### Proposal to Expedite PWG's Completion of the Transmission Expansion Report 

### 

Mindful of SSG-WI's commitment to FERC to deliver [by September
2003]{.underline} a report describing both the open process that has
been developed to produce the SSG-WI Transmission Plan, and a
preliminary assessment of the options for transmission expansion to
support load growth in the Western Interconnection, and mindful of the
considerable effort that will continue to be needed in order to meet
this challenging objective, this paper proposes the formation of a
planning study lead team to direct and co-ordinate the study work needed
to complete the report in a timely and satisfactory manner.

Specifically, we propose that each member RTO should nominate an
appropriately qualified person to sit on the planning study lead team.
This team is tasked to work with the Study Technical Support chairman
(Jeff Miller) to coordinate and direct the efforts of the PWG members'
voluntary contributions to the study work through the various technical
sub-groups, and to ensure that study products meet the objectives and
goals of the Planning Work Group. The study lead team will report to,
and receive guidance from, the Planning Work Group on all matters
relating to the study. The Study Technical Support chairman will be
supported by technical sub-groups as necessary. Two in particular should
be formed:

-   a generation/load group to advise on existing and new generation,
    including fuel and prime mover costs and types, typical/actual
    economic and performance data, and prospective siting locations; and

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-   a transmission group to inform and advise on the technical aspects,
    feasibility and security of proposed transmission expansion options,
    including circuit data, flowpath ratings and nomograms.

It is proposed that the planning study lead team and the Technical
Support Chairman should meet periodically, in open session with other
PWG members willing to contribute their time and expertise in order to
agree study scenarios, to set work targets and deadlines, to ensure that
the necessary information is reported and exchanged between the study
executors and the technical sub-groups, and generally to review
progress. To maintain momentum toward completion of the study, it is
recommended that the team should meet every 2 weeks, beginning with a
kick-off meeting at RTO West @ PDX, 10^th^ March.

The topics to be covered could include:

-   data collection for Y2008 base case study; identify/agree base case
    study scenarios;

-   decide Y2013 generation/load expansion options; agree the 'no
    transmission expansion' Y2013 study scenarios;
    collection/compilation of Y2013 study data.

-   review base case results; agree process for extracting PWG report
    information from raw output

-   review of 'no transmission expansion' Y2013 study results;
    development of 'best' transmission expansion options; agree Y2013
    study scenarios for combined generation/transmission expansion.

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-   augment study database to reflect 'best' transmission expansions for
    Y2013

-   review generation/transmission expansion study results for Y2013

-   agree format and scope of results to be collated/extracted for PWG
    report; define format of handover of study database to PWG

(NB: PAC estimate a minimum of 4 weeks to complete a cycle of scenario
analyses: we would not therefore be able to deliver analysis results at
each meeting).

**Estimated PAC resources involved: 7-10 man-days** attending/preparing
for meetings.

**SSG-WI PWG Generation/Transmission Expansion Plan**

## Strawman Proposal for Study Scenarios (based on e-mail to D Eubank, 8/31/02)

To help focus SSG-WI PWG\'s discussions of study scenarios for the
PWG\'s work program, may I suggest the following:

#### Y2008 base cases

-   Set up the Y2008 study network based on the WECC case 07HS1A

-   Define system load in Y2008 as per the WECC 10-Year Coordinated Plan
    Summary 2002-2011

-   Identify the new generation (mainly renewables and Gas CCGT, those
    already planned and some projected) needed to cover this load
    increase - plus a planning margin of 12% (or 18%? tba)

-   Select average hydro year production figures at Federal and other
    major projects

-   Define a reference gas price for Y2008 (possibly with some
    localisation across the region) & fix the coal price.

This defines the central base case, **Case 0**

Then: as Case0, with low hydro production, and low gas price (say 70% of
the reference) \>\>\> **Case 1**

high hydro low gas \>\>\> **Case 2**

low hydro high gas (say 150% of the reference) \>\>\> **Case 3**

high hydro high gas \>\>\> **Case 4**

This will provide PWG with 5 reference cases (congestion patterns, LMPs,
etc) from which to compare the merits of the proposed expansion options
under a range of hydro and fuel price assumptions.

