Excerpt of proposed Bylaws of the Western Electric Coordinating Council (and background document) dealing with transmission planning and expansion

1.1.1 Coordinated Regional Planning. With respect to the coordination of regional planning activities, the WECC:

1.1.1.1 will develop coordinated planning policies and procedures for the Western Interconnection, including facilitation of market‑based solutions, consistent with WECC/NERC standards, FERC policy, and Section 2.5 of these Bylaws.

1.1.1.2 will review and assess Regional Entity (as that term is defined in Section 3 of these Bylaws) planning processes to determine whether WECC planning procedures have been satisfied;

1.1.1.3 will refer planning matters back to the originating Regional Entity for revision or other corrective actions when the WECC Board determines that WECC planning procedures have not been satisfied; and

1.1.1.4 may perform other interconnection-wide studies as needed, but shall not perform expansion planning studies.

Referenced sections

2.5 Guiding Reference.

These Bylaws are intended to reflect the expectations and agreements of interested parties throughout the Western Interconnection as embodied in the document, dated October 2, 2000, entitled “Western Interconnection Organization ‑ A Detailed Proposal for a Grid Management Organization in the Western Interconnection” (the “Detailed Proposal”). While the complete content of the Detailed Proposal is too extensive to incorporate into these Bylaws, the Detailed Proposal describes with specificity the key elements of broad consensus among regional participants concerning the activities and authority of the WECC and Regional Entities. Accordingly, the Board of Directors will refer to the Detailed Proposal as a principal source for guidance concerning matters within the scope of WECC activities not specifically addressed in these Bylaws.

3.25 Regional Entity (RE).

A regional transmission organization or some other formally or informally constituted regional organization or group within the Western Interconnection, including but not limited to a Control Area, a group of Control Areas acting in concert, or a group of Entities that own or operate Transmission Facilities acting in concert. At the time of the formation of the WECC, regions will define their boundaries and establish formal or informal coordination as necessary. These boundaries can be reevaluated or modified over time.

Function or Procedure	Sub-function or Example	BACKGROUND DOCUMENT: NEAR-TERM (PRE-RTO) ISSUE IDENTIFICATION MATRIX
		WECC Authorities and Responsibilities	Regional Entities (REs) Authorities and Responsibilities
Planning (Adequacy)
General	Planning Standards and Compliance Templates	Develops planning standards (generation, load and transmission) and compliance templates for the WI (WECC/NERC). Disputes between the WECC and REs regarding either requests for regional variances or WIO concerns about regional planning standards will be resolved by the due process discussed in Function 7. The WECC should not have a primary role in developing RTO planning standards that are not NERC standards and do not involve “material external impacts”	Participates in standards and compliance template development at the WECC. Develops requests for regional variances from WI (WECC/NERC) standards and compliance templates. Establishes regional planning standards (without material external impacts) as required. The RE will publicly post for comment regional standards whether or not there are material external impacts.
General	Compliance	Performs compliance monitoring responsibilities for the WECC/NERC planning standards in the Western Interconnection. Authority to enforce compliance, levy sanctions, fines and penalties is limited to the voluntary RMS program.	Supports the compliance monitoring program and provides necessary information to the WECC. Monitors compliance with planning standards specific to the regional programs, which are not WECC/NERC standards. Primary responsibility for developing information for compliance monitoring resides with the REs, Control Areas (CAs) or other appropriate entities.
General	Planning Policies and Procedures	Develops coordinated planning policies and procedures for the Western Interconnection, including facilitation of market-based solutions, consistent with WECC/NERC standards and FERC policy. For Example: addresses policy issues that need to be consistent throughout the Western Interconnection and addresses seams issues. The WECC will be responsible for coordinating inter-regional planning policies and procedures.	Determines regional planning policies and procedures consistent with WECC/NERC standards. Participates in the development of coordinated planning policies and procedures for all entities in the Western Interconnection.

It is anticipated that the WECC will develop and maintain a relatively small efficient staff. The staff for the majority of studies, analysis, and development work will continue to be at the regional, or operating entity level.

“Regional Entity” may be an RTO, some other formally or informally constituted regional organization or group within the Western Interconnection, or control area(s) acting in concert. At the time of the formation of the WIO, regions will define their boundaries and establish formal or informal coordination as necessary. These boundaries can be reevaluated or modified over time. At a minimum, all control areas must be represented in a formal or informal organizations in order to provide regional activities incorporated in this matrix. See State C Principle #2.

It is expected that REs developing standards will adhere to accepted principles of due process including appropriate postings on WIO.