Annual Incentive Plan, and any similar annual incentive plan of a Subsidiary or Affiliate, or any
successor plans thereto.

     2.05. “Base Salary” means base salary payable prior to reduction for any pre-tax deferrals
under Code Sections 125, 129, or 401(k) and prior to reduction for any payroll deduction for taxes
or any other purpose. “Base Salary” shall exclude any bonus, long-term awards, fringe benefit or
other form of remuneration.

     2.06. “Beneficiary” means the person, persons or entity designated in writing by the
Participant, on forms, provided by the Company, to receive distribution of certain death benefits
payable under the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death.

     2.07. “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

     2.08. “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations issued
thereunder. References to any section or subsection of the Code includes reference to any
comparable or succeeding provisions of any legislation which amends, supplements or replaces such
section or subsection.

     2.09. “Committee” means the Committee designated by the Board. The Committee is responsible
for the administration of the Plan and may delegate such administrative responsibilities under this
Plan.

     2.10. “Company” means ITC Holdings Corp. or its successors and assigns.

     2.11. “Compensation” for periods on or after March 1, 2003, means a Participant’s Base Salary,
plus Annual Cash Bonus.

     2.12. “Compensation Credit” means an amount equal to 9% of the Participant’s Compensation.
Such credit shall be computed and credited to the Participant’s Account on an annual basis as of
the last business day of the year. In order to receive a Compensation Credit for a given year, the
Participant must be actively employed by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate on the last
business day of the year.

     2.13. “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any
regulations issued thereunder. References to any section or subsection of ERISA includes any
references to any comparable or succeeding provisions of any legislation that amends, supplements
or replaces such section or subsection.

     2.14. “Investment Credit” means the hypothetical earnings posted to the Participant’s Account
each Plan Year. The Investment Credit will be equal to the same annual earnings rate that is
determined from time to time as the “Interest Credit” applied to the cash balance accounts for
participants under Section 5.02 of the International Transmission Company Retirement Plan.

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     2.15. “Participant” means an executive of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate who has
been designated by the Committee as eligible to participate in the Plan.

     2.16. “Plan” means the International Transmission Company Executive Supplemental Retirement
Plan, as described herein and as amended and restated from time to time.

     2.17. “Plan Year” means the period beginning January 1 and ending December 31 of each year.

     2.18. “Spouse” means an individual who is legally married to a Participant under the laws of
the State in which the Participant resides, on the day immediately preceding the Participant’s date
of death.

     2.19. “Subsidiary” means any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with
the Company if each of the corporations, or group of commonly controlled corporations, other than
the last corporation in the unbroken chain then owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

     2.20. “Vested Account” means the amount that the Participant is entitled to receive upon
termination of employment for any reason with the Company (and any Subsidiary or Affiliate), equal
to the vested percentage of the Participant’s Account as determined under Section 6.

SECTION 3.

PARTICIPATION

     3.01. Designation By Committee. An executive may only become a Participant by
designation by the Committee. Such executive must be an individual who is included within a “select
group of management or highly compensated employees”, within the meaning of Title I of ERISA.

     3.02. Effective Date of Participation. An executive shall become a Participant as of
the date he or she is first designated as a Participant by the Committee.

     3.03. Revocation of Designation. A Participant whose designation is revoked prior to
the Participant’s termination of employment or death shall not receive any Compensation Credits
under the Plan subsequent to the date of such revocation. However, the balance deemed to be in the
Participant’s Account as of the date of revocation shall continue to be reflected in the
Participant’s Account, and shall be increased by annual Investment Credits under Section 4.01 until
distribution of the Participant’s Account as provided in Section 5.

          With respect to a Participant whose designation has been revoked under this Section (including
an executive who is subsequently redesignated as a Participant under Section 3.01), the provisions
of Section 6.03 shall govern for purposes of determining the Participant’s vested percentage in his
or her Account.

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SECTION 4.

ACCOUNTS AND EARNINGS

     4.01. Establishment of Accounts. The Committee shall establish a hypothetical
bookkeeping Account for each Participant. The initial value of a Participant’s Account shall be
zero. Compensation Credits shall be credited to a Participant’s Account as of the last business
day of the Plan Year. The Participant’s Account at the end of the first Plan Year in which the
Participant commences participation in the Plan shall equal the Compensation Credit for the
Participant for that Plan Year, less the “Special Employer Contribution” (if any) made with respect
to the Participant under Section 5.02 of the International Transmission Company Retirement Plan.

