The Western summer reliability outlook is better than in recent years, but shortfalls could arise because of supply chain problems or scarce imports, WECC says.

RTOs in the Northeast are experiencing diminished solar output and lower-than-expected loads as smoke from Canadian wildfires passes over the region.

Western regulators heard from a power panel of CEOs on maintaining grid reliability in the face of fires, storms, extreme heat and supply chain disruptions.

CAISO says that 8,100 MW of new resources and California's record snowpack, which is expected to increase hydro generation by 72%, improve its summer forecast.

Pacific Gas and Electric said burying power lines more shallowly would trim the costs of its $25 billion plan to underground 10,000 miles to prevent wildfires.

WECC held a two-day webinar on the outlook for this summer, including Western wildfires and hydropower conditions in the Colorado and Columbia River basins.

The CPUC approved funding and rules for its Microgrid Incentive Program, which helps build standalone power systems for communities vulnerable to outages.

Among the topics covered by WECC’s State of the Interconnection report, one subject stands out: the impact of extreme natural events on the Western grid.

Forest experts speaking at a WIEB conference offered attendees a seemingly paradoxical message about how the West can best prevent catastrophic wildfires.

Forecasters say California and the Southwest will see extreme heat this weekend, with conditions like those that strained the grid over Labor Day weekend 2020.