The SPP MOPC asked staff to re-evaluate whether two transmission projects should have their need dates accelerated given wind energy growth.

A summary of issues discussed by the SPP Markets and Operations Policy Committee on April 12 to 13.

Only a few months away from revising its transmission planning process, SPP is continuing to work under the old ITP format.

SPP members voted last week to reduce the RTO’s planning reserve margin to 12% from the current 13.6%.

The SPP Markets and Operations Policy Committee discussed the RTO's settlement with MISO, multiple proposed transmission projects and the decrease in reliability violations.

SPP could handle wind-penetration levels of up to 60% with additional transmission and monitoring tools, officials told the MOPC.

Member frustrations with SPP's Z2 crediting project bubbled to the surface again when staff told them of a new delay.

Reducing SPP’s current 13.6% reserve margin to 12% could cut required capacity by about 1,000 MW, saving $86 million annually and $1.3 billion over 40 years.

The SPP MOPC began discussions on how the RTO will distribute the funds it receives from MISO under the settlement in their long-running transmission dispute, announced just hours before its meeting.

SPP rolled out a flashy, redesigned website last week, culminating several years of effort and months of planning, development and testing.