          In all subsequent years, the Participant’s Account shall be recalculated at the end of each
Plan Year, and shall equal the sum of the following:

          (a) the prior Plan Year’s ending balance of the Account; plus

          (b) the Investment Credit on the prior Plan Year’s ending Account balance; plus

          (c) the Compensation Credit for the Participant for the current Plan Year, less the “Special
Employer Contribution” (if any) made with respect to the Participant under Section 5.02 of the
International Transmission Company Retirement Plan.

     4.02. No Requirement to Fund. The Company shall have sole discretion whether or not
to invest any of the Company’s funds (whether or not in trust) in a manner that reflects the
Compensation and Investment Credits under this Plan, or in any other manner. If and to the extent
the Company chooses to invest in any particular investment, assets acquired by the Company shall
remain the sole property of the Company, subject to the claims of its general creditors, and shall
not be deemed to form part of any Participant’s Account. Nothing herein, however, shall preclude
the Company from informally segregating assets that are intended to be a source of payment of
benefits from the Plan. The Company shall not be required to fund its obligations in any manner and
shall not be required to invest in any particular investment. The Company may, without limitation,
purchase life insurance or any security or other property with respect to any or all of its
obligations under the Plan. Participants shall have no right, title or interest in any assets held
by the Company (or any trust) by reason of a Participant’s participation in this Plan.

SECTION 5.

FORM AND TIMING OF PAYMENT

     5.01. Distribution of Account. The Company shall distribute each Participant’s Vested
Account in accordance with the Participant’s election as to form of distribution unless the Plan
provides otherwise. The Participant’s distribution election shall provide for payment in either (i)
annual installments over a period of not less than two years and not more than 15 years, in one
year increments, as described in Section 5.03(a), or (ii) a lump sum distribution as

4

 

described in
Section 5.03(b). If no distribution election is on file with the Company, the Participant’s Vested
Account shall be distributed in a single lump sum.

     5.02. Timing of Commencement of Distributions. Payment of a lump sum distribution or
the first of any annual installments elected under section 5.01, shall be made as of the March 1 of
the Plan Year following the year of the Participant’s termination of employment for any reason with
the Company (and any Subsidiary or Affiliate). Subsequent annual installments (if any) shall be
made each following March 1 of the installment period. Section 7.03 shall govern timing of a
distribution due to a Participant’s death.

          The foregoing notwithstanding, in the event the Participant is determined to be a “specified
employee” in accordance with Code Section 409A and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, then the lump sum distribution or the first of any annual installment payments to the
Participant under this Plan will be made on the later of: (i) the March 1 of the Plan Year
following the year of the Participant’s termination of employment; or (ii) the first business day
following the date that is six months after the date of termination of the Participant’s
employment. Further, for all purposes under this Plan, references to “termination” of employment
(or variations thereof), shall be synonymous with the meaning given to the term “separation from
service” as provided under Code Section 409A, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

     5.03. Form of Distributions.

          (a) Annual Installments. The distribution to a Participant shall be paid in cash. The
initial annual installment distribution shall be determined by dividing the value of the
Participant’s Vested Account, determined as of December 31 of the Plan Year in which the
Participant’s employment terminated, by the number of installment payments to be made. The amount
distributed to the Participant thereafter shall be recalculated each year to reflect changes in the
Participant’s Account through December 31 of such subsequent calendar year and the remaining number
of installment payments to be made. Investment Credits shall be credited to the Participant’s
Account through December 31 of each Plan Year in which the Participant has a remaining Account
balance.

          (b) Lump Sum Distribution. The distribution shall be paid in a single cash payment
equal to the Participant’s Vested Account balance, determined as of December 31 of the Plan Year in
which the Participant’s employment terminated.

          (c) Distribution of Small Amounts. Notwithstanding a Participant’s distribution
election, if a Participant’s Vested Account balance is less than or equal to $10,000 as of December
31 of the Plan Year in which the Participant’s employment terminated, the Participant’s Vested
Account shall be paid in a single cash lump sum. The foregoing notwithstanding, in the event the
Participant also participates in another deferred compensation plan that is required to be
aggregated with this Plan in accordance with Code Section 409A and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, then this provision shall not apply.

