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’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 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.
Read MoreMarkets+ phase one development confirmed with first western market commitments
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) announced several parties have executed funding agreements for the development of Markets+, its western energy market. With the commitment of Arizona Public Service, Bonneville Power Administration, Chelan County Public Utility District, NV Energy, Powerex Corp., Puget Sound Energy, Salt River Project and Tucson Electric Power, the next phase of Markets+ development will begin immediately, ahead of the planned start date of April 1. SPP has also executed stakeholder agreements with participants who do not serve load or own generation but, while not contributing to funding Markets+ in phase one, will participate in the development of the Markets+ stakeholder process.
Read MoreSouthwest Power Pool releases detailed proposal for western energy market
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) published a detailed proposal for its Markets+ service Nov. 30, 2022. SPP will begin engaging the parties who already expressed interest in committing to Markets+ in December to formalize contractual commitments for phase one. Parties interested in committing to funding further market development must sign a Markets+ Market Participant Phase One Funding Agreement by April 1, 2023.
Read MoreSPP confirms timing of Markets+ implementation milestones; Powerex commits to Markets+ participation and funding
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) announces that it will implement major components of the governance structure of its planned Markets+ service in 2023 and will explore launching a transitional component of Markets+ in 2024: A transitional real-time balancing market similar to its Western Energy Imbalance Service Market (WEIS).
Read MoreCarrie Simpson to serve as Southwest Power Pool’s director of western services development
SPP has chosen Carrie Simpson to lead the continued development of its electricity services in the western U.S. as Director of Western Services Development effective Nov. 1, 2022. In her new role, Simpson will direct the ongoing development and implementation of wholesale electricity markets and other electricity services in partnership with SPP’s stakeholders.
Read MoreArizona entities announce commitment to SPP Markets+ development
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is pleased to announce several entities in Arizona have committed to supporting the next phase of Markets+ development. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Arizona Public Service Company, Salt River Project and Tucson Electric Power join seven other entities who previously committed to supporting market development (see SPP’s August 16 and August 29 announcements).
Read MoreSouthwest Power Pool announces additional commitments to western market development
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is pleased to announce six additional entities have expressed interest in participating in the next phase of Markets+ development. Avista Corp., Chelan County Public Utility District, Grant County Public Utility District, Powerex Corp., Puget Sound Energy and Tacoma Power join Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).
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