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2014 Summer 

Reliability Assessment 

May 2014
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Preface

NERC is an international regulatory authority established to evaluate and improve the reliability of the bulk power system

(BPS) in North America. NERC develops and enforces Reliability Standards; annually assesses seasonal and long-term (10-

year) reliability; monitors the BPS through system awareness; and educates, trains, and certifies industry personnel. NERC is

the electric reliability organization (ERO) for North America, subject to oversight by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission (FERC) and governmental authorities in Canada.1 NERC Reliability Standards are the planning and operating rules

that electric utilities follow to support and maintain a reliable electric system. These standards are developed by industry

using a balanced, open, fair, and inclusive process accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). While

NERC does not have authority to set Reliability Standards for resource adequacy (e.g., reserve margin criteria) or to order the

construction of resources or transmission, NERC can independently assess where reliability issues may arise and identify

emerging risks. This information, along with NERC recommendations, is then available to policy makers and federal, state,

and provincial regulators to support decision making within the electricity sector.

NERC prepared the following assessment in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, in which the U.S. Congress directed

NERC to conduct periodic assessments of the reliability and adequacy of North America’s BPS.

2,3NERC operates under similar

obligations in many Canadian provinces, as well as a portion of Baja California Norte, Mexico.

NERC Regional Entities Map NERC Regional Entities Map NERC Seasonal Assessment Areas

FRCC Florida Reliability Coordinating Council

MRO Midwest Reliability Organization

NPCC Northeast Power Coordinating Council

RF ReliabilityFirst

SERC SERC Reliability Corporation

SPP-RE Southwest Power Pool Regional Entity

TRE Texas Reliability Entity

WECC

Western Electricity Coordinating

Council

NERC prepares seasonal and long-term assessments of the overall reliability and adequacy of the North American BPS, which

is divided into assessment areas for assessments both within and across the eight Regional Entity boundaries (as shown by 

the corresponding table and maps above).

4 To prepare these assessments, NERC collects and consolidates data, including

forecasts for on-peak demand and energy, demand response, resource capacity, and transmission projects, from all areas.

This bottom-up approach accounts for virtually all electricity supplied in the United States, Canada, and a portion of Baja

California Norte, Mexico. The information is collected in a consistent manner and analyzed to identify notable trends,

emerging issues, and potential concernsregarding future electricity supply, as well asthe overall adequacy of the BPS to meet

future demand. Reliability assessments are developed to inform industry, policy makers, and regulators and aid NERC in

achieving its mission to ensure the reliability of the North American BPS.

 

1 As of June 18, 2007, FERC granted NERC the legal authority to enforce Reliability Standards with all U.S. users, owners, and operators of the BPS and made 

compliance with those standards mandatory and enforceable. In Canada, NERC has memorandums of understanding in place with provincial authorities in 

Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Québec, and Saskatchewan, and with the Canadian National Energy Board. NERC Reliability Standards are mandatory 

and enforceable in British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. NERC has an agreement with Manitoba Hydro making Reliability Standards 

mandatory for that entity, and Manitoba has adopted legislation setting out a framework for standards to become mandatory for users, owners, and 

operators in there. In addition, NERC has been designated as the electric reliability organization under Alberta’s Transportation Regulation, and certain 

Reliability Standards have been approved in that jurisdiction; others are pending. NERC and NPCC have been recognized as standards-setting bodies by the 

Régie de l’énergie of Québec, and Québec has the framework in place for Reliability Standards to become mandatory and enforceable in that jurisdiction.

2 H.R. 6 as approved by the 109th Congress of the United States, the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

3 The NERC Rules of Procedure, Section 800, further details the objectives, scope, data, information requirements, and Reliability Assessment Process 

requiring seasonal and long-term reliability assessments on an annual basis.

4 These maps were generated using Ventyx-Velocity Suites software, modified by NERC. This content may not be reproduced in whole or any part without 

the prior express written permission of NERC.
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Assessment Development

The 2014 Summer Reliability Assessment provides an independent assessment of the reliability of the bulk electricity supply

and demand in North America between June 2014 and September 2014. The assessment was developed with support from 

the Reliability Assessment Subcommittee (RAS),

5 at the direction of the NERC Planning Committee (PC).

In March 2014, the eight NERC Regional Entities initially submitted data and information for each of their respective 

assessment areas to NERC and provided periodic updates throughout the development of the report. External data sources 

are appropriately cited. For this and other seasonal and long-term assessments, NERC uses an active peer review process to 

leverage a wide group of industry subject matter expertise to provide essential checks and balances for ensuring the accuracy 

and completeness of the data and information presented. Inquiries regarding the information, data, and analysis in this 

assessment may be directed to the NERC Reliability Assessment staff (listed below).

NERC Reliability Assessment Staff

Name Position Email

Mark Lauby Chief Reliability Officer mark.lauby@nerc.net

Thomas Burgess Vice President and Director thomas.burgess@nerc.net

John N. Moura Director of Reliability Assessment john.moura@nerc.net 

Noha Abdel-Karim Senior Engineer noha.karim@nerc.net

Elliott J. Nethercutt Senior Technical Analyst elliott.nethercutt@nerc.net 

Trinh Ly Engineer trinh.ly@nerc.net 

Michelle Marx Administrative Assistant michelle.marx@nerc.net 

 

5 The RAS roster is included in Appendix I.
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Table of Contents

Preface.........................................................................................................................................................................................ii

Assessment Development .......................................................................................................................................................... iii

Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................................................ iv

Executive Summary and Key Findings..........................................................................................................................................1

FRCC...........................................................................................................................................................................................11

MISO ..........................................................................................................................................................................................12

MRO-Manitoba Hydro ...............................................................................................................................................................14

MRO-MAPP................................................................................................................................................................................15

MRO-SaskPower ........................................................................................................................................................................16

NPCC-Maritimes.........................................................................................................................................................................17

NPCC-New England....................................................................................................................................................................18

NPCC-New York..........................................................................................................................................................................20

NPCC-Ontario.............................................................................................................................................................................21

NPCC-Québec.............................................................................................................................................................................23

PJM ............................................................................................................................................................................................24

SERC ...........................................................................................................................................................................................25

SPP .............................................................................................................................................................................................27

TRE-ERCOT .................................................................................................................................................................................29

WECC .........................................................................................................................................................................................31

Appendix I: Reliability Assessment Subcommittee Roster ........................................................................................................33

Appendix II: Seasonal Reliability Concepts ................................................................................................................................34
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Executive Summary and Key Findings

The 2014 Summer Reliability Assessment includes a high‐level perspective on the adequacy of the generation resources and 

transmission systems necessary to meet projected summer peak demands. NERC also independently identifies reliability 

issues of interest and assessment area-specific challenges. The primary objective of the report is to identify areas of concern 

regarding the reliability of the North American BPS and to make recommendations as needed. The assessment process 

enables BPS users, owners, and operators to systematically document their operational preparations for the coming season

and to exchange vital system reliability information.

As highlighted in numerous recent long-term reliability assessments, the BPS in North America is changing in many ways. 

Each summer, NERC has observed incremental changes in the resource mix, which has trended toward a generation base that 

is now predominately (i.e., almost 40 percent) gas-fired generation, an increase of 28 percent five years ago. The continued 

wide-scale retirement of coal, petroleum, nuclear, and other baseload generation is largely being addressed by the addition 

of gas-fired and variable (e.g., wind, solar) resources. 

From a resource adequacy perspective, all of the assessment areas that NERC evaluates appear to have sufficient resources 

to meet peak demand. Previous summer assessments highlighted potential resource adequacy concerns in ERCOT. New 

resources, expected to be in service in early August, will increase ERCOT’s planning reserve margin above the NERC Reference 

Margin Level. However, if extreme system peaks occur before these new resources are available, ERCOT may need to take 

progressive steps to protect system integrity depending on the severity of the capacity shortage.

The 2014 Summer Reliability Assessment shows that peak demand forecasts are flat compared to last year, which also results 

in sufficient reserve margins needed to maintain BPS reliability. However, NERC continues to monitor the overall changes to 

the BPS’s resource mix and the operating characteristics of different types of resources. For example, in New England, a large 

natural gas-fired generation portfolio has created challenges in ensuring that natural gas can be supplied and transported to 

all generators that are needed to maintain electric reliability. Much of the focus on electric and gas interdependencies targets 

conditions during the winter season when the availability of natural gas for electric generators competes with the high 

demands of residential heating. However, the summer season presents a separate set of concerns regarding gas availability. 

Specifically, natural gas storage facilities are refilled during the summer season while several pipelines and pipeline 

compressor stations are also undergoing maintenance. 

NERC has identified three key findings for the upcoming summer:

NERC-wide, Assessment Areas Meet Summer Reference Margin Levels

 In ERCOT, adequate planning margins are contingent on pending capacity expected in August. Additionally, the 

implementation of a new load forecasting methodology has resulted in a lower annual growth rate. ERCOT may 

face operational challenges due to insufficient reserves if the summer peak occurs prior to the availability of 

planned capacity, or if actual peak demand is substantially higher than the load forecast.

 In MISO, unit retirements, derates, and mothballs contribute to reduced margins.

Continued Impacts of Baseload Retirements

 Since 2011, there have been almost 43 GW of baseload (coal, nuclear, petroleum, and natural gas) retirements, 

contributing to reduced margins in some assessment areas, as well as a reduction in the availability of essential 

reliability services, such as frequency response and inertia.

 Ontario retired the area’s last coal plant (Thunder Bay Generating Station) in April. The Anticipated Margin has

fallen by 10 percent since last summer but remains well above the NERC Reference Margin Level. 

 Localized reliability issues are not expected to impact this summer, though some Regions have noted the need for 

transmission upgrades over the next two years.

Summer Gas-Electric Transportation Considerations

 Meeting summer peaks requires increasing dependence on gas-fired capacity.

 Summer pipeline maintenance and increased demand for natural gas storage injections can contribute to 

constraints for interruptible gas-fired generation.
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Figure 1: 2014 Summer Peak Planning Reserve Margins by Assessment Area6

TRE-ERCOT Summer Planning Reserve Margin Projected to Meet NERC Reference Margin Level by August

ERCOT plans to add four combined-cycle plants (combined 2,112 MW summer rating), which are expected to be in service 

prior to the summer peak demand in August. However, ERCOT may face challenges in maintaining sufficient reserves if the 

summer peak occurs before this new capacity is available. This could increase the risk of entering emergency operating 

conditions or Energy Emergency Alerts (EEAs), including the possibility of curtailment of interruptible load and even rotating 

outages of firm load. These capacity additions will help ERCOT meet the 13.75 percent Reference Margin Level for the first 

time since 2011, reversing the trend of diminishing planning reserve margins.

Figure 2: ERCOT Demand and Reserves (2011–2014) 7

 

6 Reserve margins exceeding 50 percent are not shown.

7 When considering the addition of new wind and solar resources, August capacity additions total 2,155 MW.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin (%) Prospective Reserve Margin (%) NERC Reference Margin Level (%)

+0.85%

+1.69%

+1.42% +2.01% +0.42%

+1.71%

+2.42% +0.72%

62,000

64,000

66,000

68,000

70,000

72,000

74,000

76,000

78,000 MW

On-Peak Capacity August Capacity Additions Net Firm Imports

Net Internal Demand Demand Response

9,830 MW

2011 2012 2013

8,729 MW

8,485 MW

9,912 MW
Regional Reliability Assessments – Summary

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In addition to the new capacity, recent modifications to ERCOT’s load forecast methodology contribute to the increasing 

reserve margin. The peak demand forecast dictates the calculated reserve margin; therefore, it is important to understand 

what contributes to that load forecast. The projected peak demand (Total Internal Demand) for the 2014 summer is 68,096 

MW, or 0.72 percent higher than last summer’s forecast. This is a substantial deviation from the average annual growth rate 

between for Total Internal Demand of 1.81 percent that was observed from 2010 to 2013 (Figure 2). ERCOT’s new load 

forecast attempts to capture more accurately the changing relationship between energy and economic growth and,

specifically, the impacts of energy efficiency and price-driven demand response. Other changes to the methodology include 

the adoption of a neural network model to forecast daily energy and the incorporation of regional growth forecasts for each 

customer class (i.e., residential, commercial, and industrial), as opposed to relying on only non-farm employment as the 

economic driver.8

Using the old forecasting methodology, observations across the 10-year historical period appear to be representative of a 

healthy 50-50 load forecast9—five years below forecast and five years over forecast. However, the ERCOT historical Total 

Internal Demand is lower than actual from 2009 to 2012, with a maximum forecast deviation (from the mean) of 6.79%, which

occurred in 2011 (Figure 3) when ERCOT experienced extraordinarily hot summer weather. ERCOT’s new forecasting 

methodology lowers the peak demand forecast values when compared to the previous forecast, though it still shows some 

anticipated growth. NERC will continue to monitor ERCOT’s demand growth and validate the new forecast methodology in 

conjunction with ERCOT and TRE.

