Several Western Utilities With Competitive Supply Programs Announce Plans To Explore Market Options

Several electric utilities and other power providers that serve millions of customers in the Western United States announced plans today to evaluate regional market solutions together.

The member utilities include several that offer some form of limited alternative and/or competitive supply program or tariff

The group, which began discussions this summer, notably includes Arizona Public Service, Tucson Electric Power, Salt River Project, Portland General Electric, PacifiCorp, NV Energy, and Puget Sound Energy, as well as Xcel Energy-Colorado (PSCo), Black Hills Energy, Idaho Power, Platte River Power Authority, and Seattle City Light

"Members of the informal Western Markets Exploratory Group (WMEG) are exploring the potential for a staged approach to new market services, including day-ahead energy sales, transmission system expansion, and other power supply and grid solutions consistent with existing state regulations. The group hopes to identify market solutions that can help achieve carbon reduction goals while supporting reliable, affordable service for customers," the group said

"Discussions are in the early stages and are focused on developing long-term solutions to improve market efficiencies in the West. That includes incorporating lessons learned from existing regional markets as well as other efforts across the West," the group said

Many of the companies in the group are currently participating in, or preparing to join the California Independent System Operator’s Western Energy Imbalance Market, or have announced plans to evaluate energy imbalance services. WMEG’s discussions will not impact participation in or evaluation of those markets in the short-term, as the group is focused on long-term market solutions, the group said