FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 12, 2017

CONTACT: Jen Neville, mediarelations@wapa.gov, 720.962.7411

 

LAKEWOOD, Colorado – Western Area Power Administration is seeking comments on negotiating regional transmission organization membership​ for two of its projects as part of participation in the Mountain West Transmission Group. 

Today, WAPA initiated a 45-day public comment period to collect comments regarding its recommendation for the Loveland Area Projects and the Colorado River Storage Project to pursue final negotiations regarding membership in the Southwest Power Pool through a Federal Register notice. Comments received by Nov. 27 via mail, email or during an information forum, will help inform a decision about whether SPP membership for the two projects will provide near- and long-term reliability and economic benefits for customers in alignment with WAPA’s commitment to provide power at the lowest possible rates, consistent with sound business principles. 

 

WAPA expects to make a final decision in early 2018. Integration into SPP, if pursued by WAPA, could potentially occur in late 2019. 

 

Public information forums are planned for November in Phoenix, Loveland and Salt Lake City. Customers, interested parties and the public can learn more about the recommendation, ask questions and provide comments during the forums.

 

Details about the public forums, analysis performed and how to submit comments are available on WAPA’s Mountain West Public Process webpage.

 

WAPA’s CRSP and LAP are participants in the Mountain West Transmission Group. Mountain West began discussions in 2013 to evaluate a suite of strategic options expanding from a common transmission tariff to membership in an existing RTO. Extensive analyses indicate that RTO membership and market participation would provide greater benefits to customers than a common tariff alone. Early in 2017, Mountain West participants announced detailed discussions with SPP regarding potential RTO membership. These discussions led to formal negotiations with SPP and to today’s announcement of WAPA’s public process. SPP is holding a separate public stakeholder process on proposed modifications necessary for Mountain West Transmission Group participants to become SPP members. Learn more about SPP’s public process on its website.

Media planning to attend the a public meeting should RSVP to Jen Neville, 720-962-7054 or mediarelations@wapa.gov.
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About WAPA: Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 25,000 gigawatt hours of clean, renewable power from 57 federal hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and International Boundary and Water Commission in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy. Follow us on Twitter @WesternAreaPowr or visit the website at www.wapa.gov.