Figure 3: 2004–2014 Actual vs. Forecast Demand, including Deviation from the 50/50 Forecast

MISO Unit Retirements, Derates, and Mothballs Contribute to Reduced Margins

MISO’s Anticipated Reserve Margin is 0.02 above the NERC Reference Margin Level of 14.8 percent for the 2014 summer 

season, which is lower than the 18.1 percent reported in last year’s assessment. The reduction is attributed to approved 

retirements, suspensions, and capacity transfers due to the integration of MISO South. Regarding transfers, MISO is only 

relying on 1,000 MW of capacity located in MISO South toward the Anticipated Reserve Margin. The contract path limit is 

appropriate to reflect ongoing discussions on transfer capability across the integration seams of the new MISO South area.

 

8 Additional detail on this issue is provided in the ERCOT section and on the ERCOT website.

9 A 50/50 load forecast is based on probability, specifically a 50 percent probability that actual demand will be higher than the forecast midpoint and a 50 

percent probability that it will be lower.

-4.96%

-0.44%

1.10%

-2.58%

-4.43%

0.04%

2.99%

6.79%

0.71%

-0.54%

-4,000

-3,000

-2,000

-1,000

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

 44,000

 49,000

 54,000

 59,000

 64,000

 69,000

 74,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Deviation (MW)

Total Internal Demand Forecast (MW)

Deviation from the 50/50 Forecast Actual TID Forecasted TID
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Continued Impacts of Baseload Retirements

Since conducting its initial special assessment on this issue in late 2010,

10 NERC continues to monitor ongoing reliability 

impacts of NERC-wide unit retirements through its seasonal and long-term assessments. Since January 2011, the introduction 

and implementation of several environmental regulations combined with increased natural gas availability has contributed 

to the closure of nearly 43 GW of baseload capacity.11, 12 Plant closures include 22 GW of coal-fired capacity, 4 GW of nuclear, 

5 GW of petroleum, and 11 GW of mostly older gas-fired capacity.

Figure 4: Tracking Retirements (January 2011–April 2014)

In the United States, impending compliance requirements for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mercury and Air 

Toxics Standards (MATS) regulations have especially contributed to the accelerated retirements of coal-fired units—

particularly for older plants for which retrofits are not economically viable. Several Canadian provinces, particularly in NPCCOntario, where the last coal-fired plant (Thunder Bay Generating Station) was closed in April, have implemented similar 

environmental regulations, concluding a 10-year policy implementation. In NPCC-New England, Salem Harbor Units 1 and 2 

recently retired. Additionally, six coal units (L.V. Sutton Steam Electric Plant Units 1–3, Canadys Units 2 and 3, and Branch 

Unit 2) were closed in the SERC-SE and SERC-E Assessment Areas. In the WECC Region, approximately 900 MW of additional 

coal was retired during 2013.

Since 2012, four nuclear plants have been decommissioned,13 with a fifth closure (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power) expected 

in late 2014. The contributing factors that led to these plant closures vary but often include economic considerations for 

affordable replacement capacity—particularly gas-fired. Current and anticipated maintenance costs are also considered, as 

well as additional costs for compliance with potential regulations, specifically Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act. With the 

assumption that nuclear plants would not be exempt from Section 316(b), all five nuclear plants would eventually require the 

installation of closed-loop cooling systems to comply with the rule. These costs, along with existing and future maintenance 

and permitting expenses, impact decisions to close nuclear power plants.

In response to these recent plant closures, system planners and operators NERC-wide are addressing potential reliability 

impacts at a localized level, primarily by adding transmission enhancements or replacement capacity. While no assessment 

areas are expecting any reliability impacts during this summer, recent retirements have contributed to lower reserve margins 

in Ontario and MISO. NERC will continue to track long-term impacts in the 2014 Long-Term Reliability Assessment.

 

10 NERC: 2010 Special Reliability Scenario Assessment: Resource Adequacy Impacts of Potential U.S. Environmental Regulations. 

11 Source: Ventyx Velocity Suite; EIA Electric Power Monthly – February 2014.

12 Capacity is based on net summer capacity.

13 Includes: (1.) San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in southern California – 2013; (2.) Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant in Wisconsin – 2013; (3.)Crystal 

River-3 Nuclear Power Plant in Florida – 2013; (4.) Gentilly Nuclear Generating Station in Québec – 2012.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

2011 2012 2013 2014 GW

Coal Nuclear Petroleum Natural Gas
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Summer Gas-Electric Transportation Issues

The development of unconventional shale sources of natural gas—particularly during the past five years—has resulted in a 

substantial shift in the North American resource mix. As noted in NERC’s 2013 Long-Term Reliability Assessment, natural gas 

is the fastest growing source of new capacity—chiefly in PJM, MISO, New York, New England, and IESO. Table 1 presents the 

amount of gas-fired capacity in each assessment area:

Table 1: Assessment Areas Heavily Dependent on Gas-Fired Capacity14

Assessment Area Total Capacity (GW) Gas-Capable Capacity (GW) Percent of Total (%)

PJM 185 80 43.2

MISO 177 69 39.0

New York (NYISO) 38 21 55.3

New England (ISO-NE) 35 19 53.1

IESO 33 10 30.0

Growing reliance on gas-fired resources has led NERC, FERC, and other industry stakeholders to highlight the need for

increased coordination between the gas and electricity industries. This coordination is especially important during the winter 

months to address potential supply restrictions created by extreme weather events (e.g., freezing wellheads, competing 

transportation capacity for residential heating and electric generators, etc.). However, the summer season presents a 

separate set of potential reliability impacts that require ongoing coordination. Specifically, the electricity industry must be 

aware of pipeline maintenance schedules and promote ongoing coordination to ensure individual generators do not face 

supply shortages—principally those that can be resolved through coordination—during peak conditions.

The New England ISO (ISO-NE) has been very proactive in promoting new communication and preparatory actions to reduce 

fuel supply risks during system operating peak conditions during the summer and winter seasons. Recent guidance regarding 

gas-electric dependencies include FERC Order 78715 and subsequent ISO-NE tariff revisions. These revisions explicitly 

authorize ISO-NE to share confidential information about natural gas-fired generation located in New England, with the 

operating personnel of interstate natural gas pipeline companies (provided that the information is operationally necessary

and will be shared only with the pipeline company directly serving that generator). This information exchange includes 

maintenance schedules to promote outage coordination between the industries, output schedules for individual generators,

and discussion of any real-time information concerning specific resources for maintaining reliability.

Other Summer Reliability Issues

Coal Supply Impacts Caused by Constrained Rail Service Could Create Reliability Impacts

Despite the ongoing retirements, NERC-wide, coal-fired generation is projected to account for approximately one-third of the 

total on-peak resource mix during the 2014 summer. A majority of coal-fired power plants depends on coal delivery by 

railroad from distant mines. During the 2013–2014 winter, periods of extreme cold temperatures limited rail transport, 

driving down coal inventories at several plants. Concurrently, colder temperatures increased electricity usage, which in turn 

led to higher net electricity generation, particularly from coal plants, which further drove down inventories.

 

14 EIPC Study: Gas-Electric System Interface Study.

15 FERC Order 787.
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Figure 5: Electricity Sector Coal Stocks16

Coal inventories were further reduced by delivery impacts caused by the growing use of railroads to transport oil, especially 

in the upper Midwest. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), power plant coal inventories have reached

their lowest level since March 2006. While these conditions did not directly affect BPS reliability during the winter season, 

some utilities in ERCOT, SPP, and MISO that are heavily dependent on coal have expressed concerns in meeting summer peak 

demand. The EIA projects improvements prior to the summer peak, as demand during the shoulder months is typically much 

lower, allowing power plants to replenish inventories.

Summer Demand Outlook Impacted by New Forecasting Methods and Slower Economic Growth

NERC-wide, the projected peak Total Internal Demand for the 2014 summer is 853,005 MW, a reduction from the 2013 

summer forecast of 854,119 MW.17 This decline is partially due to continued penetration of energy efficiency programs and 

distributed generation, as well as reduced electricity demand, which is partially caused by current economic conditions. Other 

impacts result from updates or modifications to the load forecast assumptions in several assessment areas, including New 

England,18 PJM, ERCOT, and Manitoba Hydro.

Revisions to the historical economic data and the addition of another year of actual data in PJM’s forecasting model 

contributed to lower demand projection forecast in that area compared to the prior summer forecast. Similarly, Manitoba 

Hydro also enhanced its demand-forecasting methods, basing projections on different historic load factors. As discussed 

earlier, ERCOT’s load forecast resulted in a demand increase of only 490 MW since last summer, compared to the 1,112 MW 

increase between 2011 and 2012 and the 1,530 MW increase between 2012 and 2013. Entity movements and footprint 

changessince the 2013 summer also impacted footprints and corresponding demand projections in MRO-MAPP, MISO, SERCN, SERC-SE, SPP, WECC-SRSG, and WECC-NWPP. Additional details on these changes are provided in the respective sections 

throughout this report.

 

16 Source: EIA Today in Energy – April 24, 2014.

17 NERC-wide Total Internal Demand forecast is based on a non-coincident basis, meaning the forecasted peak demand for each assessment area occurs 

during different hours throughout the four-month summer season. 

18 In previous NERC seasonal assessments and due to the structure of New England’s capacity market, Total Internal Demand was not reduced by Energy 

Efficiency resources. New England is now embedding this reduction of approximately 1,507 MW into the load forecast. Therefore, the reduction of 1,182 

MW since last summer is primarily attributed to the treatment of Energy Efficiency.

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Dec Million Tons

2013 2014 5-year Average
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Demand Response Programs Improve Planning 

NERC has collected Controllable and Dispatchable Demand-Side Management data for well over a decade. More recently, 

NERC began requesting more detailed information on these programs for inclusion in seasonal and long-term assessments.

Figure 6: Summer Demand Response Growth (2006–2014)

Beginning in 2014, the program total for four different Demand Response programs will be provided for each area, in addition 

to the portion expected to be available during the peak. NERC-wide, Demand Response participation is growing, while the 

industry continues to gain better understanding of these programs and the ability to incorporate program availability into 

system planning. For the 2014 summer, NERC-wide Demand Response programs total approximately 39,400 MW, with 34,800 

expected to be available during the peak.

MISO South Integration

Entergy and its six utility operating companies, previously reported as part of the SERC Assessment Areas, integrated into the 

Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO) in December 2013. This addition added approximately 15,500 miles 

of transmission, 30,000 MW of generation capacity, and 35,000 MW of peak load into the MISO footprint. MISO now 

coordinates all RTO activities in the newly combined footprint, consisting of all or parts of 15 states with the integration of 

Entergy and other MISO South entities. This transition has led to substantial changes to MISO’s market dispatch, creating the 

potential for unanticipated flows across the following systems: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Associated Electric 

Cooperative Inc. (AECI), and Southern Balancing Authority.

In conjunction with the integration, the Operations Reliability Coordination Agreement (ORCA) was introduced to mitigate 

any potential reliability impacts associated with changing market dispatch patterns and potential unanticipated flows across 

neighboring systems. The upcoming summer is the first peaking season since the integration of the Entergy area into MISO. 

