Dive Brief:
The WEIS has been in the works for more than a year, and SPP says many of the participants are now evaluating full membership in the SPP regional transmission organization (RTO). A Brattle study last year concluded adding members could produce $49 million in annual savings for consumers and SPP.
Utilities joining the WEIS say the new service will help accelerate their decarbonization goals. There are concerns from some clean energy advocates, however, that SPP s new market creates a transmission seam across Colorado and may not be as efficient as a single RTO serving the state.
Dive Insight:
The launch of SPP s new balancing market will help participating utilities supply cleaner, cheaper energy, but Colorado is now served by two grid authorities and it remains to be seen if this is the most efficient method, according to Amanda Ormond, managing director of Western Grid Group. The organization works to accelerate the integration of cost-effective, low-carbon res