What is the EIM Crossroads?

The EIM Crossroads meeting was held on March 7-8,2011 in Portland, Oregon. The purpose of the meeting was to allow entities across the West to identify what additional information was needed to enable parties to make a go/no-go decision on the establishment of a Western EIM. This website contains information identified in the Crossroads meeting on the following topics:

June 2011

WECC: In June, WECC staff presented the cost benefit analysis results to the WECC Board of Directors. The WECC Board directed staff to complete four additional items to present to the WECC Board in September:

• Cost analysis of WECC as the market operator

• Analysis of institutional changes to WECC under an EIM

• Risk analysis to WECC (as the market operator and not as the market operator)

• High-level market design (with the EDTSC and EDTTRS)

For more information on WECC efforts, please contact Michelle Mizumori

July-August 2011

Joint Initiatives: The Joint Initiatives held a think tank meeting. The EIM was discussed and the Joint Initiatives will continue to monitor progress but did not commit to any work regarding the EIM.

For information, please contact Sharon Helms, Charles Reinhold, or Kristi Wallace

WestConnect: In July, WestConnect issued a statement of support for further evaluation of an EIM. In August, WestConnect's EIS Work Group met to discuss hiring a consultant to help members determine BA-specific benefits of an EIM. The group did not come to a consensus and will continue to explore issues relating to an EIM in the West.

For information, please contact Joe Taylor

ColumbiaGrid: In July, ColumbiaGrid issued a statement of alignment with the EIM. ColumbiaGrid members also began work on applying the WECC roadmap to determine benefits to individual entities within the ColumbiaGrid footprint. The group holds regular calls.

For information, please contact Patrick Damiano

September 2011

WECC: At the WECC Board Meeting in September, WECC staff presented four items for Board review: (1) cost analysis of WECC as the market operator; (2) analysis of institutional changes to WECC under an EIM; (3) risk analysis to WECC (as the market operator and not as the market operator); and (4) high-level market design (with the EDTSC and EDTTRS). The WECC Board asked WECC Staff to complete four additional tasks: (1) in vestigate potential funding sources to develop an RFP-quality market design specification; (2) hold meetings with FERC staff concerning funding and organizational options; (3) issue an RFI to determine interest, cost and schedule for a third-party facilitator; and (4) evaluate the feasibility of, and develop a plan for sharing operational data with a third party market operator.

For information, please contact Michelle Mizumori

ColumbiaGrid: ColulmbiaGrid made further progress on their individual BA benefits analysis and presented their results at the SPSC/CREPC meeting on October 26-27.

SPSC: SPSC secured funding for assistance from NREL to states on determining the individual BA benefits of an EIM. NREL presented two such analyses at the October 26-27 joint SPSC/CREPC meetings. The SPSC held a webinar on pricing options for an EIM prior to the meeting ( recording / powerpoint ). At the meeting, the SPSC adopted a statement supporting additional evaluation of an EIM and agreeing to work together across states in the effort.

SPSC: Four state commissioners (CO, NM, UT and WY) sent a letter to Chairman John Savage formally requesting assistance from NREL in a benefits analysis, proposing a meeting of interested commissioners in early 2012, and requesting SPSC funding assistance for state travel, staff assistance and meeting costs. All Western Interconnections state commissions, as well as Texas, voiced their support for the items in the letter.