Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation

12:00 noon	Call to order / introductions / review agenda
	· John Savage, Chair

12:15 p.m.	Resource planning trends - LBNL's review of utility resource plans
	· Peter Larsen and Jordan Wilkerson, Lawrence Berkeley Nat'l Lab [pdf]
	■ The future mix of planned capacity across WECC
	■ How utilities are planning for uncertainty - a qualitative assessment
	■ Comparison of methods and approaches in resource plans

12:45 p.m.	Integration of Variable Generation
	· Moderator \| Lisa Schwartz, Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
	Panelists
	■ Michael Milligan, NREL [pdf]
	■ Janice Frazier-Hampton, Pacific Gas & Electric
	■ Scott Martin, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
	■ Laura Beane, Iberdrola Renewables
	■ Megan Mao, Southern California Edison
	■ Udi Helman, BrightSource Energy
	■ Steve Beuning, Xcel Energy
	■ Ty Bettis, Portland General Electric

	Panel discussion topics and questions
	♦ Integration of variable generation defined: What does this mean to resource planners?
	To developers? What are the key integration issues as we get to higher levels of penetration,
	and how should our integration tools change as we advance toward higher targets?
	♦ Planning the system with variable generation:
	o How do we compare costs across resources and alternative portfolios in a way that
	compares apples to apples?
	o What is the capacity value of variable energy resources and how do they contribute
	to resource adequacy and affect LOLE/LOLP?
	o How do we estimate costs for integrating variable generation?
	♦ Technology improvements are changing the way we integrate variable generation
	including demand-side measures that complement wind and solar resources and controls
	for wind and solar facilities. How should we address these advances in resource planning,
	procurement and integration analyses?
	♦ Storage for electricity - is this part of the solution?
	♦ Planning the system for operational flexibility - options for the individual utility
	o The changing requirements and calculation of reserves with increasing levels of
	variable generation: planning reserves and flexible reserves
	♦ Institutional and market innovations for flexibility - options requiring multi-utility
	cooperation
	o Intra-hour scheduling and dispatch
	o Dynamic scheduling of generation outside of the utility Balancing Authority
	o New markets (e.g., imbalance energy, capacity / capabilities markets)
	o Reserve sharing agreements
	o Expectations about contracting for variable generation

	Background
	Meeting Renewable Energy Targets in the West at Least Cost
	The Integration Challenge: Final Report

3:15 p.m.	Break

3:45 p.m.	Nexus between distribution and transmission level resource strategies

	Potential for Solar PV in 2020
	· Rob Jenks, McKinsey & Company [pdf]

	The economics of DG relative to central station generation alternatives and
	challenges in aligning the planning processes
	· Arne Olson, E3 [pdf]

	The California Experience -- integrating distribution level resource planning
	with transmission level resource planning
	· Strategies for integrating DG resources from the transmission system viewpoint
	o Lorenzo Kristov, California ISO [pdf]
	· Programs underway in CA and the multifaceted issues for integrating and
	balancing distribution level planning with transmission level resource planning
	o Kevin Dudney, CA PUC staff [pdf]

	Southern California Edisons's DG case study - Solar Photovoltaic Program (SPVP)
	· Rudy Perez, Southern California Edison [pdf]

	Response panel
	■ Brad Nickell, WECC
	■ Mohan Kondragunta, Southern California Edison
	Panel discussion questions
	♦ What are the feedback loops between distribution and transmission planning?
	♦ What are the operational challenges of DG / PV / possible EV and two-way flows between
	distribution and transmission systems?
	♦ What value do resource planners place on WECC's 10- and 20-year transmission planning
	processes and subregional planning under Order 1000?
	♦ Do transmission planners consider distribution level actions when developing company
	transmission plans? Are distribution level actions considered when constructing SPG
	Order 1000 transmission plans (e.g. cost allocation for regional projects vs. non-wire
	alternatives)?
	♦ Do transmission planners use or consider future Demand Response and uncommitted energy
	efficiency in transmission planning to possibly avoid future transmission investment?
	♦ Does deep penetration of distribution generation present significant challenges for integration
	and on reliability?

5:30 p.m.	Adjourn

7:00 a.m.	*Continental Breakfast*

8:00 a.m.	*Resource planning with risk and uncertainty: alternative approaches and methodologies*
	*in making risk assessments*
	Resource Planners' Perspective
	■ James Wilde, Arizona Public Service [pdf]
	■ Phillip Popoff, Puget Sound Energy [pdf]

	Perspective on the role of regulators - "risk aware utility regulation"
	■ Ron Binz, Public Policy Consulting [pdf]

	Panel discussion questions
	♦ What are the categories of risk faced by resource planners?
	♦ How do resource planners develop resource plans in the face of increasing risk and uncertainty?
	♦ What are the techniques for integrating risk management in IRPs and transmission plans
	into a "least risk" strategy in terms of mitigating fuel price, supply and regulatory
	uncertainties?
	♦ How should the resource planner value different resources (e.g., natural gas,coal, wind,
	solar, etc) given changing assumptions of future prices and technological innovation?
	♦ How should resource planners account for potential changes in policies (e.g. renewable
	portfolio standards, carbon regulation, air quality regulations)?
	♦ What are the different approaches and methodologies used by utilities?

