WGG submits comments on Transmission Access Charge Options Initiative
On November 20, 2015, the Western Grid Group submitted comments on the the issue paper for the Transmission Access Charge Options Initiative proposed by the California ISO. Continue reading
WGG files comments on WA UTC storage docket
WGG filed comments to Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission’s docket UE-151069 – Modeling Energy Storage in Integrated Resource Planning. Comments were filed September 25, 2015. Embedded and PDF. Continue reading
EIM and Arizona: Op-ed in the Arizona Republic
26 million ways Arizonans benefit from energy market.
This op-ed appeared in Arizona Republic on August 17, 2015. Submitted by Carl Zichella and Leisa Brug, the op-ed was a group effort by NRDC, Energy Innovation, Sonoran Institute and WGG supporting AZ’s participation in an EIM and regional markets. It calls for TEP, SRP and Western Energy move forward on their own study of the benefits of joining an Energy Imbalance Market. Continue reading
WGG, WIRAB, NRDC on PEAK’s proposed data sharing policy
WIRAB staff, the Western Grid Group, and representatives of NRDC, submitted joint comments on Peak’s proposed data sharing policy currently out for stakeholder review. Comments were submitted July 24, 2015. View comments here. Continue reading
WGG Comments to the AZ Corporation Commission on Interconnection
Western Grid Group (WGG) submitted comments to the Arizona Corporation Commission’s on its effort to update and adopt rules related to the interconnection of distributed generation facilities. Comments were submitted July 24, 2015.
WGG supports Rule 21, Part 1 with its 7 setting specifications.
You can read or download comments here. Continue reading
New paper corrects two widely held perceptions in regulatory community
AMERICA’S POWER PLAN: This paper corrects two widely held notions in the regulatory community: that the utility’s rate of return is the sole value driver for utility shareholders and that rates of return are set at the cost of equity. Neither of these perceptions is correct. Instead, the financial “value engine”—the difference between a utility’s return on investment and its cost of capital—drives shareholder returns. The authors argue that regulators should use this value engine to align utilities’ financial motivations with delivering value to customers and society. They can offer utilities opportunities to earn increased revenues when they provide value-based products and services. June 2015 Continue reading
Additional comments on the Clean Power Plan
Brian Parsons from Western Grid Group, along with Sue Tierney and Eric Svenson, sent additional comments on the Clean Power Plan to FERC, EPA and DOE. The letter, initial comments and the full report are available here. Submitted April 20, 2015 Continue reading
Comments submitted to the FERC Regional Technical Conferences
Western Grid Group along with 10 other groups submitted comments to FERC at the Denver Regional Technical Conference on Environmental Regulations and Electric Reliability, Wholesale Electricity Markets, and Energy Infrastructure held on February 25, 2015. Download or view comments here. Continue reading
WGG’s Synapse EIM Report
WGG commissioned a report by Synapse Energy Economic, Inc. to estimate the benefits of the newly formed regional Energy Imbalance Market. The report was commissioned to illuminate all benefits – financial savings as well as reliability improvements – resulting from utilities participating in this market platform. The report will be used to encourage utilities and regulators to join the EIM as soon as possible to capture customers savings, reduce the cost of renewable energy integration and improve reliability. Continue reading
Western Grid Group releases transition plan to clean energy
The Clean Energy Vision Project charts a sustained, orderly transition from coal and gas to more jobs, better health and true energy security. These four documents outline what policies and investments are needed as well as the how a modernized grid will operate. Continue reading