DSW Energy Imbalance Market Activities

On Sept. 16, 2021, DSW announced that it had signed an implementation agreement with the California Independent System Operator to participate in the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) starting in 2023. This decision is the result of nearly two years of analysis and collaboration with customers on the best path forward to manage real-time mismatches between supply and demand within the Western Area Lower Colorado balancing authority. Joining the EIM will support DSW’s ability to meet regulatory requirements for reliable operations, enhance real-time trading opportunities, provide efficient and affordable operations and address BA limitations and constraints due to the loss of bilateral trading partners to market constructs.

• Joint news release: WAPA Desert Southwest region announces it plans to join the EIM​​ (S​eptember 16, 2021)
• EIM recommendation memo

Check out the latest activities in the WAPA ​and markets ​monthly newsletter, ​December 2022​​​​​​​. See previous issues at the WAPA and markets webpage.

DSW Market Update January 31, 2024:

• Presentation

Rates for EIM services

• Proposed Rates​
• ​​Final Rates​​
• ​Propos​ed Rate Schedules​:
  • DSW-EIM1T
  • DSW-EIM4T​
  • DSW-EIM9T​​​
• Final Rate Schedules:
  • ​​​DSW-EIM1T​​​
  • DSW-EIM4T​​
  • DSW​-EIM9T​
• Energy Imbalance Ma​rket Business Practice​​ (select Business Practices from the left drop down menu)

Implementation meetings/presentations​

September 21, 2022: Energy Imbalance Market Implementation Customer Meeting​​​​

• Meeting Announcement (August 31st)
• Presentation​​
• Webex Recording​
• Quick Link to WAPA DSR EIM Business Practice: https://www.oasis.oati.com/WALC/index.html

May 24, 2022: Energy Imbalance Market Implementation Customer Meeting​

• Meeting Announcement (April 25th)​
• Presentation​​​
• Webex Recording​​​​

February 23, 2022: Energy Imbalance Market Implementation Customer Meeting

• Meeting Announcement (January 19th)
• ​​Presentation​

Background and study phase

DSW projects operate from the Western Area Lower Colorado (WALC) Balancing Authority (BA). The status quo operating strategy for WALC is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Our current process of using residual hydro capacity which is not being used to serve Firm Electric Service and supplementing with real-time purchases for balancing BA loads is most likely not maintainable due to power availability and cost, as more renewables are interconnected to the bulk electric system. DSW needs to identify the best path forward to be prepared for the future.

See below presentations and information materials distributed during the study phase of this initiative.

Study updates​

• May 26, 2020 – AEPCO-CAWCD-SPPA-WAPA DSW Market Study Update
• October 28, 2020 – AEPCO-CAWCD-SPPA-WAPA DSW Market Study Update​ ​
• April 28, 2021 – AEPCO-CAWCD-SPPA-WAPA DSW Market Study Update

​Meetings/presentations

June 22, 2021: Energy Imbalance Market Customer Meeting​

• Meeting Announcement (May 20th)
• Meeting Presentation
• Rate Impact Spreadsheet

March 25, 2020 and April 1, 2020: Energy Imbalance Information Session

• Meeting Announcement (March 25th)
• Meeting Announcement (April 1st)
• Presentation

November 12, 2019: Energy Imbalance Information Sessions

• Meeting Announcement
• DSW Presentation
• CASIO – DSW Presentation
• CASIO Presentation Q & A
• SPP – DSW Presentation
• SPP Presentation Q & A​

July 15, 2019: Energy Imbalance Markets in the West customer meeting

• Presentation
• Discussion Notes​​​​​​​​​​​

​EIM resources

• WAPA YouTube Video Series: Modules about the grid’s history, regulation and market constructs
• CAISO Western EIM*
• SPP Western EIS*
  *Note: The links are to energy imbalance services provided by other entities