For seasonal planning purposes, MISO is addressing transfer limitations by derating 8,299 MW of capacity in the MISO South 

and only counting for a 1,000 MW contract path to the MISO North/Central regions—which is less than the flow limit 

identified in the ORCA. Therefore, only the 1,000 MW transfer is assumed in the reserve margin calculation. Additionally, 

2,990 MW of Energy-Only resources in MISO that do not have firm point-to-point transmission rights will be categorized as 

Existing-Other capacity.

Neighboring Balancing Authorities (BAs) have highlighted concern in not having sufficient information on the effect that the 

new boundaries of the MISO system will have on their systems. However, the aforementioned flow limitations in place for 

this summer should minimize any potential reliability concerns. In addition to limiting the flows, other reliability processes, 

such as Congestion Management Process and Transmission Loading Relief, may also be used to mitigate potential adverse 

impacts on system reliability. The new topography of the MISO system necessitates an ongoing coordination effort to ensure

that interconnection issues across operational seams are identified and mitigated.

0

5

10

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45

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 GW

Available Program Total
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Drought, Extreme Weather, and Other Potential Reliability Impacts 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicates drought persistence or intensification will continue 

in the central and southwestern parts of the United States—particularly SPP, TRE-ERCOT, and most of WECC (Figure 6). 

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) also forecasts above-normal temperatures in these regions. 

In southern California, the closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (2,250 MW) last year is not expected to have 

reliability impacts this summer due to the recent addition of 1,840 MW of gas-fired generation and 1,770 MW of nameplate 

solar generation installed during 2013. Although the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) reported reduced 

hydro generation in southern California, reservoir conditions have improved with spring precipitation. Load-Serving Entities

(LSEs) and BAs within WECC regularly perform individual studies related to extreme weather and drought conditions for the 

seasonal assessments; none reported any issues.

Although NOAA is highlighting severe and exceptional drought conditions in central and northern Texas, ERCOT does not 

anticipate reservoir levels to impact power plant operations during the 2014 summer season.

Figure 7: U.S. Drought Monitor (Updated April 22, 2014)19

Drought Intensity Drought Impact Types

D0-Abnormally Dry Dominant Impacts

D1-Moderate Drought S S = Short-Term (<6 months)

D2-Severe Drought L L = Long-Term (>6 months)

D3-Extreme Drought 

D4-Exceptional Drought 

The Predictive Services National Interagency Fire Center released the latest Wildland Fire Potential Outlook on April 1, 2014, 

with projections through July. Projections indicate southern California wildfires will worsen during this time, which could 

potentially impact BPS operations if high-voltage transmission lines are in the path of these fires. These natural disasters are 

somewhat seasonal phenomena in southern California, and CAISO continues work closely with state and federal agencies to 

monitor fires that could impact BPS reliability. In prior seasons, individual lines have often been temporarily taken out of

service; widespread reliability impacts have been rare. However, if lines are taken out of service—or forced out of service—

 

19 NOAA National Drought Monitor. 
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during a period of system stress, the reliability of the system can be compromised. System operators in CAISO use situational 

awareness tools to monitor the proximity of wildfires to transmission lines.20

NERC-wide Variable Generation

Approximately 5.2 GW of projected nameplate wind capacity has been added since last summer. The most notable additions 

were in SPP (1,509 MW), MISO (1,435 MW), WECC (763 MW), NPCC-Québec (529 MW), NPCC-Ontario (347 MW), and TREERCOT (282 MW).

Solar resources also increased by 5.4 GW (nameplate) since the 2013 summer. Most of these additions were in southern 

California, with 4,318 MW of nameplate solar added to the WECC-CAMX Assessment Area. The PJM and NPCC-New England 

Assessment Areas also added 198 MW and 114 MW, respectively. Figure 7 presents nameplate solar and wind capacity for 

the 2014 summer, along with the percentages projected to be available during peak demand.

Figure 8: 2014 Summer Nameplate Wind (Left) and Solar (Right) with Projected Available Share during Peak Demand

Operationally, the increase in wind and solar resources continues to challenge operators with the inherent swings, or ramps, 

in power output. In certain areas where large concentrations of wind resources have been added, system planners 

accommodate added variability by increasing the amount of available regulating reserves and potentially carrying additional 

operating reserves. Because weather plays a key factor in determining wind and solar output, enhancing regional wind and 

solar forecasting systems can provide more accurate generation projections. Other methods include curtailment and 

limitation procedures used when generation exceeds the available regulating resources. In this respect, operating criteria, 

forecasting, commitment, scheduling, dispatch and balancing practices, procedures, and tools must be enhanced to assist 

operators in maintaining BPS reliability.

 

20 CAISO Report.

0

5

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40

0

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4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

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14,000

Percent (%)

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Nameplate Wind Available Share of Nameplate

0

10

20

30

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50

60

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Regional Reliability Assessments – Summary

NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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Projected Demand, Resources, and Reserve Margins21

Assessment Area / 

Interconnection

Total 

Internal 

Demand (MW)

Net 

Internal 

Demand (MW)

Anticipated 

Resources 

(MW)

Prospective 

Resources 

(MW)

Anticipated 

Reserve 

Margin (%)

Prospective 

Reserve 

Margin (%)

NERC Reference 

Margin Level (%)

FRCC 45,759 42,663 55,035 57,969 29.00 35.88 15.00

MISO* 127,247 122,504 140,892 143,882 15.01 17.45 14.80

MRO-Manitoba 3,408 3,196 4,380 4,569 37.05 42.97 12.00

MRO-MAPP* 5,056 4,958 6,265 6,268 26.35 26.41 15.00

MRO-SaskPower 3,232 3,147 3,941 3,941 25.23 25.23 11.00

NPCC-Maritimes 3,738 3,417 6,231 6,231 82.35 82.35 15.00

NPCC-New England 26,658 25,958 32,120 32,342 23.74 24.59 15.20

NPCC-New York 33,666 32,477 40,112 40,112 23.51 23.51 17.00

NPCC-Ontario 23,025 23,025 28,536 28,536 23.93 23.93 18.60

NPCC-Québec 21,100 21,100 30,759 30,759 45.78 45.78 10.00

PJM* 157,141 145,981 182,866 185,077 25.27 26.78 16.20

SERC-E 43,547 41,890 51,904 51,904 23.90 23.90 15.00

SERC-N* 41,804 39,777 50,258 50,698 26.35 27.45 15.00

SERC-SE* 46,488 44,377 60,836 61,164 37.09 37.83 15.00

SPP* 49,614 48,575 66,796 69,478 37.51 43.03 13.60

TRE-ERCOT 68,096 66,179 76,091 76,091 14.98 14.98 13.75

WECC-CAMX 52,353 50,398 65,916 65,916 30.79 30.79 15.00

WECC-NWPP* 66,424 65,351 85,597 85,597 30.98 30.98 14.79

WECC-RMRG 11,943 11,408 15,136 15,136 32.68 32.68 14.45

WECC-SRSG* 22,706 22,318 27,507 27,507 23.25 23.25 13.90

EASTERN INTERCONNECTION 610,383 581,442 730,169 742,168 25.58 27.64 -

QUÉBEC INTERCONNECTION 21,100 21,100 30,759 30,759 45.78 45.78 10.00

TEXAS INTERCONNECTION 68,096 66,179 76,091 76,091 14.98 14.98 13.75

WECC INTERCONNECTION 153,426 149,475 194,156 194,156 29.89 29.89 15.00

TOTAL-NERC 853,005 818,196 1,031,175 1,043,174 26.03 27.50 -

*Footprint changes since the 2013 Summer Reliability Assessment.

2014 NERC Assessment Areas22

 

21 See Appendix II for additional information on resource category and planning reserve margin criteria.

22 This map was created by NERC staff using Ventyx Velocity Suite.
NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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FRCC

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 45,759

Total Demand Response – Available 3,096

Net Internal Demand 42,663

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Program Total 2,585

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Available 2,585

Interruptible Load (IL) - Program Total 511

Interruptible Load (IL) - Available 511

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 53,001

Net Firm Transfers 2,034

Anticipated Resources 55,035

Existing-Other Capacity 2,935

Prospective Resources 57,969

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 29.00

Prospective Reserve Margin 36.00

NERC Reference Margin Level 15.00

The Florida Reliability Coordinating Council’s (FRCC) membership includes 30 Regional Entity Division members and 24 Member Services Division members,

composed of investor-owned utilities (IOU), electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, power marketers, and independent power producers. FRCC is divided 

into 10 Balancing Authorities, with 68 registered entities (both members and nonmembers) performing the functions identified in the NERC Reliability 

Functional Model and defined in the NERC Reliability Standards. FRCC contains a population of more than 16 million people and has a geographic coverage 

of about 50,000 square miles over peninsular Florida.

FRCC applies a NERC Reference Margin Level of 15 percent. The FRCC criteria as approved by the Florida Public Service 

Commission is set at 15 percent for non-investor-owned utilities and recognized as 20 percent reserve margin criteria for 

investor-owned utilities (IOU). Based on the expected load and generation capacity, the reserve margin is projected to be 29

percent for the upcoming summer season. FRCC is forecast to reach its 2014 summer non-coincident Net Internal Demand of 

42,663 MW in August. This projection for the 2014 summer is consistent with historical weather-normalized FRCC demand 

growth. The projected 2014 summer peak is slightly lower compared to the 2013 summer forecast. 

Demand response (DR) is projected to decrease by 1.3 percent since last summer’s projection and is approximately 6.8

percent of the total summer peak demand. FRCC treats Demand-Side Management (DSM) programs as demand reducing or 

load-modifying. Based on past experience, these programs are used on a limited basis, but expected to be fully available 

when called upon. FRCC does not anticipate any issues with the availability of DSM programs during the 2014 summer.

FRCC energized a 102.5 MW biomass unit early in 2014. Additionally, a 1,212 MW natural gas combined-cycle unit is 

scheduled to be in service prior to the summer peak. There are 1,340 MW of generation under firm contract, available to be 

imported into FRCC from the SERC-SE Assessment Area throughout the summer season, and an additional 837 MW of 

member-owned generation that is dynamically dispatched out of SERC-SE. All firm on-peak capacity imports into FRCC have 

firm transmission service agreements in place to ensure deliverability, with such capacity resources included in the FRCC 

reserve margin. The Operations Planning Working Group hold weekly conference calls to coordinate outages and discuss 

potential operational issues. FRCC Transmission Operators (TO) and adjacent SERC TOs coordinate through weekly calls.

Currently, about 1,020 MW of undervoltage load shedding (UVLS) is armed within FRCC. The majority of the UVLS relays are 

designed to respond to local low-voltage conditions that could be caused by multiple contingency events. FRCC will have one 

new Special Protection System (SPS) placed in service prior to the 2014 summer peak. The new SPS is designed to preserve 

dynamic voltage stability in an area serviced by a long radial line. FRCC has retired five SPSs since the last summer assessment 

as a result of a periodic review showing that these SPSs were no longer needed. 

FRCC performed a Summer Transmission Assessment and Operational Seasonal Study to assess the adequacy and robustness 

of the Bulk Electric System (BES) within FRCC under expected 2014 summer peak load and under anticipated system 

conditions (taking into account generation and transmission maintenance activities). This assessment and operational study 

analyzed the performance of the transmission system under normal conditions, single-contingency events, and selected 

multiple-contingency events determined relevant by past studies. The results were coordinated and peer-reviewed to ensure 

the BES performs adequately throughout the summer time frame. The study results demonstrated that potential thermal and 

voltage conditions exceeding the applicable screening criteria will be successfully mitigated under normal conditions, singlecontingency events, and selected multiple-contingency events. The FRCC BES is expected to perform reliably for the 

anticipated 2014 summer peak season system operating conditions.
NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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MISO

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 127,247

Total Demand Response - Available 4,743

Net Internal Demand 122,504

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Program Total 944

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Available 832

Interruptible Load (IL) - Program Total 4,045

Interruptible Load (IL) - Available 3,911

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 138,605

Net Firm Transfers 2,287

Anticipated Resources 140,892

Existing-Other 2,990

Prospective Resources 143,882

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 15.01

Prospective Reserve Margin 17.45

NERC Reference Margin Level 14.80

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO) currently manages energy and operating reserves markets that consist of 36 Local Balancing 

Authorities and 391 Market Participants, who serve approximately 42 million people. On Dec. 19, 2013, MISO began coordinating all Regional Transmission 

Organization (RTO) activities in the newly combined footprint consisting of all or parts of 15 states with the integration of the MISO South entities.

