System Adequacy Planning
WECC's System Adequacy Planning Department exists to identify potential reliability risks to the Bulk Electric System stemming from changes in load, resource and transmission topology in the next 10 to 20 years. The department produces an annual study program to answer reliability-related questions WECC has identified and determine opportunities for reliability improvement. The study program results are provided to stakeholders in an unbiased and informative way, and from which stakeholders can draw upon to create regionally-specific solutions to these potential reliability challenges facing the Western Interconnection.
In 2014, TEPPC began considering alternatives to a comprehensive biennial transmission plan for reporting on TEPPC and Transmission Expansion Planning (TEP) analyses and activities. In October, 2014, TEPPC and the SPSG unanimously approved a “hybrid” approach to reporting that would streamline and simplify reporting while maintaining the reports and databases that are most valuable to stakeholders. TEP and TEPPC are continuing to develop the proposed reporting approach for review by TEPPC stakeholders and, ultimately, implementation later in 2015.