     5.04. Initial Distribution Election. An executive who becomes a new Participant in
the Plan, shall, by no later than thirty (30) days after being designated as a Participant, make a

5

 

one-time election as to the form of distribution (as permitted under Section 5.01) to be made upon
his later termination of employment, of all amounts credited at any time to his Vested Account
under the Plan.

          The foregoing notwithstanding, with respect to any executive who is a Participant in the Plan
as of the effective date of this amended and restated version of the Plan, and without regard as to
whether such Participant has made a prior distribution election under the Plan, such Participant
shall be permitted to make an “initial” election as to the form of distribution (as permitted under
Section 5.01) to be made upon his later termination of employment, of all amounts credited at any
time to his Vested Account under the Plan, by no later than December 31, 2008, as permitted under
transition rules issued under Code Section 409A; provided, that such election shall apply only to
amounts that would not otherwise be payable to the Participant in 2008, and shall not cause any
amount to be paid to the Participant in 2008 that would not otherwise be payable in 2008.

SECTION 6.

VESTING OF BENEFITS

     6.01. General. A Participant shall vest 20% per Anniversary Year in his or her
Account. There is no partial vesting for a portion of an Anniversary Year. A Participant’s vested
percentage in his or her Account shall equal the product of (i) 20% and (ii) the Participant’s
number of Anniversary Years as of the date of his or her termination of employment. Participants
shall not receive credit for service with the DTE Energy Company.

          If a Participant terminates employment with the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate prior to
becoming 100% vested under Section 6.01, the Participant’s Vested Account shall be distributed in
accordance with Section 5 and the nonvested portion of the Account shall be forfeited.

     6.02. Rehired Participants.

          (a) Vesting. If a Participant who previously terminated employment with an Account
that was less than 100% vested is subsequently rehired by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate
and is again designated a Participant in accordance with Section 3, any Account value forfeited
upon the prior termination shall not be reinstated. A new Account (with an initial value of zero)
shall be established for such rehired Participant for the purpose of recording Compensation Credits
and Investment Credits beginning after such Participant’s rehire date.

          However, if the Participant has not incurred consecutive one-year breaks in service equal to
(or in excess of) the greater of (i) 5 years, or (ii) the aggregate number of Anniversary Years the
Participant had earned before such break in service, such Participant’s vested percentage in his or
her new Account shall be redetermined periodically under Section 6.01 based on the total of such
Participant’s Anniversary Years following his or her rehire, as adjusted to take into consideration
such Participant’s pre-break Anniversary Years.

          (b) Pay Status of Prior Benefit. If the rehired Participant is receiving annual
installment distributions of his or her Vested Account as it existed on the date of the
Participant’s termination of employment, such prior Account (i) will remain separate from the new
Account

6

 

established as described in Section 6.02(a), (ii) will retain the vested percentage
determined under Section 6.01 as of the Participant’s prior date of termination, and (iii) any
installment payments then remaining payable to the Participant therefrom will continue in
accordance with the schedule previously elected by the Participant under Section 5.01.

     6.03. Redesignated Participants. If a Participant’s designation as a Participant is
revoked under Section 3.03 prior to becoming 100% vested under Section 6.01, such Participant’s
vested percentage shall not change from that determined as of the date of such revocation.
However, if such
Participant is subsequently redesignated as a Participant under Section 3.01, such
Participant’s vested percentage shall be redetermined periodically under Section 6.01 based on the
total of such Participant’s Anniversary Years following his or her redesignation, as adjusted to
take into consideration such Participant’s Anniversary Years prior to the initial revocation.

SECTION 7.

SELECTION OF AND PAYMENTS TO BENEFICIARY

     7.01. Beneficiary Designation. A Participant shall designate a Beneficiary on a form
provided by the Human Resources Director or his or her designee, for the purpose of designating a
Beneficiary. If a Participant has not designated a Beneficiary, or if a designated Beneficiary is
not living or in existence at the time of a Participant’s death, any death benefits payable under
the Plan shall be paid to the Participant’s Spouse, if then living, and if the Participant’s Spouse
is not then living, to the Participant’s estate.

