Canada’s SaskPower Becomes First International Member of Southwest Power Pool

Southwest Power Pool (SPP) on Oct. 3 announced the participation of Canadian utility Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower) – the regional transmission organization’s first international member. The affiliation exemplifies both groups’ sustained attempts to enhance reliability through interregional coordination. SaskPower’s membership in SPP is expected to further strengthen electric coordination, improve the integration of intermittent generation, and open economic opportunities across their borders.

Earlier in August, SaskPower announced a 20-year interconnection arrangement with SPP to increase transmission capacity between the company and the U.S. The announcement involves creation of a new line, which will allow for 650 megawatts of imports and exports commencing in 2027. The cooperation between SPP and SaskPower would help make certain that reliable, clean energy is accessible to support their companies own generation facilities.

SPP is the grid operator responsible for coordinating electric reliability for 17 central and western U.S. states. The regional transmission organisation’s main role is to plan for both expected and unanticipated developments that could impact electric reliability throughout the region. The grid operator works directly with their member utilities to ensure their forecasts are as accurate and reliable. Moreover, they create and keep contingency plans and supervise the regional grid constantly, so that they are able to respond instantly and effectively if problems arise and don’t go as planned.

Since 2019, SPP has been partnering with western stakeholders and has been working to create tailor-made services in accordance with their individual as well as collective needs. Currently, the grid operator provides energy services to utilities in almost every state in the Western Interconnection with increased reliability and coordination. In August, the grid operator revealed its “Market+” service offering, set to be announced in November, to provide hurdle-free transmission service and facilitate reliable integration of fast-growing renewable resources.

SaskPower’s participation in the SPP regional transmission organisation embodies an obligation by both organisations to maintain cooperation to reinforce electric management, enhance the incorporation of intermittent resources and generate economic prospects across their borders.