Footprint Change: On January 1, 2012, Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky (DEOK) was consolidated into the PJM RTO, removing approximately 5,700 MW of load 

and generation from MISO’s footprint. Entergy and its six utility operating companies will be integrated into MISO in December 2014. This addition will bring 

15,500 miles of transmission, 30,000 MW of generation capacity, and 35,000 MW of load into the MISO footprint.

The NERC Reference Margin Level for MISO (referred to as the MISO Planning Reserve Margin requirement) is 14.8 percent 

for the 2014–2015 planning year, which runs from June 1, 2014, through May 31, 2015. The Anticipated Reserve Margin of 

15.0 percent is slightly above the NERC Reference Margin Level. This number dropped from 28.1 percent in 2013 mainly due 

to approved retirements, suspensions, and removal of non-firm imports. Only 1,000 MW of MISO South resources are 

counted toward aggregate margins at coincident peak demand to align with expected dispatch within the RTO footprint. It is 

always possible for a combination of higher loads, higher forced outage rates, fuel limitations, and other factors to lead to an 

amount of reserves below the MISO Planning Reserve Margin. However, the curtailment of firm load is a low‐probability 

event for the 2014 summer season based on a probabilistic analysis performed by MISO in which a Planning Reserve Margin

model is run at varying resource levels above and below the base resource level.

MISO forecasts the coincident Total Internal Demand to peak at 127,247 MW during the 2014 summer season, which is an 

increase of 32.3 percent from summer 2013. The major driver for the increase in demand is the integration of the MISO 

Southern entities. The 2014 forecast includes transmission losses that align with NERC reliability assessment guidelines. 

Including transmission losses provides a more accurate representation of peak system demand relative to generation 

requirements. MISO allows DSM programs to be included in the Planning Resource Auction.23 The amount of DSM programs 

that are expected to be available on peak this summer is 4,743 MW, consisting of 832 MW of Direct Control Load Management

(DCLM) and 3,911 MW of Interruptible Load (IL). These DSM programs result in MISO’s coincident Net Internal Demand to be 

projected at 122,504 MW.

MISO projects 138,605 MW of Existing-Certain capacity to be available during summer 2014. Included in this capacity is 3,953 

MW of behind-the-meter generation. MISO’s wind resources receive a wind capacity credit based on the effective load‐

carrying capability of wind generation. The average wind capacity credit for MISO is 14.1 percent. Included in the ExistingCertain capacity are 1,027 MW of wind (approximately 8 percent of wind-registered capacity) that MISO expects to be 

available to serve load this summer. The main reason for the drop of 6 percentage points (from 14.1 to 8) is the fact that 

MISO did not count on the Transmission-Limited and Energy-Only (Existing-Other) resources toward the Existing-Certain 

capacity.

All other intermittent resources receive their unforced capacity rating based on historical summer performance up to the 

amount that they have Network Resource Interconnection Service (NRIS) or firm point-to-point Interconnection Service 

Right.24

 

23 MISO Planning Resource Auction (PRA). 

24 MISO Generator Interconnection. 
MISO

NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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Due to transmission limitations, 8,299 MW of capacity is derated; the majority of this limit is due to the MISO South surplus 

above demand being excluded, in accordance with the 1,000 MW contract path between MISO South and MISO 

North/Central. Also, 2,990 MW of Energy-Only resources that don’t have firm point-to-point transmission right were 

categorized as Existing-Other capacity. MISO’s capacity transactions amount to a net firm import of 2,287 MW. 

To support reliable and efficient transmission service, MISO develops its MISO Transmission Expansion Plan (MTEP) annually 

to identify, assess, and address reliability issues within its BES footprint. The last MTEP study, MTEP13, was approved by the 

MISO Board of Directors in December 2013. The study tested the existing transmission plan using NERC Reliability Standards 

and developed additional mitigation as required to address any identified issues. Eleven transmission projects that have been 

evaluated as part of the MTEP13 plan are proposed to be in service by or before September 2014. These projects are mainly 

transmission line and substation equipment upgrades.

Similar to previous years, MISO is conducting a Summer Readiness workshop in which it collaborates with stakeholders to 

maximize preparedness for the summer period. This workshop includes an assessment of MISO’s resources and the projected 

reserve margin given the forecasted peak load, an assessment of the transmission system under stressed conditions, and a 

review of key emergency operating procedures to ensure familiarity with steps and expectations.

During times of peak conditions, or when MISO otherwise forecasts the potential for maximum generation conditions, MISO 

surveys local Balancing Authorities (BAs) to obtain the amount of DR resources that would be available under a given 

notification time (e.g., two hours). If MISO reaches the point of needing to call on these resources, then MISO will deploy only 

the amount needed with the expectation that all will perform. The use of these resources is part of the progression through 

the Capacity Emergency procedure. If DR resources don’t perform, subsequent steps of the procedure are implemented as 

necessary.

MISO does not foresee significant impacts to reliability during the 2014 summer season due to environmental or regulatory 

restrictions. MISO does anticipate that recently finalized and developing EPA regulations will impact MISO in the future, but

the main impacts are expected beyond the 2014 summer season. MISO conducts ongoing studies to determine the amount 

of generation maintenance that could be scheduled in a given season, assuming a reduced capacity level as a result of 

environmental regulations.

Low water levels and high water temperatures can always result from unusually hot and dry weather, and these situations 

are resolved through existing procedures, depending on the circumstances.

MISO works extensively with neighboring Reliability Coordinators (RCs) for the seasonal assessment and outage coordination 

processes and via scheduled daily conference calls and ad‐hoc communications as the need arises in real‐time operations.
NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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MRO-Manitoba Hydro

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 3,408

Total Demand Response - Available 212

Net Internal Demand 3,196

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Program Total 223

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Available 212

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 5,440

Net Firm Transfers -1,060

Anticipated Resources 4,380

Existing-Other 189

Prospective Resources 4,569

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 37.05

Prospective Reserve Margin 42.97

NERC Reference Margin Level 12.00

Manitoba Hydro is a Provincial Crown Corporation providing electricity to 548,000 customers throughout Manitoba and natural gas service to 270,000 

customers in various communities throughout southern Manitoba. The Province of Manitoba is 250,946 square miles. No change in the footprint area is 

expected during the assessment period. Manitoba Hydro is its own Planning Authority (PA) and Balancing Authority (BA). Manitoba Hydro is a coordinating 

member of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). MISO is the Reliability Coordinator (RC) for Manitoba Hydro. 

Manitoba Hydro is projecting reserve margins above the NERC Reference Margin Level of 12 percent for the 2014 summer 

assessment period. 

There are no significant changes to the load forecast. However, Manitoba Hydro has changed the demand forecasting method 

since the last summer assessment period. Manitoba Hydro now calculates the summer peaks based on the historical monthly 

load factors (ratio of the average hourly energy over a month divided by the energy used during the peak hour) applied to 

the monthly system energy. Manitoba Hydro’s system energy is primarily based on three segments of the market: Residential, 

General Service Mass Market, and Top Consumers (Manitoba Hydro’s largest industrial customers) with a small amount 

remaining for miscellaneous groups such as street lighting and seasonal customers.

No generation resources have been added or retired since summer 2013; however, there have been slight increases in DSM. 

No issues have been identified that would significantly impact generator availability, and no significant generator uprates or 

derates are planned for the assessment period.

Manitoba Hydro has 1,060 MW of Firm exports and no imports during the summer. There is no anticipated need for 

emergency imports for the 2014 summer.

Manitoba Hydro will be completing the Riel Reliability Improvement25 Initiative this summer. This project will improve 

reliability of the transmission system serving Winnipeg and southern Manitoba. There are no known project delays or transfer 

constraints projected to impact reliability during the 2014 summer.

On at least an annual basis, Manitoba Hydro performs an operational study to determine storage reserve requirements 

necessary to meet demand based on both high and low load growth, according to historic information. No unique operational 

problems have been observed. There are no expected seasonal operations concerns for the assessment period. Manitoba 

Hydro does not foresee any concern with the DR resources to meet the peak demand. When the total load of the Interruptible 

Load (IL) or curtailable load customer is below the minimum protected load of the customer, that particular customer will 

not be able to contribute to DR—particularly during planned or unplanned maintenance. Curtailable load contract describes 

any restriction on deploying DR resources.

 

25 Riel Reliability Improvement Initiative. 
NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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MRO-MAPP

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 5,056

Total Demand Response - Available 98

Net Internal Demand 4,958

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Program Total 106

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Available 92

Interruptible Load (IL) - Program Total 14

Interruptible Load (IL) - Available 6

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 7,334

Net Firm Transfers -1,069

Anticipated Resources 6,265

Existing-Other 3

Prospective Resources 6,268

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 26.00

Prospective Reserve Margin 26.00

NERC Reference Margin Level 15.00

The Mid-Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP) is an association of electric utilities and other electric industry participants operating in all or parts of the 

following states: Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Currently, the MAPP Planning Authority includes entities in two Balancing 

Authority areas (WAUE and MISO) and 13 Load-Serving Entities. The MAPP Planning Authority covers an area of approximately 200,000 square miles and 

serves a population of about 3.5 million. MAPP typically experiences its annual peak demand in summer. 

Footprint Changes: There has been one change to the MAPP PA footprint since the previous summer assessment, Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association 

(MMUA) has withdrawn from the MAPP Assessment Area.

Anticipated and Prospective Reserve Margins for MAPP exceed the NERC Reference Margin Level of 15 percent due to the 

assessment area’s strong generation portfolio and DSM programs for the 2014 summer. With the withdrawal of MMUA (256 

MW demand), the demand expected in the MAPP Assessment Area is expected to be lower than what had been forecasted 

last summer. Demand in Basin Electric Power Cooperative (BEPC) continues to grow as a result of the oil activity in 

Northwestern North Dakota. The 2014 summer assessment forecast includes 147 MW of projected year-over-year demand 

growth compared to the 2013 actual summer peak.

Since the previous summer seasonal assessment, there have been 226 MW of capacity additions. Due to needed repairs, 

Ames Municipal Electric Systems will have 18 MW of capacity unavailable for the 2014 summer season. There are no 

additional generation resource additions for summer 2014. Missouri River main stem water levels may affect hydro 

generation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ current forecast indicates that the expected runoff for the year will result in 

generation being reduced to 84 percent of normal unless a significant unexpected increase in runoff occurs.

MAPP is projecting 390 MW of imports and 1,458 MW of exports, with a net export of 1,068 MW. Several transmission 

projects will have been completed or will continue through the 2014 summer season, all of which are intended to increase 

the reliability of the MAPP transmission system. Despite the unexpected load growth in the northwestern North Dakota area, 

and some minor instability that is currently being studied, the MAPP Assessment Area does not foresee any reliability or 

capacity issues becoming problematic during the upcoming summer.
NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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MRO-SaskPower

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 3,232

Total Demand Response - Available 85

Net Internal Demand 3,147

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Interruptible Load (IL) - Program Total 85

Interruptible Load (IL) - Available 85

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 3,941

Net Firm Transfers 0

Anticipated Resources 3,941

Existing-Other 0

Prospective Resources 3,941

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 25.00

Prospective Reserve Margin 25.00

NERC Reference Margin Level 11.00

Saskatchewan is a province of Canada that comprises a geographic area of 651,900 square km and approximately 1 million people. Peak demand is 

experienced in the winter. The Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower) is the Planning Authority/Reliability Coordinator for the province of 

Saskatchewan and is the principal supplier of electricity in the province. It is a Provincial Crown Corporation and under provincial legislation is responsible 

for the reliability oversight of the Saskatchewan bulk electric system and its interconnections. Significant footprint changes have not occurred during the 

past two years and are not expected in future years.

SaskPower seasonal operations are expected to be adequate for the summer, and no significant seasonal constraints have 

been identified. Peak demand for the SaskPower system is experienced in the winter.