     7.02. Change in Beneficiary. A Participant may change the designated Beneficiary from
time to time by filing a new written designation with the Human Resources Director, or his or her
designee. Such designation shall be effective upon receipt by the Human Resources Director or his
or her designee.

     7.03. Survivor Benefit. If an active Participant dies with an Account balance under
this Plan, his Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive a cash lump sum distribution of 100% of the
balance in the Participant’s Account. If a Participant dies after commencing receipt of installment
payments under Section 5.02, any future installments remaining due will be discontinued and the
then remaining balance of the Participant’s Account shall be payable to the Beneficiary in a cash
lump sum. The lump sum distribution shall be paid within ninety (90) days following the
Participant’s death, and shall be equal to the value of the Participant’s Account determined as of
December 31 of the Plan Year immediately preceding payment to the Beneficiary.

SECTION 8.

TAX WITHHOLDING

     Benefit payments hereunder shall be subject to applicable federal, state, and local wage and
income tax withholding laws.

7

 

SECTION 9.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

     9.01. Duties and Power. The Committee shall be the “named fiduciary” for the Plan
responsible for the general operation and administration of the Plan and the proper execution of
its provisions. It shall have full discretionary authority to interpret the Plan and to determine
the response to all questions arising from its provisions. It shall maintain all necessary books of
accounts and records. It shall have the full discretionary power and authority to establish,
interpret, enforce, amend, and revoke, from time to time, such rules and regulations for the
administration of the Plan and the conduct of its business as it deems appropriate, including the
right to remedy ambiguities, inconsistencies and omissions. Any action that the Committee is
required or authorized to take shall be final and binding upon each and every person who is or may
become a Plan Participant or Beneficiary. The Committee may delegate its authority to administer
the Plan.

     9.02. Benefit Statements. The Committee, or its designee, will provide each
Participant with an annual statement setting forth the Participant’s Account balance.

     9.03. Right to Accelerate for Certain Tax Payments. In the event a Participant
receives an assessment of Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes from the Internal Revenue
Service (“IRS”), or of state or local income taxes, which treats any amount payable to Participant
under this Plan as taxable for such purpose prior to the actual payment of such amount to
Participant, the Company shall pay an amount equal to such taxes to or on behalf of Participant.
Further, in the event Participant receives an assessment of income taxes from the IRS which treats
any amount payable to Participant under this Plan as includible in his gross income prior to the
actual payment of such amount to Participant due to the failure of this Plan to meet the
requirements of Code Section 409A, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the
Company shall pay an amount equal to such taxes to or on behalf of Participant. In either event,
such payment will be made within 30 days after receipt of notice from Participant of such
assessment, which notice Participant shall timely give to Company. Thereafter, any amounts payable
to the Participant under this Plan shall be reduced accordingly by an amount equal to all such
payments by the Company, so long as the Board determines that the reduction of such amount will not
result in additional taxes being imposed on Participant under Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event the Company decides to challenge the IRS’s assessment, the Company
shall promptly notify Participant in writing of such decision and the Company shall have the right
to challenge such assessment, on behalf of Participant, at the Company’s cost and expense.

SECTION 10.

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

     10.01. Right to Amend or Terminate. The Plan may be amended, modified, or terminated
by the Committee at any time. Such amendment, modification or termination may modify or eliminate
any benefit hereunder except that such amendment, modification or termination shall not affect the
rights of Participants or Beneficiaries to the vested portion of a Participant’s Account as of the
date of such amendment or termination. In the event the Plan is

8

 

terminated, Participants shall
nevertheless receive payment of their benefits under the Plan in accordance with Code Section 409A
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

SECTION 11.

MISCELLANEOUS

     11.01. Unfunded Plan. The Plan shall be unfunded within the meaning of Sections
201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA. All benefits payable under the Plan shall be paid from
the Company’s general assets. The Company shall not be required to set aside or hold in trust any
funds for the benefit of a Participant or Beneficiary, each of whom shall have the status of a
general unsecured creditor with respect to the Company’s obligation to make benefit payments
pursuant to the Plan. Any assets of the Company available to pay Plan benefits shall be subject to
the claims of the Company’s general creditors and may be used by the Company in its sole discretion
for any purpose. A Participant shall be treated as an unsecured creditor of the Company for all
benefits under the Plan.

