Western grid
Shorts
Pacific Gas & Electric seeks $1.47 billion from ratepayers for wildfire liability costs detailed in its 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan. PG&E’s Sept. 16 application to the California Public Utilities Commission seeks to recover $1.4 billion in expenses and $197 in capital expenditures over two years. The costs are to cover its wildfire risk mitigation […]
5,000 MW Shortage Possible Next Summer
If drought and extreme heat continue into next year, the shortfall on the California grid from high summer heat could escalate to 5.2 GW, up from this summer’s projected shortfall of 3.5 GW. That is according to preliminary results of the California Energy Commission’s expanded planning model released Aug. 11.
CAISO Launches Initiative to Better Serve Western Grid, Raises Priority Conflicts
Under recently approved market changes, the California Independent System Operator seeks to double down to protect reliability in the states of the Western Interconnection it serves while guarding the transition to growing levels of variable and distributed renewables.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved CAISO’s interim market mechanisms in […]
News Roundup: CAISO Calls for Conservation, PG&E Reaches 10M Securities Settlement
Updated Feb. 18
In a reversal of high heat and demand causing rolling blackouts in California, Texas suffered far larger and longer blackouts this week because of unusually icy conditions. More than 4 million customers lost power because thermal power plants were unable to operate. Wind turbines also froze.
Final Blackout Study Calls for More Reserves, Warns of Diablo & Pacific Line Risk
Details on the key causes of the mid-August blackouts are out, and consistent with an earlier analysis. They highlight market and planning flaws and a system thin on the cushion of extra power, or resource adequacy, the grid requires. The final analysis also points to an acute concern over two scenarios: […]
CAISO’s Energy Imbalance Market Has Taken Big Steps but Faces Competition
California’s energy imbalance market had a good 2020. It passed $1 billion in total benefits, added two powerhouse participants, and filed its first plan for expanding into day-ahead trading.
But the question of how California can share decision-making with other states continues to block that expansion and potential participants […]