A big step toward unlocking affordable, reliable energy while accelerating clean energy deployment
SACRAMENTO, CA— This evening, the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 540, marking a key step forward in lowering costs for ratepayers, keeping the lights on, and accelerating the state’s transition to clean energy.
Topics: Press Releases, Western RTO, California, Edson Perez
Clean energy advocates show support at the California Senate Energy Utilities and Communications Committee
SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee held an informational hearing on the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative. During the hearing, policymakers heard a broad range of perspectives from California stakeholderson the creation of a new regional organization to oversee energy market functions.
Topics: Press Releases, Western RTO, California, Edson Perez
E&E News reports that Bonneville Power Administration has issued a draft decision to join Southwest Power Pool's Markets+. This move could cement a bifurcated electricity market in the West. United's Brian Turner expressed concerns that a split market would create inefficiencies, increase costs, and limit the ability to share clean energy resources across the region. Studies indicate that a split market will result in seams that will create economic and operation friction.
Topics: United In The News, Western RTO, Brian Turner
SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, Senate Chair of Energy, Utilities and Communication Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) and Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) introduced SB 540, legislation aimed at optimizing California’s energy markets, increasing grid reliability, reducing costs for ratepayers, and accelerating the transition to a clean energy future.
Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, Western RTO, California, Edson Perez
RTO Insider reports that California state lawmakers have introduced a bill (SB 540) to implement "Step 2" of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative. United's Leah Rubin Shen highlighted the reliability and cost-saving benefits of sharing resources across the West, commending the Pathways Launch Committee for their support of the bill.
Topics: United In The News, Leah Rubin Shen, Western RTO, California
RTO Insider reports on the Step 2 bill of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative, which aims to modify CAISO’s governance structure by creating an independent regional organization (RO) to oversee the Western Energy Imbalance Market and Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM). United's Brian Turner and Leah Rubin Shen emphasized that the bill should strictly enable CAISO’s participation in a regional market without imposing California’s clean energy policies on other states.
Topics: United In The News, Leah Rubin Shen, Western RTO, California, Brian Turner
Study shows that a larger and more diverse day-ahead market will provide greater economic benefits for Californians.
SACRAMENTO, CA—A new study was presented today by the Brattle Group for the California Energy Commission (CEC) that evaluates the economic benefits and reliability impacts of the day-ahead market footprint on California customers.
Topics: Press Releases, Western RTO, California
RTO Insider reports that four Arizona utilities announced their plans to join SPP’s Markets+ day-ahead market over CAISO’s competing Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM). United's Brian Turner expressed caution, stating that two Western day-ahead markets will create seams and market inefficiencies.
Topics: United In The News, Western RTO, Brian Turner
California Clean Energy Business Representatives, Environmental Advocates, and Community Choice Aggregators express support for the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative Step 2 Proposal
Today, the West-Wide Governance Pathways Launch Committee voted to approve the final version of its Step 2 Proposal issued in mid-November. Step 2 proposes establishing a new, independent Regional Organization (RO) to oversee Western energy markets. The RO will provide fully independent governance for the Western Energy Imbalance Market and Extended Day-Ahead Market, while CAISO will remain the market operator.
Topics: Press Releases, Western RTO, California
POLITICO reports on the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative (WWGPI)'s new proposal to regionalize the Western power grid, which is expected to gain broad bipartisan support despite potential challenges from a Trump-appointed FERC leadership. The article quotes United's Brian Turner, a member of the WWGPI Launch Committee, discussing how this move will strengthen regional cooperation.
Topics: United In The News, Western RTO, Brian Turner