{"id":58,"date":"2016-07-01T23:23:52","date_gmt":"2016-07-01T23:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/westerngrid.net\/wcea\/?page_id=58"},"modified":"2023-04-17T18:21:37","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T18:21:37","slug":"rso","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westerngrid.net\/wcea\/home\/rso\/","title":{"rendered":"RSO"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column reveal_effect=”” width=”2\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1468356430742{padding-right: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Grid Forward: Modernizing and strengthening the Western electric system<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Forming a West-wide regional system operator provides the opportunity to optimize and improve the efficiency the electricity system for the entire West. \u00a0Proposed changes to the electric system are complex and stakeholder issues diverse.\u00a0 To increase understanding of the major issues around the formation of a RSO, WCEA has created white papers, graphics and other educational materials.\u00a0 NOTE (4\/15\/2023): These materials were compiled and written in 2016. Event and legislative details are different ; for example, SB350 did indeed pass after the petroleum passage taken out<\/a>. But many of the the issues discussed here are still relevant in today’s discussion about the organization and operation of the electricity grid in the West.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Background<\/h3>\n

\"gridforward-logo2\"The California Independent System Operator, or CAISO, is an independent, non-profit organization chartered by the State of California that manages approximately 80 percent of the energy flow in California and a smaller portion in Nevada.<\/p>\n

An important initiative currently underway considers the addition of PacifiCorp\u2019s six-state utility service area to the CAISO.<\/p>\n

PacifiCorp is one of the West\u2019s largest utilities, serving nearly 1.8 million customers in Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and California.<\/p>\n

A decision to merge operations with the CAISO by PacifiCorp would allow for a full, day-ahead coordination of the two largest electrical transmission grids in the region and allow customers served by both entities increased access to both clean energy resources and improved system reliability, while lowering overall costs to electricity consumers.<\/p>\n

This endeavor would necessitate the transformation of CAISO from a single state ISO into a Western Regional System Operator (RSO), with multi-state operation and governance. While other utilities are considering joining the CAISO, PacifiCorp is the first utility to undertake actions toward entry.<\/p>\n

Western Clean Energy Advocates (WCEA) and Western Grid Group (WGG)\u00a0<\/strong> developed the following informational briefs to increase the understanding of issues related to a change from the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) governance structure to a new structure for a Regional System Operator (RSO).[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_tta_accordion spacing=”1″ active_section=”1″ css=”.vc_custom_1470699188971{background-color: #f7941d !important;}” no_fill=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Updates and New Info” tab_id=”1477941267780-d5f7f6f0-21c1″][vc_column_text]New WGG Documents:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Critique of Western Regional System Operator Assumptions and Assertions<\/a>“<\/strong>\u00a0(October 31, 2016)
\nThrough the many processes working to examine and design different facets of an RSO, stakeholders have adopted many assumptions and have stated many assertions about future operation of an RSO. This paper to evaluate and respond to assertions about SB 350 studies and regionalization.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Informational Briefings on RSO” tab_id=”1469477225992-0e9ab844-3655″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

RTO Basics<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Cost and Benefit Considerations<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Governance<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Preserving State Prerogatives in a Regional Setting<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Resource Adequacy<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Transmission Access Charges<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Market Gaming and Manipulation Concerns<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Seams Issues<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Authors” tab_id=”1469477226135-48fc35eb-8426″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
Amanda Ormond<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Western\u00a0 Grid Group<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Bob Johnston<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Western Resource Advocates<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Cameron Yourkowski<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Renewable Northwest Project<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Fred Heutte<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Northwest Energy Coalition<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Jennifer Gardner<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Western Resource Advocates<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Kate Maracas<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Western\u00a0 Grid Group<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Megan O’Reilly<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Arc Research and Analysis<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Michael O’Boyle<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Energy Innovation<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Nancy Kelly<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Western Resource Advocates<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Rebecca Wagner<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Energy Foundation Consultant<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Ron Lehr<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Western Grid Group<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Sophie Hayes<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Utah Clean Energy<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Contact Us” tab_id=”1469477382327-6c29d94b-6c29″][vc_column_text]For further information about RTOs and other topics related to the proposed Western Regional System Operator, contact us via contact form below:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Filings and Submitted Comments” tab_id=”1469477474268-489b9f63-a432″][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”shop_sidebar”][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”News” tab_id=”1469480671837-c210db80-06e7″][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”blog_sidebar”][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How to get Involved” tab_id=”1469486389653-60a5b081-47ca”][vc_column_text]Governance of a new RSO has become one of the most important issues for stakeholder discussion and agreement. Without an understanding of how an RSO will be governed, how a transition will be made to a regional system, and ultimately who and how decisions will be made, states and stakeholders are reluctant to support moving to a regional system. A robust stakeholder engagement process has been initiated and will continue until a proposal is developed. <\/strong><\/p>\n

On June 9, 2016 the CAISO published a Proposed Principles for Governance of a Regional ISO<\/em><\/a>. <\/em>This document addressed the following issues;<\/p>\n