     11.02. No Right to Continued Employment. Nothing in the Plan shall create or be
construed as a contract between the Company (or a Subsidiary or Affiliate) and employees for any
matter including giving any person employed by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate the right
to be
retained in the employ of the Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate. The Company and each
Subsidiary and Affiliate expressly reserve the right to dismiss any person at any time, with or
without cause, without liability for the effect that such dismissal might have upon him as a
Participant in the Plan or for any other purpose.

     11.03. Prohibition Against Alienation. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no
right or benefit under the Plan shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale,
transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or charge, and any attempt to so anticipate, alienate,
sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, or charge the same shall be void. No such right or
benefit shall be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements, or torts
of the person entitled to such right or benefit.

     11.04. Savings Clause. If any provision of this Plan is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect
any other provision and the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be construed and enforced
as if the invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included.

     11.05. Payment of Benefit of Incompetent. In the event the Committee finds that a
Participant, former Participant or Beneficiary is unable to care for his affairs because of his
minority, illness, accident, or other reason, any benefits payable hereunder may, unless other
claim has been made therefore by a duly appointed guardian, committee or other legal
representative, be paid to a spouse, child, parent, or other blood relative or dependent or to any
persons found by the Committee to have incurred expenses for the support and maintenance of such
Participant, former Participant, or Beneficiary; and any such payments so made shall be a complete
discharge of all liability therefore.

     11.06. Spouse’s Interest. The interest in the benefits hereunder of a Spouse who has
predeceased the Participant shall automatically pass to the Participant and shall not be

9

 

transferable by such Spouse in any manner including, but not limited to, such Spouse’s will, nor
shall such interest pass under the laws of intestate succession.

     11.07. Successors. In the event of any consolidation, merger, acquisition or
reorganization of the Company, the obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates
participating under this Plan shall continue and be binding upon the Company, its participating
Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and their successors.

     11.08. Gender, Number and Heading. Whenever any words are used herein in the
masculine gender, they shall be construed as though they were also used in the female gender in all
cases where they would so apply. Whenever any words used herein are in the singular form, they
shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would
so apply. Headings of sections and subsections as used herein are inserted solely for convenience
and reference and constitute no part of the Plan.

     11.09. Legal Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay all reasonable legal fees and
expenses that the Participant may incur as a result of the Company contesting the validity,
enforceability, or the Participant’s interpretation of, or determinations under this Plan, other
than tax withholding under Section 8.

     11.10. Choice of Law. This Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Michigan, other than its choice-of-law rules, to the extent not superseded
by applicable federal statutes or regulations.

     11.11. Affiliated Employees. Transfers of employment between the Company and its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates will be treated as continuous and uninterrupted service under the Plan.

     11.12. Plan Document. This restated Plan document provides the final and exclusive
statement of the terms of the Plan. Unless otherwise authorized by the Committee or its delegate,
no amendment or modification to this Plan shall be effective until reduced to writing and adopted
pursuant to Section 10.01. This document legally governs the operation of the Plan, and any claim
of right or entitlement under the Plan shall be determined solely in accordance with its
provisions. To the extent that there are any inconsistencies between the terms of any related
materials and the terms of this document, the terms of this document shall control and govern the
operation of the Plan. No other evidence, whether written or oral, shall be taken into account in
determining the right of a Participant, or Beneficiary, as applicable, to any benefit of any type
under the Plan.

          All payments under this Plan are intended to be in compliance with Section 409A of the Code,
but in no event shall the Company be responsible for any tax or penalty owed by any Participant or
the Participant’s beneficiary with respect to payments hereunder. At all times between January 1,
2005 and the effective date of this amended and restated Plan, this Plan was administered in good
faith compliance under Code Section 409A, taking into account the statutory language, legislative
history and interim guidance issued by the IRS relating to Code Section 409A.

10

 

SECTION 12.

ARBITRATION

     In the event of any dispute, claim or controversy (hereinafter referred to as a “(Grievance”)
between a Participant who is eligible to elect to receive the benefits provided under this Plan and
the Company with respect to the payment of benefits to such Participant under this Plan, the
computation of benefits, under this Plan, or any of the terms and conditions of this Plan, such
Grievance shall be resolved by arbitration in accordance with this Section 12.

