Institutional Factors Affecting Increased Power Pooling and Utility Integration in the Western United States. Staff Report

摘要

The electric power system in the Western United States is an amalgam of large, small, public, private, hydrobased, and thermal-based electric utilities. The region is dominated by the large utilities in the Pacific Coast States. The northwest corner derives most of its power from hydroelectric dams; the southeastern corner generates most of its power from coal. Power demands in the northern half of the region are highest during the winter; in the south the peak is in the summer. This diversity in structure, resources, and needs creates the opportunity for substantial benefits from interutility cooperation and coordination. The western utilities are beginning to evolve toward more cooperation, integration and interconnections, and are planning to carry this evolution further through participation in additional joint-ownership projects. However, there are institutional problems that need resolution to achieve the full potential of pooling and coordination. Recommendations for steps to achieve these opportunities include: intervene to ensure completion of transmission and interconnection projects that have received at least partial approval; identify additional projects that would increase opportunities for pooling; examine benefits from hourly diversity exchanges; expand an interutility organization enforcement powers to a larger role in planning and operation; create a mechanism for joint-state action; amend FUA regulations to change pooling regions; and clarify WAPA's authority to build transmission lines alone or in cooperation with other utilities.