Image of a steel-lattice transmission tower and power lines in a desert landscape with an electrical substation in the distance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024

CONTACT: Stephen Collier, mediarelations@wapa.gov, 720-962-7411

LAKEWOOD, Colo. –  The Western Area Power Administration supports Arizona G&T Cooperatives’ recent announcement to pursue an ongoing study to assess the benefits of joining the California Independent System Operator’s Extended Day-Ahead Market.

On Oct. 23, 2024, AzGT officials announced their interest to pursue a study to assess the benefits of the CAISO EDAM for its cooperative members, public power utilities and electric districts. While an initial step, the review focuses on the potential benefits of AzGT customers that are a part of WAPA’s Desert Southwest region/Western Area Lower Colorado balancing authority area joining EDAM.

“We applaud this first step by AzGT in considering the benefits of joining CAISO’s day-ahead market program,” said Tracey LeBeau, Administrator and CEO of the Western Area Power Administration. “WAPA remains focused on providing value to our customers, and our leadership and Desert Southwest operations teams support this evaluation of EDAM. As a transmission provider, we know WAPA’s transmission system throughout the Southwest, and its connectivity across the region, will be a crucial factor in determining the value of any day-ahead market construct for our DSW customers.”

DSW/WALC work in partnership with electrical entities to oversee both an efficient and reliable transmission grid, ensuring power demand and supply are always in balance. This helps ensure consistent and affordable power is available to our utility customers and millions of Americans across the West.

AzGT customers account for nearly 70 percent of the load found in the DSW/WALC balancing authority in Arizona.

Since WAPA formalized its membership with the CAISO Western Energy Imbalance Market in 2023, DSW has seen approximately $1 million in savings each month from cost efficiencies. The DSW region first announced its intention to join the WEIM in mid-2021.

10/25/2024 Edit: WAPA’s participation in the EDAM study reflects a strong partnership with our customers in the Desert Southwest. This collaboration underscores WAPA’s commitment to exploring new opportunities alongside our customers, ensuring that decisions align with shared objectives for a reliable, affordable, and resilient energy future. By working together, we are better positioned to evaluate the potential benefits of CAISO’s EDAM for the entire region.

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About WAPA: Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 28,000 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. Visit the website at www.wapa.gov.

Last modified on October 25th, 2024