#### Y2013 expansion cases

-   Define system load growth to Y2013 by extrapolating the WECC 10-Year
    Summary

-   Define (with help of technical advisory group) the quantity, type
    and location of new generation (plus planning margin) to cover this
    load increase. Consider at most 3 generation expansion scenarios:

    -   G1: mostly gas-fired CCGTs

    -   G2: mostly renewables (mainly wind), with small amount of gas

    -   G3: combination of coal and wind, with small amount of gas

-   For each generation scenario, technical advisory group defines the
    'best' transmission expansion option(s): T1, T2 and T3 (these may
    have several features in common), and also determines the impact of
    T1-T3 on WECC interface constraints.

-   Repeat the analysis of Case 0 for each G/T combination, evaluating
    the resulting pattern of congestion, LMPs etc., with and without the
    selected transmission expansion

-   If there is time, repeat the evaluation of the G/T combinations for
    cases 1-4

Note: this programme of work could entail anything from 8 to 20
scenarios to be set up, executed, interpreted and reported on. At
roughly 1/2 man-week per scenario, we may exceed the original 8
man-weeks volunteered by PAC, and may run out of time to complete the
work for September 03.

##### 

##### Estimated PAC effort: 10 m-weeks (may be reduced if other utilities can share simulation burden) 

plus ? m-weeks from PAC(T) on network expansion, results assessment, etc

**SSG-WI PWG Generation/Transmission Expansion Plan**

Proposal for Planning Study Data Collection -- based on e-mail to KM
1/22/03 **with revised dates**

1\. PAC have extracted the relevant network data (busses, branches,
phase-shifters, loads and generator locations) from a WECC loadflow case
(**2007 Approved Operating case, 07HS1**). The network data is 99%
complete and verified, and some 80% of the WECC generating resources
have been mapped onto the generator busses in the loadflow network. We
have also populated a generator database with unit performance and
economic data drawn from a variety of sources - some of which are
commercially sensitive and may not be freely shared with SSG-WI members.

2\. PAC offer to complete data collection and database construction for
the PWG planning studies to the following program:

3\. By **Feb 21st**, PAC will circulate the partially complete network
data forms to transmission data collectors. They will be asked to
confirm/correct the network data for their area and to augment the data
with details of known and planned transmission expansion up to Y2008, to
confirm/ correct/complete the mapping of generators to busses in their
area, and to send their responses direct to PAC by **Feb 28^th^,** for
final approval at a March 3^rd^ meeting of the Study Team Lead.

4\. By **Feb 26th**, PAC will compile tables of **typical and/or
published** generator data (of economic and performance data as required
for the planning studies), identifying the source of such data and
verifying its availability for unrestricted use by SSG-WI members in
their joint and individual studies. (We may defer this verification step
until it is known if and how SSG-WI will control access to the data). We
will use these typical/published data to populate the unit-specific
generator data forms, and circulate them to SSG-WI data collectors
(and/or a separate Generation Advisory group) to review and notify PAC
of any required additions/changes by **March 3rd**.

5\. On receipt of all responses (or failing that, with the approval of
SSG-WI PWG to make appropriate approximations), PAC will compile the
network and generator data into a database for use in the Base Case
study. This task will be complete by **March 7th**, allowing analysis of
the Base Case study to begin in week commencing **March 10th** (Mar
3rd).

6\. After further Study Team Lead meetings (April 28/29^th^), PAC will
modify the study database to reflect the Y2013 generation, load and
transmission additions, to be in a position to complete the planning
studies by end-May.

**Estimated PAC effort: 4m-weeks** on data collection and database
creation/maintenance (in addition to what has already been expended)

> plus ? m-days from PAC(T) on data confirmation/preparation