Utilities at a customer-led workshop voiced support for Bonneville Power Administration’s shift toward proactive transmission planning, though some expressed reservations about the agency’s proposed commercial readiness criteria.

Four Western utility executives participating in an Energy Bar Association webinar presented their reasoning for why they ultimately chose either SPP’s Markets+ or CAISO’s EDAM, with some eyeing the creation of a full regional transmission organization in the future.

The development of SPP's Markets+ has picked up the pace with stakeholders agreeing on an interim governance structure and representation on the working groups that will handle much of the effort ahead.

BPA finalized the set of policies and records of decision underlying its long-term power sales contracts and has also taken additional steps to align with President Donald Trump’s priorities, CEO John Hairston said during the agency’s quarterly business review.

Trade organizations for utilities and large energy consumers seek to intervene in the lawsuit filed in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the Bonneville Power Administration’s decision to join SPP’s Markets+ instead of CAISO’s EDAM.

BPA’s proposed changes to its grid access process have prompted questions about how new readiness criteria will affect established industry practices and financing of new projects.