SPP’s two independent directors with backgrounds in the Western Interconnection both expressed relief and optimism at the grid operator’s collaborative efforts with stakeholders to develop Markets+ in the West.

The comments came during a conference call Feb. 2 with members of the Markets+ Participant Executive Committee (MPEC) and the Markets+ State Committee (MSC).

“Honestly, a year ago, I was probably a bit skeptical about the potential for being in this position of essentially the major tariff issues being resolved in less than a year,” said Steve Wright, a former Bonneville Power Administration administrator and CEO. “The progress is really amazing. An incredible array of folks have come to the table and found compromise on what have been intractable issues in the West in the past.”

John Cupparo, a former officer with PacifiCorp and experienced in several other western initiatives, pointed to stakeholder approval rates in the 90s on votes for tariff language and other issues and lack of appeals to decisions already made as evidence of a job well done.

“From my perspective, this is truly reflective of a market for the West, designed by the West and governed by the West,” he said.

Along with director Liz Moore, Wright and Cupparo constitute the Interim Markets+ Independent Panel (IMIP), the temporary body overseeing the day-ahead market’s development. The directors listened to several reports on last month’s MPEC meeting and approved 15 pieces of language related to the Markets+ tariff and its attachments.

The IMIP also approved modifications to the independent sector’s voting structure, previously approved by the MPEC. (See “Independent Sector Changes,” SPP Markets+ Participants Executive Committee Briefs: Jan. 23-24, 2024.)

The primary remaining sticking point is what’s been called a “gap” with the accuracy of information to be shared with SPP’s Market Monitoring Unit under FERC’s duty of candor requirements. SPP, the MSC, the MMU and western legal groups are all involved in resolving the issue.

MSC member Ann Rendahl, a commissioner with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, said “much” progress has been made since the January MPEC meeting. The various entities involved met the week after MPEC and are planning to resume discussions this week.

“We see this moving in a direction that will address the outstanding concern that we have. We’re optimistic that the language can be worked through the Markets+ process in the coming weeks and adopted into the tariff,” Rendahl said.

“Everyone engaged in this exercise is invested in building a robust, transparent market that earns the trust of parties throughout the West,” she added. “We’re all well aware and understand the long history of market development in the West. There’s considerable scar tissue in the West surrounding prior experience with significant adverse customer-rate impacts associated with price and market manipulation.”

A reference, perhaps, to the western energy crisis of 2001 instigated by Enron in California, and hopefully, soon to be forgotten.