	Background
	Ron Binz, Practicing Risk Aware Electricity Regulation

9:30 a.m.	Break

9:50 a.m.	*Natural Gas and Electric Interface*

	· SPSC / CREPC work on the gas electric interface
	o John Savage, Chair
	· Resource planner's perspective on the adequacy and deliverability of this
	key resource
	o Phillip Popoff, Puget Sound Energy
	· DOE's activities
	o Larry Mansueti, DOE [pdf]

	*Major actions underway by NERC and the Northwest on the Gas/Electric Interface*

	· NERC's Phase II of Gas/Electric Reliability Assessment
	o John Moura, NERC [pdf]
	· Pacific Northwest Utility Conference Committee / Northwest Gas Association
	Power and Natural Gas Task Force
	o Phillip Popoff /Clay Riding, Puget Sound Energy and Chair, Northwest
	Mutual Assistance Agreement [pdf]

	*Overview and insights on regional natural gas infrastructure assessment*
	· Kevin Petak, ICF International [pdf]

	*The potential need for and process of a Western infrastructure assessment*
	· Facilitator \| Patrick Bean, American Clean Skies Foundation
	Panelists
	■ Larry Mansueti, DOE
	■ John Moura, NERC
	■ Kevin Petak, ICF International
	■ Phillip Popoff / Clay Riding, PSE and Northwest Mutual Assistance Agreement chair
	■ Jeff Miller, ColumbiaGrid
	■ Mia Vu, Pacific Gas & Electric [pdf]
	■ Greg Van Pelt, California ISO
	■ Steven Hearn, TransWestern Pipeline
	■ David Lemmons, Xcel Energy
	■ Hardev Juj, BPA

	Panel discussion questions
	♦ What should the goals and objectives be for a regional assessment?
	♦ What are the drivers of a Western assessment?
	♦ What work has been done or is underway in the West for assessments?
	♦ What should the parameters be for a Western assessment?
	♦ Who should perform the infrastructure assessment?

	Proposed Motion to authorize a Western Natural Gas Infrastructure Assessment

	Background
	Staff paper on proposed motion
	Summary of Regional Infrastructure Assessments
	Northwest Task Force Natural Gas-Electricity Primer, August 2012
	Northwest Mutual Assistance Agreement
	A Primer of the Natural Gas and Electric Power Interdependency in the US
	(Phase I), NERC
	FERC Order 587-V, Issued July 19, 2012
	Report: NAESB Gas-Electric Harmonization Committee, August 2012
	FERC August 2012 Regional Conferences audio archive
	Cal-ISO Gas Transmission Pipeline Protocols, August 2012
	WECC November 12-13 Natural Gas-Electric Coordination Conference

12:00 noon	Lunch

1:30 p.m.	*FERC and DOE current activities*
	· Jon Wellinghoff, FERC Chairman
	· Larry Mansueti, DOE

2:00 p.m.	Variable generation reforms

	Order 764 panel
	· Moderator \| Rebecca Wagner, Nevada PUC Commissioner
	Panelists
	■ Jon Wellinghoff, FERC Chairman
	■ David Lemmons, Xcel Energy
	■ Natalie Hocken, PacifiCorp

	Panel discussion questions
	♦ Will 15-minute scheduling as provided in Order 764 be used?
	♦ Given the potential risk of low usage of 15 minute scheduling, are there more
	cost-effective alternatives that qualify under Order 764?
	♦ Will non-jurisdictionals go to 15-minute scheduling?

	Background
	FERC Order 764 (priority 2)

	Report of PUC EIM Group
	· Jason Marks, NM PRC and PUC EIM Group Chair [pdf]
	o Cost/benefit results
	o Next steps for the PUC EIM group

	Northwest Power Pool EIM evaluation
	· Patrick Damiano, NWPP [pdf]

3:30 p.m.	Break

3:45 p.m.	September 8, 2011 outage and the future of WECC

	Outage discussion
	■ Gerry Cauley, NERC CEO, on NERC/FERC outage inquiry findings
	and recommendations and next steps
	■ Jon Wellinghoff, FERC Chair
	■ Mark Maher, WECC CEO, on WECC's response to the outage [pdf]
	■ Mike Niggli, SDG&E President & Western Electricity Industry Leaders Group
	■ Doug Larson, WIEB, on WIRAB's advice to WECC and NERC [pdf]
	■ Other comments: Marsha Smith, WECC Chair \| John Stout, WECC Vice-Chair

	Background
	NERC/FERC September 8, 2011 outage report, April, 2012
	WECC Hi gh Level Summary of September 8, 2011 Pacific Southwest
	Outage Survey Results, July 20, 2012
	NERC letter to WECC requesting report on actions in response to outage,
	July 26, 2012
	WIRAB advice to WECC and NERC, August 23, 2012
	WECC preliminary response to Arizona-California Outages, August 31, 2012

	Panel discussion questions
	♦ The NERC/FERC outage report and the WECC survey of Western companies identified
	many shortcomings in current practices in the Western electricity industry. What are
	your three top reforms that are needed?
	♦ Will enforcement actions resulting from the outage provide insight into which, if any,
	standards were violated and the degree to which the violation contributed to the outage?

