All Announcements
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WECC and CleanCounts (f/k/a M-RETS) have an agreement under which CleanCounts currently provides software services to support WREGIS, the web-based tracking system for renewable energy certificates (RECs), predominantly in the West. As we informed stakeholders on May 1, this agreement ends on December 31, 2027, and CleanCounts has opted not to extend the agreement beyond this date.
The expiration of the current software agreement with CleanCounts has created an opportunity to consider WREGIS’s future and how WREGIS can best meet the needs of its users and the programs it serves. To assist in determining the best path forward for WREGIS, WECC retained a consultant who has assisted us in conducting a thorough assessment of a variety of potential paths forward for WREGIS. The consultant offered an independent perspective on what is best for WREGIS and its many stakeholders.
At WECC’s June Board Meeting, recommendations were presented to WECC’s Board. Based upon those recommendations, the Board has instructed as follows:
- WECC will issue an RFP to third-party software developers for the development of custom software to meet the needs of WREGIS and its customers and stakeholders; and
- WECC will explore separation of WREGIS from WECC, establishing WREGIS as an independent company focused solely upon meeting the needs of its customers, stakeholders, and programs in the West.
There are a number of considerations that support the Board’s direction, primary among those are:
- No turnkey software solutions exist for WREGIS, and the complexity of customizing an existing product to meet the unique needs of WREGIS’s users presents excessive implementation risk, as we have experienced over the past two years; and
- Because WREGIS is WECC’s only non-statutory program, and because WECC is not a software development company, separating WREGIS from WECC will enable WREGIS to focus its efforts solely on providing software that meets the needs of its users, while also permitting WECC to focus on its statutorily delegated responsibilities.
This work will be completed by December 31, 2027 at the very latest to minimize disruption to WREGIS’s customers.
As we explore the separation of WREGIS from WECC, we will be reaching out to engage stakeholders over the next few months. We look forward to hearing from you as we pursue a unique solution that will allow WREGIS to continue to perform its vital role in the Western Interconnection.
Each year, the Nominating Committee (NC) conducts an extensive search to nominate candidates for election by WECC Members to WECC’s Board of Directors. This year, the election was conducted May 12–June 6. We are pleased to announce that two candidates for director positions were elected: Jim Avery, who was re-elected as a director, and Jacinda Woodward, who was elected as a new director. Their terms will commence September 18 at the end of the Annual Member meeting.
Further, WECC received feedback from some member representatives that the language in the May ballot was unclear as to how many candidates could be elected. For this reason, WECC will re-ballot one of the vacant seats. The NC has unanimously nominated Deneen DeFiore, who has extensive experience in cybersecurity and information technology, to fill this critical gap on the Board.
This will be balloted in conjunction with the annual elections for MAC class representatives, expected to be sent to member representatives on August 4. For questions, please contact Brittany Huggins.
WECC is pleased to release the 2025 Summer Reliability Overview: Western Interconnection, a West-focused supplement to the recently released NERC Summer Reliability Assessment. This overview provides a summary of conditions affecting the 2025 summer operating season and high-level findings from the NERC Summer Reliability Assessment specific to the Western Interconnection.
WECC’s Section 4.9 Review Work Group has engaged in a comprehensive review of WECC’s Bylaws to ensure that the Bylaws continue to align with WECC’s purpose as a Regional Entity under Section 215 of the Federal Power Act. A draft of the proposed revised Bylaws is now available for stakeholder review and comment until the close of business on June 20, 2025. To facilitate stakeholder review and comment, the Section 4.9 Work Group has prepared a table summarizing the most significant proposed revisions. (Note that this table does not identify all the proposed revisions.) To further facilitate review and comment, we are also posting a full redline that shows all of the revisions being proposed.
WECC has released the 2025 State of the Interconnection. This annual report provides a high-level look at reliability issues throughout the Western Interconnection over the recent past and near future. Among the issues examined are load growth, significant generation resource additions, cybersecurity and physical security events, extreme natural events, energy emergency alerts, and more. Explore the report here.
Align activities are underway for entities in British Columbia. As of April 1, 2025, Self-Reports for new Possible Violations must be submitted in Align. Existing matters will migrate in the coming months. The Self-Report and Mitigation training presentation and recording are now available.
WECC has collaborated with Elevate Energy Consulting on an Assessment of Large Load Interconnection Risks in the Western Interconnection. This report is intended to help educate policymakers about the exponential growth of large loads and highlight the challenges and risks to reliability that are driven by the interconnection of these facilities, which include data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations, large industrial manufacturing facilities, aggregate transportation electrification, and more. Go here to learn about this emerging issue.
WECC has provided the 2024 Q4 Statutory Statement of Activities and Variance Report to NERC. If you have questions, please contact Adam Jensen.
To meet the skyrocketing demand growth tied to data centers and AI, an unprecedented amount of new generation is planned in the West over the next decade. Are these plans attainable? Find out more in WECC’s Western Assessment of Resource Adequacy.
WECC has released the 2024 Western Assessment of Resource Adequacy. This annual report evaluates resource adequacy risk over the next 10 years. This year’s report reveals a sharp rise in large loads, creating the need for unprecedented resource additions. This presents an incredible challenge to the West. Explore more here.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mary Rose Martinez has resigned from the WECC Board of Directors effective immediately. We are grateful for her desire to serve and wish her all the best.
NERC published a statement on the criticality of natural gas supply for winter electric system reliability, reflecting the need to prepare both critical infrastructure systems for the potential of extreme cold weather this winter. WECC shares NERC's concern about maintaining sufficient natural gas supplies to address extreme winter conditions. As we approach this upcoming winter season, WECC encourages all entities to take necessary actions to prepare for extreme cold. For more conversations about best practices and how to mitigate reliability risk through the winter, please contact us at [email protected].
Now available! Catch the recording of NERC's Dynamic Webinar on Cold Weather Preparedness. Dive into crucial topics like winter readiness, fuel supply challenges, equipment vulnerabilities, and energy reliability strategies.
The spotlight will be on key actions to ensure winter resilience, including proper winterization of generation units, leveraging accurate short-term weather forecasts, and securing reliable fuel supplies for natural gas generation.
NERC's annual assessments – a long-term outlook and two seasonal reports – will also be highlighted. These comprehensive evaluations, spanning 20 key areas, provide critical insights for industry stakeholders, regulators, and government leaders alike.