SaskPower projects adequate reserve margins during the 2014 summer assessment period. SaskPower’s criteria for adding 

new generation resources is based on Expected Unserved Energy (EUE). A probabilistic analysis is performed to determine 

the requirement for adding new generation resources. The probabilistic EUE value equates to an approximate 11 percent 

NERC Reference Margin Level, which has not changed since the prior summer assessment.

There is little change in the economic outlook from last summer’s forecast, and there are no changes in area footprint or 

seasonal weather outlook. Total internal hourly interval demand is forecast to be 3,232 MW for the 2014 summer assessment 

period. Increase in demand is approximately 3.5 percent from last year.

No significant generator uprates, derates, or additions are planned for the upcoming summer. No units have retired since 

the prior summer assessment, but a 66 MW (gross) unit will be retired during the upcoming 2014 summer season. There are 

no Firm transfers for the 2014 summer. SaskPower is not planning to rely on emergency imports for the current assessment 

period.

SaskPower has one transmission project planned for 2014 summer to improve local transmission reliability. A second 230-

138 kV auto-transformer will be installed in an existing transmission station during the 2014 summer, which will improve the 

reliability of power supply in the Estevan area.

The 2014 summer season joint study with Manitoba Hydro, with input from Basin Electric (North Dakota), determines the 

import/export capabilities with neighboring BAs for the 2014 summer assessment period. As part of the study, applicable 

guidelines are issued to respective control rooms before the summer season begins. No significant seasonal constraints have 

been identified.
NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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NPCC-Maritimes

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 3,738

Total Demand Response - Available 321

Net Internal Demand 3,417

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Interruptible Load (IL) - Program Total 338

Interruptible Load (IL) - Available 321

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 6,231

Net Firm Transfers 0

Anticipated Resources 6,231

Existing-Other 0

Prospective Resources 6,231

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 82.35

Prospective Reserve Margin 82.35

NERC Reference Margin Level 15.00

The Maritimes Area serves a population of approximately 1,910,000. It includes New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the area served by 

the Northern Maine Independent System Operator (parts of northern and eastern Maine). There are two Balancing Authorities, New Brunswick and Nova 

Scotia. The New Brunswick System Operator is the Reliability Coordinator for the Maritimes Area, which covers approximately 57,800 square miles.

The Maritimes Area is a winter-peaking system and is projecting adequate reserve margins above the NERC Reference Margin 

Level (or operating reserve requirements) for the 2014 summer. The summer 2014 forecast peak of 3,738 MW represents a 

6.3 percent increase over the 2013 summer forecast of 3,515 MW. This increase can be attributed to a combination of both 

weather and economic influences. All NPCC Reliability Coordinator Areas, including the Maritimes, follow a one-day-in-tenyears load loss criterion. For planning purposes, a 20 percent NERC Reference Margin Level is adopted for Maritimes, based 

on the following equation: 20% x (Forecast Peak Load MW – Interruptible Load (IL) MW).

The only DR considered in resource adequacy assessmentsfor the Maritimes Assessment Area is Interruptible Load (IL), which 

comes from industrial customers under contract. Because of the variability of industrial load at any one time and the small 

amount of megawatts, these values do not have significant impact for seasonal planning purposes.

The fuel mix is very diverse within the Maritimes Area, and it is not dependent on a single fuel source, thus allowing greater 

system reliability.26

The Maine Power Reliability Program (MPRP) in New England and the refurbishment of the Eel River HVdc interconnection 

between Québec and New Brunswick both have the ability to impact the amount of energy transfers between New 

Brunswick/New England and New Brunswick/Hydro Québec. The respective operations study groups of New Brunswick Power 

and ISO-New England coordinate the MPRP project, which involves setting any transfer limits up to and including real time.

The Eel River outage is a fixed derate on the interface during its outage. Neither of these outages should cause any reliability 

issues, because the Maritimes Assessment Area is not reliant on energy transfers to meet its requirements.

As a winter-peaking system, the operating challenge during the summer is the possibility of light system loads occurring 

together with high wind generator outputs. If this scenario were to happen, procedures are in place to mitigate the event.

Monitoring of thermal unit dispatch under periods of high wind and low load (e.g., shoulder season overnight hours) is an 

area of focus, and work to better assess steam unit minimum loads and minimum steam system configurations is ongoing.

 

26 The percentage by rated capacity of generation by fuel type includes: Nuclear (8.76 %), Natural Gas (7.10 %), HFO/Natural Gas (4.26%), Coal/Petroleum 

Coke (35.58%), Light Oil (2.94%), Diesel (8.76%), Bunker (0.82 %), Hydro/Tidal: (17.96%), Biomass (2.36%), Biogas (0.026%), and Wind (11.40%).
NPCC-New England

NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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NPCC-New England

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 26,658

Total Demand Response - Available 700

Net Internal Demand 25,958

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Program Total 700

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Available 700

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 30,837

Net Firm Transfers 1,283

Anticipated Resources 32,120

Existing-Other 221

Prospective Resources 32,342

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 23.74

Prospective Reserve Margin 24.59

NERC Reference Margin Level 15.20

The New England electric grid is an 8,500-mile high-voltage transmission system that connects electric utilities, publicly owned electric companies, more 

than 350 power generators, suppliers, and alternative resources serving more than 6.5 million households and business; a population comprised of 14 million 

residents across more than 66,500 square miles. New England has 13 transmission ties to neighboring power systems that allow electricity trade with New 

York, New Brunswick and Québec.

During the peak demand week of July 13, 2014, ISO‐NE forecasts Existing‐Certain Generation of 30,769 MW to meet the Net 

Internal Demand of 25,958 MW for the 2014 summer and exceed the NERC Reference Margin Level of 15.2 percent. 

The Existing-Certain Generation value originates with Seasonal Claimed Capabilities (SCC) of 30,829 MW. A planned outage 

value of 60 MW was subtracted from the total SCC, resulting in the Existing-Certain capacity of 30,769 MW. New England is 

accounting for 1,383 MW in imports and 100 MW exports for a net import of 1,283 MW. This equates to the Existing-Certain 

and Net Firm Transfers total of 32,052 MW (a 23.5 percent margin). With 68 MW of new generation added to Existing-Certain, 

this gives New England 32,120 MW of Anticipated internal capacity. The Prospective Resources account for an additional 221 

MW of Settlement Only Generation.

27 The resulting Anticipated Reserve Margin is 23.7 percent with a Prospective Reserve 

Margin of 24.6 percent. 

The forecast margins do not include the short-term capacity and energy purchases from neighboring systems that are 

anticipated to help serve the electrical demands on the system. Net Imports of 1,283 MW are only a portion of the import 

Total Transfer Capability (TTC) for New England. The TTC for New England imports is 4,814 MW.

For the 2014 summer, ISO‐NE has 700 MW of active DR that are expected to be available on‐peak.28 There are 1,507 MW of 

passive DR (i.e., Energy Efficiency and Conservation), which are treated as demand reducers in this report. Passive DR are 

accounted for in the Total Internal Demand forecast of 26,658 MW.

Since the 2013 summer, 53 MW of new generation (38 MW of wood/refuse and 15 MW of natural gas) has become 

commercial, and ISO-NE anticipates that an additional 68 MW of wood/refuse fueled generation will be available for the 2014 

summer. Also of note is the retirement of two Salem Harbor units, which accounts for a 585 MW reduction of capacity. 

Overall, New England will experience a net reduction of 464 MW of generation for the 2014 summer period. 

New England has deployed the Metrix Zonal load forecast, which produces a zonal load forecast for the eight regional load 

zones for up to six days in advance through the current operating day. This forecast enhances reliability on a zonal level by

taking into account conflicting weather patterns. An example would be when the Boston zone is forecast to be 65 degrees 

while the Hartford area is forecasting 90 degrees. This zonal forecast ensures an accurate reliability commitment on a regional 

level. The eight zones are then summed for a total New England load. This additional year of data in New England’s Advanced 

Neural Network (ANN) models and Similar Day Analysis (SimDays) improves the zonal forecast compared to last summer. 

New bulk power transmission facilities are planned to be placed in service in New England for the 2014 summer. Some of the 

more significant improvements include equipment as part of the Maine Power Reliability Project (MPRP). The transmission 

improvements are located in an area known as the Southern Connector Region of the MPRP project and will provide 

 

27 “Settlement Only” refers to generating units that produces less than 5 MW and are entitled to receive capacity credit but are not centrally dispatched by 

the ISO control room and not monitored in real time.

28 This consists of 489 MW of Real-Time Demand Response (RTDR) Program and 211 MW of Real‐Time Emergency Generation (RTEG) Program, which can 

be activated with the implementation of ISO‐NE Operating Procedure No. 4 – Action during a Capacity Deficiency (OP 4).
NPCC-New England

NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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additional support to local load to the Portland, Maine Seacoast area and reinforce power transfers into and out of the area. 

This project will also increase overall transfer capabilities from Maine to the rest of the New England system. 

During the spring of 2014, the Type III Rumford Special Protection System will be removed. This SPS was needed as support 

for long-duration transmission outages associated with the MPRP project. This portion of the project is expected to be 

complete in the spring of 2014. Also, since last summer, the Type I 386 SPS has been retired. This was accomplished when 

the newly constructed transmission facilities (MPRP Surowiec, Ravens Farm, and Yarmouth 345 kV lines) were placed into 

service.

The New England generation fleet continues to be reliant on natural gas as a primary fuel source. Approximately 45 percent 

of the area’s generation is gas-fired, and 22 percent of this claims dual-fuel capability. This generation can provide up to 54 

percent of New England’s electric energy on any given operating day. Generators in New England are heavily dependent on 

pipeline capacity released by the firm capacity rights holders, with only a few holding mainline firm transportation contracts. 

Though fuel supply concerns for natural gas-fired generation are more significant during the winter season, difficulties can 

arise during the summer season.

In past years, ISO-NE has taken a number of steps to communicate and prepare for fuel supply risks during system operating 

peak conditions.29 Most recent improvements have come as a result of FERC Order 787 and subsequent ISO-NE tariff revisions 

that explicitly authorize ISO-NE to share confidential information concerning natural gas-fueled generation located in New 

England with the operating personnel of interstate natural gas pipeline companies, provided that the information is 

operationally necessary and that it will be shared only with the pipeline company directly serving that generator. This 

information exchange includes maintenance schedules to promote outage coordination between the industries, output 

schedules for individual generators, and discussion of any real-time information concerning specific resources for the purpose 

of maintaining reliability. 

With these enhanced communicating methods, ISO-NE and the interstate natural gas pipeline operators will be able to 

improve the forecast of their combined systems and discuss specific system conditions, and they may be able to take actions 

under their existing authorities to avoid reliability problems. When sharing this information with the interstate natural gas 

pipeline operators, the pipeline operators may be able to provide information on gas availability that will allow ISO-NE to 

better anticipate and address potential reliability problems in the event that there is insufficient fuel for all gas-fired 

generators to meet their schedules. Along with near-term weather data, load forecasts, and planned outage conditions, this 

information is also used to develop short-term and long-term operating plans.

 

29 These efforts and improvements are listed in the ISO New England Strategic Planning Initiative. 
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NPCC-New York

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 33,666

Total Demand Response - Available 1,189

Net Internal Demand 32,477

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Program Total 1,189

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Available 1,189

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 37,983

Net Firm Transfers 2,129

Anticipated Resources 40,112

Existing-Other 0

Prospective Resources 40,112

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 24.00

Prospective Reserve Margin 24.00

NERC Reference Margin Level 17.00

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) is the only Balancing Authority in the New York Control Area (NYCA). The NYCA is over 48,000 square 

miles, serving a total population of about 19.4 million people, and it peaks annually in the summer. This report addresses the reliability assessment for the 

NYCA for May 2014 through October 2014. The NYISO is registered as the sole Balancing Authority and Reliability Coordinator for the NYCA, which 

encompasses the state of New York.

The weather-normalized 2013 peak was 33,497 MW, 218 MW (0.66 percent) higher than the 2013 summer forecast of 33,279.

