Press Releases
SPP RTO will expand with commitments from western utilities
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) will soon become the first organization in the U.S. to provide full regional transmission organization (RTO) services in both the Eastern and Western Interconnections of the nation’s power grid. SPP has received commitments from seven western utilities to become full members in the RTO. Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Colorado Springs Utilities, Deseret Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN), Platte River Power Authority, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and three regions of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)—Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP), Rocky Mountain Region (RM) and Upper Great Plains-West (UGP)—are preparing to join the RTO in early 2026. The expansion of SPP’s service territory is expected to create economic and reliability benefits for its member companies through access to a larger generation fleet, greater geographic diversity, and increased trading opportunities in SPP’s energy markets.
Read MoreSPP board selects NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest, LLC to construct $291.6 million New Mexico transmission project
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) board of directors approved an industry expert panel (IEP) recommendation for NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest, LLC to build the Crossroads-Hobbs-Roadrunner transmission project. The proposed 90.5-mile and 44.5-mile, 345-kilovolt lines will connect the Crossroads, Hobbs and Roadrunner substations in New Mexico, will cost an estimated $291.6 million to construct and are expected to be completed in 2026. The board approved Southwestern Public Service Company as the alternate builder.
Read MoreSouthwest Power Pool achieves milestone in Generator Interconnection study backlog mitigation
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has reached a milestone in its efforts to clear a backlog of requests to study the impacts of connecting new generating resources to the region’s power grid. Over the last several years, overwhelming interest in building new generation – primarily from developers looking to construct wind and solar farms – led to longer than usual timelines in SPP’s study processes. Thanks to mitigation strategies developed in collaboration with its interconnection customers and member utilities, SPP has reached the halfway point in clearing the study backlog, paving the way for the construction of dozens of new resources that will make electricity more affordable and reliable throughout the central U.S.
Read MoreSouthwest Power Pool named one of the best places to work in Arkansas
Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has been named one of the best places to work in Arkansas, according to Arkansas Business. The Best Places to Work in Arkansas recognition is a result of a survey administered by Workforce Research Group and identifies, recognizes and honors the best employers throughout the state.
Read MoreSouthwest Power Pool anticipates sufficient energy resources for summer reliability
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP), the grid operator responsible for coordinating electric reliability for a 15-state region in the central U.S., expects to have enough generating capacity to meet the regional demand for electricity through the 2023 summer season.
Read MoreSPP reports show billions in annual savings, analyze performance during Winter Storm Elliott, and anticipate the grid’s future opportunities and challenges
Studies show that SPP provided $3.787 billion in savings to its members in 2022, performed well during Winter Storm Elliott thanks to lessons learned during the February 2021 Winter Storm Uri, and has a plan to prepare for “game-changing” disruptions expected in the next 10-15 years.
Read MoreSPP’s Western Energy Imbalance Service Market (WEIS) provides millions in benefits, more than doubles in size
Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) 2022 WEIS Benefit of Market Report assesses the benefits that its regional, real-time Western Energy Imbalance Service Market (WEIS) provides participants. Its analysis estimates that the WEIS provided $31.7 million in net benefits to its 12 participating western utilities in 2022 at a benefit-to-cost ratio of 7-to-1. With the April 1 addition to the market of Xcel Energy-Colorado, Platte River Power Authority and Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC, SPP anticipates the benefits of the WEIS will grow significantly in the future.
Read MoreSPP’s development of Markets+ underway with funding and participation from diverse western stakeholders
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) Markets+ initiative reached a significant milestone on April 1: the deadline for interested parties to execute agreements to participate in the first phase of the market’s development. With development already underway after funding reached a critical mass a month ahead of schedule, 31 entities have now officially joined the effort to develop and launch Markets+ and bring the benefits of regionalization to the Western Interconnection.
Read MoreNatasha Henderson named new director of system planning for SPP
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has chosen Natasha Henderson to serve as its new Director of System Planning effective April 3, 2023.
Read MoreSPP’s independent and inclusive Markets+ governance model allows diverse voices to drive western market development
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) announced details of the governance structure that will oversee phase-one development of Markets+, its day-ahead and real-time western market. The Markets+ phase-one governance structure will have decision-making authority regarding market tariff language, protocols and governing documents to be filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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