News Release
For immediate release | May 21, 2020

Media Email  ISOMedia@caiso.com

For more information, contact:
Vonette Fontaine | vfontaine@caiso.com
Anne Gonzales | agonzales@caiso.com

Four Colorado utilities to join the West’s real-time energy market
The Western EIM will serve over 80 percent of WECC’s total load by 2022
FOLSOM, Calif. – The California Independent System Operator (ISO) has signed an
implementation agreement with Xcel Energy - Colorado paving the way for its
participation in the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) in 2022.
The agreement also provides for participation of the other Joint Dispatch Agreement(JDA) members: Black Hills Energy Colorado Electric, Colorado Springs Utilities, andPlatte River Power Authority.
“The addition of these Colorado utilities to a growing west wide market will benefit all of
the participants and their customers,” said ISO President and CEO Steve Berberich.
“We are pleased the Xcel Energy - Colorado and its other JDA partners haveconfidence in the market which shares carbon-free energy resources, market efficiency
and enhanced reliability.”“We are excited to take the next step in joining the Western Energy Imbalance Market,”said Alice Jackson, president of Xcel Energy - Colorado. “Participating in this market will
support our efforts to keep customer bills low while providing them with more 100%carbon-free energy from wind and solar resources. That’s both a win for theenvironment and another way we can help the State of Colorado meet its clean energy
goals.”
Xcel Energy - Colorado’s implementation agreement with the ISO will support the four
utilities as they transition from the JDA to participation in the Western EIM. During thetransition, the ISO will work with the JDA partners to provide resource schedules, load
forecasts, and outage reporting directly to the ISO. Additionally, settlement
documentation for each of the entities load and resources will be developed by the ISO
for each of the JDA partners. While developing the details of the working relationship for
Xcel Energy – Colorado and the other three JDA parties, the ISO plans to conduct a
stakeholder process to develop the tariff modifications to make these provisions
available to other entities.

Since its launch five years ago, the Western EIM has provided $919.79 million in grossbenefits to its participants. Because of the regional cooperation, consumers in theWestern EIM have used 1,098,890 MWh of renewable energy, which is equivalent tothe annual electric use of 140,000 homes in California.
And due to the increased carbon-free energy consumption, CO2 emissions werereduced by 470,245 metric tons, or the equivalent of 98,867 passenger cars.
With the addition of Xcel Energy - Colorado, the Western EIM will consist of 21
balancing areas and represent 82 percent of the Western Electricity Coordinating
Council’s (WECC) total load by 2022.
The Western EIM’s active participants include the ISO, PacifiCorp, NV Energy, Arizona
Public Service, Puget Sound Energy, Portland General Electric, Idaho Power, Powerex,
Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC) Phase 1, Seattle City Light and Salt
River Project.
Over the next two years, the Western EIM’s expansion will continue, with the addition ofthe Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, NorthWestern Energy, Turlock
Irrigation District, Public Service Company of New Mexico, and BANC Phase 2 in 2021;
and Tucson Electric Power, Avista, Tacoma Power, Bonneville Power Administration,and Xcel Energy - Colorado in 2022.
For more information, visit www.westerneim.com###California ISO Media Hotline | 888.516.6397
250 Outcropping Way | Folsom, California 95630 | www.caiso.com

The California ISO provides open and non-discriminatory access to one of the largest power grids in the world. The vast network ofhigh-voltage transmission power lines is supported by a competitive energy market and comprehensive grid planning. Partnering with about ahundred clients, the nonprofit public benefit corporation is dedicated to the continual development and reliable operation of a modern grid that
operates for the benefit of consumers. Recognizing the importance of the global climate challenge, the ISO is at the forefront of integrating
renewable power and advanced technologies that will help meet a sustainable energy future efficiently and cleanly.