The current 2014 peak forecast is 33,666 MW and exceeds the 2013 summer peak forecast by 387 MW (1.16 percent). This 

projected increase is attributed primarily to higher growth in New York City. The impacts of energy efficiency and conservation 

have been accounted for in the growth rates of the 2014 summer peak demand forecast. It is estimated that the 2013 summer 

peak demand was reduced by about 300 MW through such programs. New behind-the-meter solar-photovoltaic generation 

reduced the peak load by an estimated 10 MW to 15 MW.

The New York State Reliability Council (NYSRC) has established an Installed Reserve Margin (IRM)30 of 17 percent for the 2014 

summer season, and the NYISO anticipates adequate capacity to meet the IRM. Since the 2013 summer period there have 

been generator nameplate additions of 218 MW and retirements or mothballing of 164 MW. Significant additions include the 

Orangeville Wind Farm (93.9 MW), the return to service of the Astoria turbines GT10 and GT11 (63.6 MW), and the return to 

service of the Niagara Biogen (56 MW), along with various small generator additions (4.6 MW). Significant reductions include 

the retirements of Syracuse Energy (101.6 MW), Station 9 (19 MW), and Freeport 9 (2.1 MW), and the mothballing of 

Châteaugay Power (19.7 MW) and Ravenswood GT7 (22 MW).

No unique operational problems are expected for the summer of 2014. The NYISO maintains Joint Operating Agreements 

with each of its adjacent Reliability Coordinators that include provisions for the procurement, or supply, of emergency energy, 

and provisions for wheeling emergency energy from remote areas if required. Prior to the operating month, the NYISO 

identifies to neighboring control areas both the capacity-backed transactions that are expected to be imported into and 

exported from NYCA in the upcoming month. Discrepancies identified by neighboring control areas are resolved. During the 

2014 summer season the New York Balancing Authority expects to have 2,129 MW of net import capacity available.

The NYISO anticipates sufficient resources to meet peak demand without the need to resort to emergency operations. The 

Emergency Demand Response Program (EDRP) and ICAP/Special Case Resource program (ICAP/SCR) are designed to promote 

participation, and the expectation is for full participation of these programs in the summer of 2014. There is no limitation as 

to the number of times a resource can be called upon to provide a response. The Special Case Resources are required to 

respond when notice has been provided in accordance with the NYISO procedures; response from the EDRP is voluntary for 

all events. Further control actions are outlined in the policies and procedures of the NYISO.

 

30 The term “Installed Reserve Margin” is unique to the NYSRC and applied as the NERC Reference Margin Level for this assessment. 
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NPCC-Ontario

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 23,025

Total Demand Response - Available31 0

Net Internal Demand 23,025

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Interruptible Load (IL) - Program Total 1,353

Interruptible Load (IL) - Available 503

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 28,536

Net Firm Transfers 0

Anticipated Resources 28,536

Existing-Other 0

Prospective Resources 28,536

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 23.93

Prospective Reserve Margin 23.93

NERC Reference Margin Level 18.60

Ontario electrical power system is interconnected electrically with Quebec, Manitoba, Minnesota, Michigan, and New York. Ontario covers an area of 

415,000 square miles and the IESO serves the power needs of more than 13 million people. 

For 2014, the NERC Reference Margin Level is 18.6 percent.

32 Both the Anticipated and Prospective Reserve Margins are both 

adequate for the 2014 summer season.

The forecasted peak demand, under normal weather for the summer of 2014, is 23,025 MW. This forecast is fairly similar to 

the 23,275 MW forecast for the previous summer. Peak demand continues to be shaped by four main factors: the economy, 

the growth in embedded generation, the impacts of conservation, and the influence of prices. The forecast for this summer’s 

peak is lower than the forecast for last summer’s. This is due to the fact that the combined impacts of increased embedded 

generation capacity, prices, and conservation savings far outweigh the growth in consumption arising from population growth 

and economic expansion, thus leading to lower peak summer demand.

For the 2013 summer period, the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) DR programs were activated five times, and dispatched 

loads accounted for just over 665 MWh during the summer daily peaks. At the time of the 2013 summer peak, the activated 

demand measures amounted to 94 MW. All these programs act to temporarily reduce load and are triggered according to 

market prices, the supply cushion, or by contract.

DR (demand measures) is not decremented from demand, but are instead treated as a resource to be dispatched as 

necessary. To determine the amount of effective capacity, the IESO uses historical data to project the amount of DR that will 

be available during periods of peak demand. While DR programs have not changed, the IESO continually updates the 

calculation for effective capacity to reflect the most recent participant behavior.

Time-of-use rates and the Global Adjustment Allocation are pricing programs that act to reduce demand during the summer 

peaks. Both of these are incorporated in the demand forecast.

Since the previous assessment, there has not been a significant change to the conservation programs, demand measures, or 

pricing impacts. There is a program total of 1,353 MW of IL for this upcoming summer. Of that total, just over 503 MW are

deemed reliably available at the time of the system peak.

At the end of 2013, 3,000 MW of coal-fired generation was retired in Southern Ontario. In April 2014, Thunder Bay Generating 

Station burned its last supply of coal. As a result, Ontario is now the first jurisdiction in North America to fully eliminate coal 

as a source of electricity generation.

The Lower Mattagami project expansion saw the addition of a third unit at Little Long Generating Station (67 MW capacity)

in January 2014. The addition of a third unit at Harmon Generating Station with a 78 MW capacity is expected in June 2014.

By summer 2014, 601 MW of wind generation is expected to come into service, bringing the total grid-connected wind 

generation to 2,326 MW. The Thunder Bay Condensing Turbine Project began commercial operations in mid-2013, adding 40 

MW of capacity since the prior summer assessment. Additionally, 10 MW of grid-connected solar capacity is expected to be 

in service by July 2014. This addition will be the first grid-connected solar project in Ontario. 

 

31 For this assessment, IESO is counting DR as part of the On-Peak Capacity category. 

32 Calculated annually for the next five years in accordance with the NPCC resource adequacy design criterion and is published on the IESO website: IESO 

Forecasts & 18-Month Outlooks. 
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In its determination of resource adequacy, the IESO plans for Ontario to meet NPCC regional criteria without reliance on 

external resources. For use during daily operation, operating agreements between the IESO and neighboring jurisdictions in 

NPCC, RFC, and MRO include contractual provisions for emergency imports directly by the IESO. No reliance on emergency 

energy is assumed to meet the NERC Reference Margin Level for Ontario this summer. IESO also participates in a simultaneous 

activation of a reserve group that includes IESO, ISO-New England, New Brunswick Power, NYISO, and PJM. This participation 

enhances recovery from generation losses when they occur.

One autotransformer will be taken out of service at Bruce A Generating Station during the summer season, causing a minor 

reduction for Flow Away From Bruce Complex and Wind (FABCW) interface.

Early in the summer, one 500 kV circuit from Lennox Generating Station to Hawthorn Transformer Station will be taken out 

of service, causing a significant reduction for the Flow Into Ottawa interface during the outage. Depending on the primary 

demand in the Ottawa area, a local load rejection SPS may be armed during the planned outage.

The completion date for transmission reinforcements from the Niagara region into the Hamilton-Burlington area continues 

to be delayed. Completion of this project will increase the transfer capability from the Niagara region to the rest of the Ontario 

system. Until the project is in service, the supply needs in southern Ontario will continue to be met through the existing 

system.

Overvoltage control reactive enhancements in northwestern Ontario will be complete by the end of 2014. Some 

enhancements related to this project are already in service, and as a result, there are no dynamic or static reactive powerlimited areas in the Ontario BPS.

Ontario will continue to experience Surplus Baseload Generation (SBG)33 conditions over the next summer. While Ontario has 

observed SBG conditions over several summer seasons, in the fall of 2013 IESO implemented variable generation dispatch 

tools and the setting of floor prices for flexible nuclear generation. These new tools are expected to assist with the 

management of SBG over the summer period.

IESO concluded its Renewable Integration Initiative in fall 2013. The Renewable Integration Initiative delivered a number of 

enhancements, including the setting of floor prices for wind and solar generation, integration of the hourly centralized 

forecast into the IESO scheduling tools, and enhanced visibility of renewable output for the IESO. This project provided the 

IESO with the ability to dispatch wind and solar generation.

 

33 Surplus Baseload Generation (SBG). 
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NPCC-Québec

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 21,100

Total Demand Response - Available 0

Net Internal Demand 21,100

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 32,237

Net Firm Transfers -1,478

Anticipated Resources 30,759

Existing-Other 0

Prospective Resources 30,759

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 45.78

Prospective Reserve Margin 45.78

NERC Reference Margin Level 10.00

The Québec system is winter peaking because a large amount of space-heating load is present during winter operating periods. The all-time internal peak 

hourly demand is 39,031 MW, which occurred on January 22, 2014. Summer peak demands are typically about 56 percent of peak winter demand. Another 

important characteristic is that generation on the system is almost 92 percent hydro, with a total installed capacity for the 2014 summer operating period 

of 43,523 MW. Transmission voltages are 735, 315, 230, 161, 120, and 69 kV with a ±450 kV HVdc multi-terminal line. Transmission line length totals 33,613 

km (20,886 miles). Population served is about 8 million, and the Province of Québec has an area of approximately 1,667,000 km2(643,600 sq. mi.).

Given the amount of available capacity and the load forecast level in the summer, there are no significant impacts associated

with exports capacity. The Québec Assessment Area does not rely on imports during the summer period.

No particular transmission project is required for the upcoming summer period. A second -300/+300-Mvar static var 

compensator (SVC) will be installed at Bout-de-l'Île substation in June 2014 in preparation for the upcoming winter. Most 

transmission line, transformer, and generating unit maintenance is done during the summer. Resource availability is not a 

problem at all during summer operating periods even though exports to summer peaking subregions34 of NPCC are sustained 

during peak hours. Internal generating unit and transmission outage plans are assessed to meet internal demand, firm sales, 

expected additional sales, and margins. 

During summer periods, reactive capability of generators is not a problem. Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie (HQT) does not expect 

to encounter any kind of low-voltage problem during the summer. On the contrary, controlling overvoltages on the 735 kV 

network during off‐peak hours is the concern. This is accomplished mainly with the use of shunt reactors. Typically, about 

15,000 Mvar of 735 kV shunt reactors may be connected at any given time during the summer, with seven to ten 735 kV lines 

out of service for maintenance. Most shunt capacitors, at all voltage levels, are disconnected during the summer.

On a few occasions during the last summers, several 735 kV lines in the southern part of the system became heavily loaded, 

due to the hot temperatures in southern Québec. Although this is a new issue at Hydro-Québec, the situation is expected to 

happen again because summers are getting warmer, the air-conditioning load is increasing year after year, and transfers to 

summer peaking systems are increasing. Studies have been performed, thermal limits have been optimized, and mitigating 

measures have been implemented to ensure that no line becomes overloaded following a contingency in hot temperature 

periods.

Following the disturbance event that occurred on July 3, 2013, on the HQT transmission system, information related to this 

event was provided to NPCC. In December 2013, NPCC created a working group to further analyze the operations and design 

of the transmission system. NPCC and HQT agreed that the event analysis would be presented for discussion to various NPCC 

technical and operational task forces. Moreover, lessons learned will be issued following the review of the findings and 

recommendations by NPCC’s working groups and task forces.

 

34 The terms “subregion” and “assessment area” are used interchangeably in this report.
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PJM

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 157,141

Total Demand Response - Available 11,160

Net Internal Demand 145,981

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Program Total 852

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Available 852

Interruptible Load (IL) - Program Total 13,590

Interruptible Load (IL) - Available 10,308

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 180,921

Net Firm Transfers 1,945

Anticipated Resources 182,866

Existing-Other 2,211

Prospective Resources 185,077

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 25.27

Prospective Reserve Margin 26.78

NERC Reference Margin Level 16.20

PJM Interconnection is a regional transmission organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, 

Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. 

PJM companies serve 61 million people and cover 243,417 square miles. PJM is a Balancing Authority, Planning Coordinator, Transmission Planner, Resource 

Planner, Interchange Authority, Transmission Operator, Transmission Service Provider, and Reliability Coordinator.

