The Southwest Power Pool Regional Entity (SPP RE), an independent and functionally separate division of SPP, was created to fulfill the duties specified in the FERC-approved Regional Entity Delegation Agreement between SPP and NERC. As a NERC Regional Entity, the SPP RE promotes and works to improve the reliability of the bulk power system (BPS). Specifically, the SPP RE is responsible for overseeing the development of regional reliability standards; monitoring and enforcing entity compliance with reliability standards; assessing and evaluating the reliability of the BPS; and providing technical expertise and assistance to the owners, operators and users of the BPS, in particular to the entities located within the SPP RE's footprint- an eight-state area that includes Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The SPP RE is authorized to levy financial sanctions on registered entities for failure to comply with FERC-approved NERC and SPP Reliability standards. The authority of the SPP RE comes from the FERC-approved Regional Entity Delegation Agreement.
RE Programs
The SPP RE performs various activities in the execution of its delegated functions and in support of NERC's responsibilities as the electric reliability organization (ERO). These activities include:
- Regional Reliability Standard Development
- Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement
- Organization Registration and Certification
- Reliability Assessment and Performance Analysis
- Training and Education
- Situation Awareness and Infrastructure Security
The activities performed in each of these programs are detailed in the RE's Business Plan and Budget.
RE Governance
The SPP RE is governed by three independent Regional Entity Trustees, who operate separately from the SPP, Inc. Board of Directors. The SPP RE Trustees have autonomy over decisions in fund allocation and approval of the SPP RE Budget, as well as oversight of SPP RE decisions on regional standards, compliance enforcement actions, and penalties. The SPP RE's General Manager reports directly to the SPP RE Trustees. Only the SPP RE Trustees and certain SPP RE staff members have the authority to make compliance and enforcement decisions. The direct staff of the SPP RE is independent of all users, owners, and operators of the bulk power system. View RE Organizational Chart.The governance of the SPP RE, which has been approved by NERC and FERC, meets the requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
RE Funding
The SPP RE is funded by Load Serving Entities (LSEs), who are billed quarterly by NERC for their share of the RE and NERC budgets. Invoices are based on the LSE's annual Net Energy for Load calculations, which must be reported to SPP Customer Service each year by May 1.
The SPP RE Budget provides funding for all programs included in the SPP RE Delegation Agreement. SPP RE Trustees have authority over the RE Budget and are responsible for completing an annual Business Plan and Budget, which is submitted by NERC (on SPP's behalf) to FERC for final approval each August.
SPP maintains a list of LSEs and their contacts for billing purposes; contact the SPP Customer Relations Department for more information.
The Standards Process
The SPP Regional Entity Standards Development Process Manual provides an open and inclusive process for the development of regional reliability standards and regional differences from NERC standards. Any interested party may participate in the drafting and voting of proposed standards through registration in a standards ballot body.
