SPP conducted a winter-preparedness workshop for its members last week, telling them its projections indicate it will be able to handle what few contingencies the RTO faces in the coming months.
Staff said winter operations within its balancing authority and reliability coordinator footprints are expected to be normal, with no forecast of extreme operational situations, and that transmission constraints and mitigations should be able to maintain “required reliable operating criteria.”
“Operating capacity is expected to be sufficient throughout the season,” said SPP’s Jon Langford. He said any short-term constraints are expected to be “manageable.”
Staff is predicting a peak load of almost 42,000 MW and a 65% capacity reserve margin. (See related story, NERC: Tepid Demand, DR Growth Ensure Winter Readiness.)
Attendees of the Dec. 10 workshop, SPP’s third such readiness seminar, reviewed relevant emergency procedures and industry-wide lessons learned. The seminars are conducted twice a year, just before the peak winter and summer seasons.
A separate session was held recently for SPP’s new Integrated System members, to help familiarize themselves with their new balancing authority.
— Tom Kleckner