Footprint Change: This assessment includes East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) load and generation, which joined the PJM RTO on June 1, 2013.

The PJM RTO Reserve Requirement, calculated by PJM, is 16.2 percent for the 2014–2015 planning period, which runs from 

June 1, 2014, through May 31, 2015. The PJM RTO Reserve Requirement (applied in this assessment as the NERC Reference 

Margin Level) is slightly higher (0.3 percentage points) this year. At 25 percent, all expected margins remain above the PJM 

Reserve Requirement during the 2014 summer peak season.

Revisions to historical economic data and the addition of another year of load experience to the load forecasting model 

resulted in generally lower peak and energy forecasts for this year compared to the forecast for this year done last year. All 

load models were estimated with historical data from January 1998 through August 2013. The models were simulated with 

weather data from 1974 through 2012. The economic forecast used was Moody’s Analytics’ November 2013 release. 

Available DR decreased slightly from 10,742 MW in 2013 to 10,308 MW 2014, partially due to higher prices for this resource 

in the PJM forward capacity market. PJM now has added three Demand Response products: Limited DR (10 days during the 

summer peak season for a maximum of six hours per day), Extended Summer DR (unlimited days during summer for 10 hours 

per day) and Annual DR (unlimited days throughout the year for a maximum of 10 hours per day).

PJM had a net decrease of 2,620 MW of generation resources since last summer. PJM does not allow summer peak season 

scheduled maintenance; consequently, there are no significant generator uprates or derates planned for the upcoming 

summer.

Various transmission enhancements were added to the PJM bulk system since last summer, including eight BES transformers 

and approximately 500 Mvar of shunt capacitors. Four variable shunt reactors were also added in the Dominion Virginia 

Power area of PJM for light-load voltage control. The Eastlake 5 unit in Ohio was converted into a 485 Mvar synchronous 

condenser. Two SPSs have been added to the PJM system for N-1-1 contingency mitigation. They will be retired once 

transmission enhancements are completed.

PJM analyzed coal generation at risk of retiring based on an assessment of required environmental retrofit costs versus the 

cost of constructing a new natural gas-fired turbine. The analysis concluded that there is no overall resource adequacy 

concern for the PJM footprint; however, localized reliability concerns may have been addressed either with replacement 

generation capacity or transmission upgrades if necessary. PJM continues to track and coordinate retirements, retrofits, and 

scheduled transmission upgrades to maintain adequate reserve margins and reliability.
NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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SERC

SERC-E SERC-N SERC-SE

Demand Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 43,547 41,804 46,488

Total Demand Response - Available 1,657 2,027 2,111

Net Internal Demand 41,890 39,777 44,377

Demand Response Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW)

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Program Total 614 165 777

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Available 614 165 777

Interruptible Load (IL) - Program Total 1,020 1,231 1,260

Interruptible Load (IL) - Available 1,020 1,231 1,260

Critical Peak-Pricing (CPP) with Load Control - Program Total 23 0 0

Critical Peak-Pricing (CPP) with Load Control - Available 23 0 0

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Program Total 0 631 74

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Available 0 631 74

Projected Resource Categories (MW) Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 50,757 51,416 63,001

Net Firm Transfers 1,147 -1,159 -2,165

Anticipated Resources 51,904 50,258 60,836

Existing-Other 0 440 328

Prospective Resources 51,904 50,698 61,164

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%) Percent (%) Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 21.00 30.00 42.00

Prospective Reserve Margin 21.00 31.00 43.00

NERC Reference Margin Level 15.00 15.00 15.00

SERC-E SERC-N SERC-SE

SERC is a summer-peaking area that covers all or portions of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, 

South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The SERC Assessment Area excludes SERC members that are also members of PJM or MISO. The SERC Assessment

Area covers approximately 308,900 square miles and serves a population estimated at 39.4 million. There are 12 Balancing Authorities in the SERC 

Assessment Area: Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. – Yadkin Division (Yadkin), Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI), Constellation Energy Control and 

Dispatch, LLC (CECD), Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress (Duke), Electric Energy, Inc. (EEI), LG&E and KU Services Company (as agent for 

Louisville Gas and Electric (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities (KU)), PowerSouth Energy Cooperative (PowerSouth), South Carolina Electric & Gas Company 

(SCE&G), South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper, SCPSA), Southern Company Services, Inc. (Southern), and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

Footprint Changes: The entities within the SERC-W Assessment Area (BAs: Louisiana Generating, LLC and Entergy) joined MISO on December 19, 2013, and 

are no longer reported in SERC’s Assessment Area. Additionally, East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) joined PJM on June 1, 2013, and is no longer reported 

in SERC’s Assessment Areas.

Anticipated and Prospective Reserve Margins remain above NERC’s Reference Margin Level of 15 percent for all three SERC 

Assessment Areas, despite recent changes the subregional35 footprints.

SERC utilities have incorporated expected future energy efficiency standards into their sales models per data from the 

Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration and have developed a Statistically Adjusted End-use (SAE) model 

incorporating the end-use details into econometric methodologies.

The entities within the SERC Assessment Area take into account generation outages, load forecasts, and high loads in various 

long-term and operations planning activities. Considered factors include improved economy, changes to electricity and 

natural gas prices, extreme summer heat conditions, and the potential addition of any new customers.

With projected levels of DR and Energy Efficiency/Conservation programs utilized during the summer season, the impact to 

the assessment areas will be minimal. These programs are counted as a resource or as a load modifier depending on the type 

of the program offered, as well as different methodologies among SERC utilities.

 

35 The terms “subregion” and “assessment area” are used interchangeably in this report.
SERC

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All SERC utilities continue to offer DR and EE programs, but the changes from the prior summer season are not significant.

Some members have expanded their DSM programs to include lighting and appliance programs.

SERC utilities have not identified any issues that could impact generator availability for the upcoming summer. Sutton Units 

1–3 and Canadys Units 2 and 3, as well as Branch Unit 2 have recently been retired. Additionally, utilities within SERC have 

added the Sutton combined-cycle unit and corresponding power purchase plans. Transmission projects such as the upgrade 

of the Aiken Hampton 115 kV line, construction of a 230 kV line between Winyah and Bucksville, construction of a 230 kV line 

between Pisgah and Shiloh, and the addition of the Union 500 kV Sub Install #2 500/161 kV Bank have been added to the 

SERC Assessment Area since the prior summer assessment.

There are few distributed and variable resources in the SERC Assessment Area, and there have been no changes to how 

expected on-peak capacity values are calculated. Wind and solar resources are analyzed based on historical patterns and are 

included for on-peak capacity and reserve margins, but at some level of reduced capacity equivalent. For hydro resources, 

capacity and energy production are based on comprehensive modeling of the competing water management requirements.

Considering the relative capacity and operational nature of these resources, expected on-peak capacity values are predictable 

and consistent. 

Past experiences and studies have indicated reactive power limits for certain situations between Philadelphia, Mississippi,

and Northeast Tennessee. Operating guides (providing mitigation options) have been put into place to provide voltage 

support in these areas.

The SERC Near-Term Study Group (SERC-NTSG)

36 coordinates the development of quarterly planning cases for the purposes 

of near-term reliability assessments. The transactions mentioned previously are built into these planning studies developed 

for the respective time periods. The coordinated development of these cases ensures consistent treatment among 

assessment areas. SERC utilities coordinate available transmission interface capability and any planned work with potential 

capacity transfer impacts with their first-tier neighbors on a regular basis. In addition, SERC entities through SERC-NTSG 

participate in a summer peak season evaluation. Through this they work closely with the operations area of the respective 

systems to identify peak season activities that could impact the performance of the bulk power supply facilities, including 

generation and transmission outages, unavailable capacity, and known or expected power transfers under both normal and 

contingency conditions. SERC utilities routinely test DR resources to validate their capabilities to identify and address any 

availability or performance concerns and expect these resources to perform as specified in their contracts. Thus, there are 

no concerns with the use of DR resources to meet peak demand.

An Operations Reliability Coordination Agreement (ORCA)37 has been put into place between MISO and other impacted 

entities38 in order to mitigate any potential reliability impacts associated with flows in excess of the existing contract limits

between the MISO North/Central and MISO South, as well as additional flows modeled by the neighboring entities. As this is 

the first summer since integration of the Entergy area into MISO, the neighboring BAs do not have operating experience on 

the effect that the geography of the MISO system will have on the neighboring systems. In addition to limiting the flows, 

other reliability processes, such as Congestion Management Process (CMP) and TLR, will also be used to mitigate any adverse

impacts on system reliability.

 

36 SERC Near-Term Study Group (NTSG) Documents. 

37 Operations Reliability Coordination Agreement (ORCA).

38 Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (“MISO”) and Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (“AECI”), Louisville Gas and Electric Company 

(“LG&E”), Kentucky Utilities Company (“KU”), PowerSouth Energy Cooperative (“PowerSouth”), Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, Gulf 

Power Company and Mississippi Power Company by and through their agent Southern Company Services, Inc. (collectively, “Southern Companies”), the 

Southwest Power Pool (“SPP”) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (“TVA”).
NERC | Summer Reliability Assessment | 2014

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SPP

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 49,614

Total Demand Response - Available 1,039

Net Internal Demand 48,575

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Program Total 49

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Available 49

Interruptible Load (IL) - Program Total 942

Interruptible Load (IL) - Available 942

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Program Total 48

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Available 48

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 65,863

Net Firm Transfers 933

Anticipated Resources 66,796

Existing-Other 2,682

Prospective Resources 69,478

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 38.00

Prospective Reserve Margin 43.00

NERC Reference Margin Level 13.60

Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is a NERC Regional Entity (RE) that encompasses all or parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, 

Oklahoma, and Texas and covers 370,000 square miles. For this NERC report, the SPP Assessment Area also includes the entire state of Nebraska. The SPP 

Assessment Area reporting footprint includes the Nebraska entities, which are registered with the Midwest Reliability Organization Regional Entity and are 

also part of the SPP Planning Coordinator. SPP’s footprint consists of 17 Balancing Authority Areas, including 48,368 miles of transmission line, 915 generating 

plants, and 2,378 substations. 

Footprint Changes: The SPP Assessment Area had three members (CLECO, Lafayette Utilities System, and Louisiana Energy and Power Authority) that joined 

MISO on December 19, 2013. The SPP RC is coordinating with Entergy, CLECO, Lafayette Utilities System, Louisiana Energy and Power Authority, and MISO 

for the transition of those entities to the MISO Reliability Coordinator footprint and eventually into the MISO BA Area and the MISO Market. The transition to 

the MISO RC footprint is scheduled to take place June 1, 2014, and is not expected to impact the 2014 SPP RE summer assessment. The transition of these 

entities to the MISO BA and Market is expected to occur in December 2014. This transition into the MISO Market and BA is expected to result in significant 

changes in flows as compared to what has historically been observed and managed using existing congestion management processes. SPP and MISO are 

evaluating ways to mitigate reliability concerns from these operational changes by improving how flows are accounted for and reviewing congestion 

management techniques for potential enhancements. These additional coordination activities are expected to continue beyond the summer season to ensure 

the continued reliable operation of the interconnected transmission system. The map above represents the current SPP footprint for this assessment.

The transition of CLECO, Lafayette Utilities System, and Louisiana Energy and Power Authority to the MISO footprint resulted

in a decreased SPP demand forecast compared to the 2013 summer assessment. The coincident Total Internal Demand 

forecast for the 2013 summer was 53,853 MW, and the 2014 coincident Total Internal Demand forecast is 49,614 MW. The 

Anticipated Reserve Margin remains well above the 13.6 percent NERC Reference Margin Level for SPP. While some SPP 

Assessment Area members are currently looking into enhancing their load forecasting methods, no new enhancements have 

been added since last year’s summer assessment.

SPP Assessment Area planning staff conducts long-term load pocket studies that take into account higher loads than the 

50/50 forecast. Considered factors are the loss of the largest generator in the study area with the loss of a transmission tie 

to the study area.

DR programs in the SPP Assessment Area are voluntary and are primarily targeted for summer peak load reduction use. For 

the most part, SPP Assessment Area members include their own DR and Energy Efficiency programs as reductions in their 

load forecasts. The utilization of DR resources is not vital for meeting the energy and capacity obligations of the SPP Region. 

