Western Transmission Planning Principles

Draft Planning Principals
for review and discussion June 4, 2003

June 3-4, 2003
2 World Trade Center Bldg., Skybridge A
121 SW Salmon Street
Portland, Oregon 97204

Problem:

• Capacity of and “best use” of current transmission system

• Expansion of system.

• How get transmission planning process to incorporate “value” of resource types

• Institutional framework not set up to incorporate value of resource types.

• How get common metrics considered that are not the traditionally metrics used – so lots of resistance.

• How get yard sticks for externalities incorporated into the transmission planning process.

Best use – public good. Different than saying value from private investor.

Explanation of first principle, recognize are talking about transmission planning, different components, then rest follows. With this first principle, this principle underlies all principles following.

1. Transmission planning should be integrated with resource planning
Call for “integrated planning”

2. Transmission grid planning should be done on a broad regional basis. (put introduction: in order to capture all physical and commercial impacts and interactions in the interconnection.) need to define what mean by “grid” means highest levels.

3. Transmission planning processes should be transparent and facilitate the input of all stakeholders in the region. Transmission planning should be based on an appropriate planning horizon and be proactive and responsive to needs of market participants. (put in goals: in order to ensure timely system adjustments, upgrades, and expansion.

4. Transmission planning should consider on an equal basis all types of resources available to meet planning goals and to address system resource needs and problems. (i.e. look at alternative scenarios)

5. Electric system plans should be based on a life cycle least-cost standard including external costs such as environmental, societal impacts...need to deal with” least cost”.

6. How measuring cost elements. RETURN TO THIS!!!!!Transmission plans should report on the methods and calculations clear….. evaluate all is based on evaluating all resources including demand-side and intermittent generation technologies. Capacity, intermittent impacts

7. Transmission planners should use explicit methods and assumptions behind methods for evaluating all resources including demand side and intermittent generation technologies and work with stakeholders to identify ways to standardize methods across various studies so they can be compared.

8. Transmission plans should fully integrate planning for reliability with planning for competitive markets. ( put in introduction: planning processes should facilitate market-driver enhancements to relieve congestion and provide reasonable level of reliability.

9. Transmission planning process should be publicly accountable.

10. The transmission planning entity should have authority and responsibility to implement the plan.