          (a) Arbitration shall be the sole and exclusive remedy to redress any Grievance.

          (b) The arbitration decision shall be final and binding, and a judgment on the arbitration
award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction and enforcement may be had according to
its terms.

          (c) The arbitration shall be conducted by the American Arbitration Association in accordance
with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association and reasonable
expenses of the arbitrators and the American Arbitration Association shall be borne by the Company.

          (d) The place of the arbitration shall be the offices of the American Arbitration Association
in the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area.

          (e) The arbitrator(s) shall not have the jurisdiction or authority to change any of the
provisions of this Plan by alteration of, addition to, or subtraction from the terms thereof. The
arbitrator(s) sole authority shall be to apply any terms and conditions of this Plan. Since
arbitration is the exclusive remedy with respect to any Grievance, no Participant eligible to
receive benefits provided under this Plan has the right to resort to any federal court, state
court, local court or administrative agency concerning breaches of any terms and provisions
hereunder, and the decision of the arbitrator(s) shall be a complete defense to any suit, action or
proceeding instituted in any federal court, state court, local court, or administrative agency by
such employee or the Company with respect to any Grievance which is arbitrable as herein set forth.

          (f) The arbitration provisions shall, with respect to any Grievance, survive the termination
of this Plan.

SECTION 13.

CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS

     13.01. General. In the event of a Change in Control, as defined in Section 13.05,
then, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the provisions of this Section 13 shall be
applicable and shall supersede any conflicting provisions of the Plan.

     13.02. Immediate Vesting. In the case of a Change in Control, each Participant’s
Account shall immediately be 100% vested.

11

 

     13.03. Joint and Several Liability. Upon and at all times after a Change in Control,
the liability under the Plan of the Company and each Subsidiary and Affiliate that has adopted the
Plan shall be joint and several so that the Company and each such Subsidiary and Affiliate shall
each be liable for all obligations under the Plan to each Participant covered by the Plan,
regardless of the corporation or other entity by which such Participant is employed.

     13.04. Dispute Procedures. In the event that, upon or at any time subsequent to a
Change in Control, a disputed claim for benefits under the Plan is brought by a Participant or
Beneficiary, the following additional procedures shall be applicable:

          (a) Any amount that is not in dispute shall be paid to the Participant or Beneficiary at the
time or times provided herein.

          (b) The Company shall advance to such claimant from time to time such amounts as shall be
required to reimburse the claimant for reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses incurred by such
claimant in seeking a judicial resolution of his or her claim, including reasonable fees, costs and
expenses relating to arbitration.

     13.05. Definition of Change in Control. For purposes of this Section 13, “Change in
Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

          (a) If any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (as defined in Code Section
409A and IRS guidance issued thereunder), acquires ownership of common stock of the Company that,
together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the
total fair market value or total voting power of the common stock of the Company.
However, if any one person or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to own
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the common
stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons is not
considered to cause a Change in Control, or to cause a change in the effective control of the
Company (within the meaning of Code Section 409A and IRS guidance issued thereunder). An increase
in the percentage of common stock owned by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a
result of a transaction in which the Company acquires its stock in exchange for property shall be
treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this Section. This paragraph applies only when
there is a transfer of stock of the Company (or issuance of stock of the Company) and stock in such
Company remains outstanding after the transaction;

          (b) If any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (as determined in accordance
with Code Section 409A and IRS guidance thereunder), acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month
period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of
common stock of the Company possessing thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the total voting power
of the common stock of the Company;

          (c) If a majority of members on the Company’s Board is replaced during any 12-month period by
Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the
Company’s Board prior to the date of the appointment or election (provided that for purposes of
this paragraph, the term “Company” refers solely to the “relevant corporation,”

12

 

as defined in Code
Section 409A and IRS guidance issued thereunder, for which no other corporation is a majority
shareholder); or

          (d) If there is a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets,
which shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group
(within the meaning of Code Section 409A and IRS guidance issued thereunder) acquires (or has
acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such
person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or
more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the
Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market
value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of,
determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ITC Holdings Corp. has caused this restated Plan to be executed as of this
___ day of                     , 2008.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	ITC Holdings Corp.	 	 
	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Its:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

13

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