	Future of WECC discussion
	■ John Stout, WECC Board Vice Chair
	■ Mark Maher, WECC CEO
	■ Discussion with outage panel members

	Panel discussion questions
	♦ Why will rearranging the boxes on an organization chart into two new entities:
	(1) Result in a new focus on reliability rather than standards compliance? If WECC has been
	more focused on reliability rather than standards compliance?
	(2) Improve budgeting decisions to ensure consumers are getting a "bang for the buck"
	being spent on reliability?
	(3) Change the culture in the Western industry to share information and improve real-time grid
	operations?
	(4) Fix current problems at WECC created by addressing issues in member committee "silos"?
	♦ The proposed bifurcation of WECC into two organizations (a Regional Entity that focuses on
	standards, compliance, event analysis, reliability assessments and a Non-Regional Entity that
	operates the Reliability Coordinator and potentially other functions such as transmission
	planning) is based, in part, on an expectation that the Regional Entity organization will focus
	more on reliability and less on standards compliance. What changes are needed to cause that
	shift focus? Why should we expect that shift to occur when it hasn’t happened under the existing
	WECC?
	♦ Will the functions of the Non-Regional Entity be adequately funded through a tariff where
	companies pay for the services they request from the NRE? Why would companies pay for
	services that aren't mandated by law or standards? Under current NERC standards, which
	entities are liable for not funding a Reliability Coordinator, an Interchange Administrator,
	interconnection-wide transmission expansion planning base case development? Under the
	tariff, what happens when a company elects not to pay for a service which it deems is not
	needed or required? Are non-jurisdictional U.S. entities subject to tariff?
	♦ What are the potential unintended consequences from bifurcation (e.g., competing
	organizations that don't share data and analysis, current functions such as transmission
	planning not being funded, a new RE that evolves into strictly a standards enforcement arm
	of NERC, Canadian and Mexican entities opting out of current interconnection-wide functions.

	Background
	WECC strategic planning white paper, August 24, 2012
	Materials and recording from the August 29 WECC webinar on structure
	and governance of current WECC functions
	September 6-7 resolutions adopted by the WECC Board on restructuring WECC

5:15 p.m.	Adjourn

7:00 a.m.	*Continental Breakfast*

8:00 a.m.	Order 1000
	· Subregion planning group filings to comply with Order 1000. What are the major
	changes in your planning processes? Plans for interregional coordination?
	o Charlie Reinhold, WestConnect [pdf]
	o Jeff Miller, Columbia Grid [pdf]
	o Rich Bayless, NTTG [pdf]
	o Neil Millar, California ISO [pdf]
	o Sue Henderson, SCG chair [pdf]
	o Sue Henderson on behalf of the Interregional Coordination
	Team [pdf]

9:00 a.m.	NEW WREZ3 report
	· Transmission and Renewable Energy Planning in California: Opportunities for
	Regional Stakeholder Engagement
	o Lisa Schwartz, Regulatory Assistance Project [pdf]

9:20 a.m.	Break

9:35 a.m.	SPSC study case inputs and WECC modeling results
	· SPSC study cases and technical inputs
	o Overview and context - Tom Carr, WIEB
	o Low carbon case inputs
	■ Arne Olson, E3 [pdf]
	o DSM / DR / DG inputs
	■ Galen Barbose, LBNL [pdf]
	o Breakthrough technologies and WREZ model update
	■ David Hurlbut, NREL [pdf]
	· WECC 2012 study program: 10-year cases and 20-year cases
	o Modeling results - SPSC stress test cases
	o Long term planning tool - SPSG and SPSC cases [pdf]
	■ Brad Nickell / Keegan Moyer / Byron Woertz, WECC

11:15 a.m.	*SPSC business meeting*
	· Election of SPSC Vice Chair
	· Consulting fund proposals
	o Report on consulting fund proposals [pdf]
	■ Historical flow/schedule/ATC internet tool (approved)
	■ Variable energy resources internet dashboard (authorized)
	■ Transmission technology forum (authorized)
	o New ideas for consulting fund proposals and establishment of RFP work groups
	■ Natural gas/electric infrastructure adequacy/operational reliability assessment
	■ Opportunities in the West for using demand response for integration of variable
	generation
	>Ken Dragoon, Ecofys [pdf]
	· Budget report [pdf]

12:00 p.m.	Adjourn

Agenda Joint Meeting Resource Planners' Forum Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation and State-Provincial Steering Committee

Agenda
Joint Meeting
Resource Planners' Forum
Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation
and
State-Provincial Steering Committee