TEPPC Meeting Minutes February 1, 20171
1.Welcome, Call to Order, Introductions(8:07)
Ian McKay, Transmission Expansion Planning Policy (TEPPC) Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:07 a.m. on February 1, 2017. A quorum was present for the conducting of business. A list of attendees is attached as Exhibit A.Attendees were asked to introduce themselves.
2.Antitrust Policy
Byron Woertz, System Adequacy Manager, read aloud the WECC Antitrust Policy statement. A link to the posted Policy was provided in the meeting agenda.
3.Approve Agenda
Mr. McKayintroduced the proposed meeting agenda.
The approval item originally listed for the Technical Advisory Subcommittee (TAS) is no longer needed and has been changed to an update.
On a motion by Scott Coe, the TEPPC approved the agenda.
4.Review November 3-4, 2016 Minutes
Mr. McKay introduced the minutes from the November 3-4, 2016 meeting.
On a motion by Jan Strack, the TEPPC approved the November 3-4, 2016 minutes.
5.Review of Previous Action Items
No action items carried over from the December 13, 2016 meeting of the TEPPC.
6.Subcommittee Reports
Michael Bailey, TAS Liaison, presented an update on recent TAS activities. TAS has been working to improve its work flow processesand to create a work plan for 2017. TAS would like to enhance communication with other TEPPC subcommittees. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Woertz reviewed the timeline for developing 2017 products.
The presentation is posted to the WECC Website.
Bryce Freeman, Scenario Planning Steering Group (SPSG) Vice Chair, presented an update on recent SPSG activities. The SPSG reviewed the transition and timing of the transition to the Reliability Assessment Committee (RAC) and three-year work plan process. Due to difficulties with the longterm planning tool, the SPSG does not plan to request additional year 20 studies for the 2017 study program. TEPPC and SPSG determined that studies remaining from the 2016 Study Program will be a priority for completion in 2017.
7.Regional Planning Group (RPG) Status
Ata Rehman, Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO),presented an update on recent AESOactivities.Alberta has continued work on the Climate Leadership Plan (CLP) to reduce emissions from coal-fired facilities and to maintain customer costs. Carbon taxes will pay settlement costs for coal generators that will retire earlier than planned.
The presentation is posted to the WECC Website.
Gary DeShazo, California Independent System Operator (CAISO)presented an update on recent CAISO activities. CAISO posted its Draft 2017 Transmission Plan and will hold a meeting in February to discuss that plan. California is already reaching the renewable resource penetration rates previously projected for 2018.
Kevin Harris, ColumbiaGrid, presented an update on recent ColumbiaGrid activities. The window for FERC Order 1000 needs requests will close soon. ColumbiaGrid will hold a meeting on February 9, 2017 to discuss those requests. The Western Planning Regions’ annual inter-regional meeting will be held on February 24, 2017 at ColumbiaGrid.
John Leland, Northern Tier Transmission Group(NTTG), presented an update on recent NTTG activities. NTTG is currently requesting updates to the projects to be included in its regional plan. The Draft Regional Plan was posted in December 2016 with a comment period through January 2017. ColumbiaGrid is currently reviewing comments received. NTTG is performing some dynamics studies as well, which will feed into the Anchor Data Set (ADS). The plan will be finalized at the end of 2017.
Ron Belval, Tucson Electric Power,presented an update on recent WestConnect activities. WestConnect has completed its assessment of regional needs, but found no additional needs. WestConnect is considering additional studies for other transmission opportunities,voltage stability and renewable ramping rates.
TEPPC discussed the need for assessments of frequency response on the grid. TheNational Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL)have studies underway to review frequency response and inertia. AESO has also completed frequency response studies that can be presented at a future meeting.
Tom Carr, Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB),presented an update on recent WIEBactivities.WIEB is working to schedule April meetings, although it has not yet finalized a date or location.
8.Future Meeting Format and Schedule
TEPPC discussed the new format used in this quarter’s TEPPC, SPSG and TAS meetings. The meetings went well, but the concurrent TAS and SPSG limited WECC staff’s ability to supportboth meetings.
The Joint TEPPC-SPSG-TAS meeting was productive, but some members commented that the combined TAS and SPSG meetings did not allow adequate discussion time. Additionally, members commented that meeting agendas could have been more efficient. Members recognized a clear reduction of duplication.
TEPPC will continue with a similar format for the next meeting.
9.Public Comment
No comments were made.
10.Review of New Action Items
- Recommend to the RAC Nominating Committee that WECC membership not exclude nominees if they can later become members.
- Assigned To: Byron Woertz
- Due Date: Next RAC Nominating Committee meeting
- Discuss the future of the long-term planning tool with WECC staff and SPSG.
- Assigned To: Byron Woertz
- Due Date: End of February
- Determine whether a special SPSG meeting is needed to discuss the future of the long-term planning tool.
- Assigned To: Bryce Freeman
- Due Date: End of February
- Cancel the April TEPPC coordination call.
- Assigned To: Byron Woertz
- Due Date: End of February
- Reschedule the spring meetings possibly to occur in Portland immediately following the Western Reliability Summit.
- Assigned To: Byron Woertz
- Due Date: ASAP
11.Upcoming Meetings
February 21, 2017, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m...... Webinar
March 21, 2017, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m...... Webinar
WECC staff will work to schedule the spring meeting and announce it soon.
August 14-17, 2017...... Salt Lake City, UT
12.Adjourn
Mr. McKay adjourned the meeting without objection at 10:52 a.m.
Exhibit A: Attendance List
Name...... Affiliation
Members in Attendance
ScottCoe...... Emerald People's Utility District
GaryDeShazo...... California Independent System Operator
BryceFreeman...... Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate
JohnLeland...... Northern Tier Transmission Group
IanMcKay...... Independent Director
StevenMetague...... Energy Industry Consultant
ArmandoPerez...... Independent Director
JanStrack...... San Diego Gas & Electric
CarlZichella...... Natural Resources Defense Council
Members not in Attendance
PaulDidsayabutra...... ColumbiaGrid
MikeEvans...... Shell Energy North America (US), L.P.
KurtHaeger...... Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy)
Michael L.Jones...... Pacific Gas and Electric Company
BillStrongman...... Alberta Electric System Operator
SusanTang...... British Columbia Hydro & Power Authority (aka BC Hydro)
BlaneTaylor...... Tri-State Generation & Transmission (Reliability)
Others in Attendance
Maria Angelo...... Salt River Project
Dave Angell...... Idaho Power Company
Jamie Austin...... PacifiCorp
Michael Bailey...... WECC
Ron Belval...... Tucson Electric Power
Andie Biggs...... California Public Utilities Commission
RobertBurner...... Duke Energy
Tyler Butikofer...... WECC
ThomasCarr...... Western Interstate Energy Board
Justin Hagler...... California Public Utilities Commission
Kevin Harris...... ColumbiaGrid
Fred Heutte...... NW Energy Coalition
Stan Holland...... WECC
Bill Hosie...... TransCanada Energy Ltd.
Bhavana Katyal...... WECC
Peter Mackin...... Utility System Efficiencies, Inc.
Bob Micek...... Tri-State Generation & Transmission
Jack Moore...... Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc.
Shelli Nyland...... WECC
Ata Rehman...... Alberta Electric System Operator
Michael Rein...... Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy)
Vijay Satyal...... WECC
Mike Starrett...... Northwest Power and Conservation Council
Branden Sudduth...... WECC
Henry Tilghman...... Tilghman and Associates
Steven Wallace...... Comprehensive Power Solutions, LLC
Byron Woertz...... WECC
Western Electricity Coordinating Council