Managing Seams
Market Coordination in Western Wholesale Energy Markets
Friday, November 14 | 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. MT
Energy grids in the West have long been compared to a patchwork quilt, a hodgepodge of independent market traders, some that span entire states and some that control only small footprints. Sweeping market advances are about to change everything, and the stakes are high: our region may become unified, paving the way for more renewable resources and cost-efficient energy, or the quilt may unravel into disconnected islands.
Among the chief challenge facing market operators are seams. If these borders between differing energy markets are managed properly, utilities will have greater access to low-cost energy resources and an improved ability to manage conditions that can stress the grid. But if the challenges posed by seams are not tackled now, seams can result in significant setbacks, and can even defeat the advantages of utilities joining regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and day-ahead markets.
WRA recently published a report that evaluates the direct impact of market seams and actions that must be taken by those who facilitate the market and are responsible for grid operation. It also highlights indirect impacts, and offers numerous recommendations to address and mitigate the challenges posed by seams.
Review the report:
In this webinar, experts from Grid Strategies and the co-authors of WRA’s recent report will:
- Expound on how seams can manifest and create reliability challenges.
- Explain how seams may adversely impact energy and capacity trading, energy reserve sharing arrangements, resource adequacy programs, and resource and transmission expansion.
- Highlight the cost of meeting public policy goals, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Propose actions that must be taken by those who facilitate the market and are responsible for grid operation.
Panelists
Richard Doying
Vice President
Grid Strategies LLC
Richard is a senior executive with expertise and in-depth knowledge of multiple areas of the electric sector, including Regional Transmission Organizations, energy market design and operation, power system operations, Federal and State regulation, and strategy development and planning. He has held several positions at the Midcontinent RTO (MISO) leading design, implementation and operations of MISO markets and reliability functions.
David Angell
Senior Policy Advisor
David is an Energy and Grid Policy/Planning Consultant to Interwest Energy Alliance. Prior roles included, Vice President of Regional Engagement for Western Power Pool and executive positions at Idaho Power, prior to that, for over 21+ years.
Moderator/Host
Vijay Satyal, Ph.D.
WRA’s Deputy Director of Markets & Transmission
Vijay oversees initiatives, stakeholder engagement and public interest advocacy for wholesale energy market expansion in the West. He has over 15 years of experience that encompasses energy, transmission and regulatory policy analysis, the evaluation of renewable energy technologies, and regional bulk electric system grid planning.