SPP Assessment Area members are continuing to expand DR and energy efficiency programs.

SPP does not expect any issues that will impact generator availability but has noted that coal supplies could potentially be 

reduced/delayed due to railroad congestion. The SPP Assessment Area is continuing to monitor this situation. SPP did not 

have any new generation come online, and no units were retired since the 2013 summer assessment. No significant generator 

uprates or derates have been reported for the upcoming summer season.

The SPP Generation Working Group (GWG) has been reviewing section SPP Criteria 12.1.5.3.g, the Accreditation for 

Renewable Resource (Wind and Solar). The GWG’s intention is to ensure the accreditation process meets the Assessment 

Area needs while not being overly cumbersome to the Resource Owners. The SPP GWG recently approved a change in the 

accreditation process, which is pending approval. The SPP GWG performed an analysis using operations data from the SPP 

footprint and sample data from 17 wind resources (varying wind turbine type, geographical location, and age of the facility).
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The GWG then applied this data to the existing SPP Criteria 12.1.5.3.g, proposed Criteria language, and compared the results 

to a more rigorous ELCC (Effective Load Carrying Capability) study. The proposed Criteria language will now include the 3

percent top load hours and will occur 60 percent of the time. The GWG made these proposed changes after extensive 

discussions and researching the operations data. The new proposed SPP Criteria Section 12.1.5.3.g now covers accreditation 

for both wind and solar renewable resources, has a less stringent confidence interval, and has been benchmarked against 

solar operational data for the resources and detailed ELCC Studies.

The SPP Assessment Area has identified several flowgates as being constraints on the transmission system. These constraints 

can be mitigated by redispatching generation, and no reliability issues are expected. The SPP Assessment Area has identified 

load pockets that require must-run generation for voltage support. Operating guides have been put into place to provide 

mitigation.

SPP, along with other Joint Parties in the region and MISO, are currently managing reliability concerns from MISO’s recent 

operational changes under the provisions of the Operations Reliability Coordination Agreement (ORCA). Under Phase 1 of the 

ORCA, unless otherwise agreed to by the Joint Parties, MISO transfers between MISO Central/North and MISO South are 

limited. The Joint Parties and MISO continue to work to try to develop, test, and implement subsequent phases of the ORCA 

that would allow this reliability limit to potentially increase under certain conditions.

SPP will not impede reliability by limiting the exchange of energy between MISO Central/North and MISO South except as 

required for SPP to maintain its own reliable operations, even if it requires MISO to exceed their current 1,000 MW path.

While SPP and MISO are currently in litigation over the terms and conditions of the compensation due to SPP when MISO 

may exceed its 1,000 MW path, the two assessment areas continue to work together to ensure around-the-clock reliable 

operations.

SPP and MISO have also recently agreed to improvements to the methodology for accounting for the flow impacts of import 

and export transactions used in the congestion management process. Both SPP and MISO are continuing to discuss additional 

improvements to ensure all sources of flows are properly accounted for within the region. SPP is currently working with MISO 

to implement a market-to-market congestion management process that will serve to enhance reliability by more efficiently 

responding to congestion that occurs on flowgates impacted by both RTOs. It is expected that the market-to-market process 

will be in place by March 1, 2015.
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TRE-ERCOT

Demand Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 68,096

Total Demand Response - Available 1,917

Net Internal Demand 66,179

Demand Response Megawatts (MW)

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Program Total 255

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Available 255

Interruptible Load (IL) - Program Total 432

Interruptible Load (IL) - Available 432

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Program Total 1,231

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Available 1,231

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 75,131

Net Firm Transfers 960

Anticipated Resources 76,091

Existing-Other 0

Prospective Resources 76,091

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 14.98

Prospective Reserve Margin 14.98

NERC Reference Margin Level 13.75

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is the Independent System Operator (ISO) for the ERCOT Interconnection, scheduling power on an electric 

grid that covers approximately 200,000 square miles. It connects 40,530 miles of transmission lines and 566 generation units and serves about 23 million 

electricity consumers. The ERCOT Region is an electric interconnection that is located entirely in the state of Texas and operates as a single BA. The Texas 

Reliability Entity (TRE) is responsible for the RE functions described in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for the ERCOT Region.

Based on ERCOT’s load forecast and the resource capacity expected to be available, both the Anticipated and Prospective 

Reserve Margins for TRE-ERCOT are 14.89 percent, above the NERC Reference Margin Level of 13.75 percent, based on the 

projected time of system peak.39

Planned resources include four new power plants (combined 2,112 MW summer rating), which are expected to be in service 

prior to the forecast summer peak demand, as well as a 30 MW solar plant, Barilla Solar 1, and a 149 nameplate MW (13 MW 

peak capacity) wind plant, Goldthwaite Wind 1. An extreme system peak that occurs prior to completion of the four new gas 

units could result in Energy Emergency Alerts (EEAs). In response to EEAs, ERCOT would perform the following actions 

depending on the severity of the EEA situation: 1) dispatch uncommitted generators, 2) deploy loads serving as reserves (Load 

Resources), 3) utilize emergency capacity available through its DC ties, 4) arrange for block transfers of load to neighboring 

grids, and 5) deploy Interruptible Load (IL) (Emergency Response Service). As a last resort, ERCOT would instruct its grid 

operators to shed load on a rotating basis. At this time there are no impending environmental or drought restrictions for the 

upcoming summer that would reduce ERCOT generating capability. 

The ERCOT peak demand forecast (Total Internal Demand) for summer 2014 is 68,096 MW and is expected to occur in early 

August. The forecast is 1.3 percent higher than last summer’s actual peak demand of 67,245 MW but is 1.8 percent lower 

than the 2014 forecast used for the 2013 Long-Term Reliability Assessment.

40 This decrease is due to changes to ERCOT’s load 

forecast methodology that better capture the changing relationship between energy and economic growth and, specifically, 

the impacts of energy efficiency and price-driven DR.

41 The main changes to the methodology include adoption of a neural 

network model to forecast daily energy and incorporation of regional growth forecasts for each customer class (residential, 

commercial, and industrial) by using historical premise, population, and nonfarm employment data, as opposed to relying on 

just nonfarm employment as the economic driver.

For summer 2014 ERCOT estimates that it will have 1,231 MW of Load Resources (LRs) providing ancillary services that are 

contractually committed to ERCOT during summer peak hours and are categorized as a load-modifying capacity resource.

ERCOT also has Emergency Resource Service (ERS), a 10- and 30‐minute DR and distributed generation service designed to 

be deployed in the late stages of a grid emergency, prior to shedding involuntary firm load. The 30-minute product and 

distributed generation participation are new program enhancements approved last year. ERS is forecast to provide 432 MW 

 

39 The Anticipated Reserve Margin of 14.89 percent is based on the time of the forecasted system peak.

40 NERC: 2013 Long-Term Reliability Assessment.

41 ERCOT uses a cost allocation method called 4CP to recover transmission costs for the ERCOT grid from large customers (i.e., loads greater than 700 kW 

of peak demand in retail choice areas, municipal utilities, and electric cooperatives). The method allocates transmission costs based on averaging the 

measured demand during the ERCOT coincident peak hours for June, July, August, and September. ERCOT market protocols require projects to be in 

service by June 1 to be included as available capacity in its summer resource adequacy assessments.
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for the 2014 summer season. Of note is that ERCOT has opened its real-time energy market to loads that can respond to realtime base point instructions. Finally, ERCOT reports the DR peak load impacts of programs managed by several Transmission 

Service Providers (TSPs). These TSPs have individual contractual programs with loads that can respond to instructions to 

reduce total energy usage. These programs are expected to attract approximately 255 MW of additional DR capacity this 

summer. ERCOT’s load forecasting methodology does not allow for separate energy efficiency impact estimation. 

With respect to transmission planning, all the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) projects were placed into service 

by January 2014. The latest Regional Transmission Plan42 for ERCOT identified a list of projected 2014 reliability constraints. 

The associated transmission projects to address these constraints will not be completed before this summer. Most of these 

constraints are located in the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale oil and natural gas exploration and production areas, where 

demand has increased faster than previously anticipated. Multiple transmission upgrades scheduled to be completed in the 

West Texas area prior to this summer are expected to reduce the congestion and improve the reliability in the Permian Basin 

area. 

Some of the projected 2014 reliability constraints are planned to be addressed with operational solutions that may include 

temporarily reconfiguring the system, running less-efficient generation, or in some cases establishing a procedure to shed 

load in the event that a contingency occurs.

A stability assessment indicated that an N-1-1 contingency (loss of two 345 kV circuits) in southern Texas can potentially 

depress the voltage below 0.8 per unit if it occurred during peak load conditions. An existing UVLS scheme with less than 300

MW of load in the area can improve the voltage recovery to prevent a cascading event. 

No significant transmission equipment (i.e., SVC, FACTS controllers, HVdc) or UVLS schemes are expected to be in place before 

the upcoming summer. ERCOT has implemented two new SPSs in the West Texas area. ERCOT performs annual reviews of 

SPSs to determine if any can be retired and has identified and retired four such SPSs during its latest review. Additionally, two 

SPSs were modified due to new stations being built in the ERCOT system: Stanton SPS and Barney Davis SPS.

With respect to operational procedures for integrating variable renewable generation, no new procedures have been 

developed in time for the summer season. However, ERCOT is working with its wind forecaster to improve how the existing 

ERCOT Large Ramp Alert System (ELRAS) notifies operations staff of any predicted large ramps and is implementing a solar 

forecasting procedure.

 

42 ERCOT Regional Transmission Plan, released in October 2013.
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WECC

CAMX NWPP RMRG SRSG

Demand Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW)

Total Internal Demand 52,353 66,424 11,943 22,706

Total Demand Response - Available 1,955 1,073 535 388

Net Internal Demand 50,398 65,351 11,408 22,318

Demand Response Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW)

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Program Total 463 803 0 60

Direct Control Load Management (DCLM) - Available 437 657 0 60

Interruptible Load (IL) - Program Total 987 416 535 328

Interruptible Load (IL) - Available 984 416 535 328

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Program Total 534 0 0 0

Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR) - Available 534 0 0 0

Projected Resource Categories Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW) Megawatts (MW)

On-Peak Capacity 63,554 81,870 15,412 33,320

Net Firm Transfers 2,362 3,727 -276 -5,813

Anticipated Resources 65,916 85,597 15,136 27,507

Existing-Other 0 0 0 0

Prospective Resources 65,916 85,597 15,136 27,507

Planning Reserve Margins Percent (%) Percent (%) Percent (%) Percent (%)

Anticipated Reserve Margin 31.00 31.00 32.68 23.00

Prospective Reserve Margin 31.00 31.00 32.68 23.00

NERC Reference Margin Level 15.00 14.80 14.45 13.90

 CAMX NWPP RMRG SRSG

The Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) is one of eight Regional Entities in North America and is responsible for coordinating and promoting 

BES reliability in the Western Interconnection. WECC’s 329 members, including 38 Balancing Authorities, represent a wide spectrum of organizations with 

an interest in the BES. Serving an area of nearly 1.8 million square miles and approximately 81 million people, it is the largest and most diverse of the Regional 

Entities. WECC’s service territory extends from Canada to Mexico. It includes the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia in Canada, the northern portion 

of Baja California in Mexico, and all or portions of the 14 Western states in between.

Footprint Changes: In late 2013, Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power installed the ON Line transmission project, an 800 MW, 500 kV transmission line 

that connects the two BAs. With the transmission line addition, these two BAs were consolidated into one (Nevada Power), within the NWPP subregion. The 

Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power were removed from the SRSG and NWPP, respectively.

For the summer assessment, the WECC Assessment Area is divided into four subregions:

43 Northwest Power Pool (NWPP), 

Rocky Mountain Reserve Group (RMRG), Southwest Reserve Sharing Group (SRSG), and California/Mexico (CA/MX).44 These 

subregional divisions are used for this study as they are structured around Reserve Sharing groups that have similar annual 

demand patterns as well as similar operating practices.

The Anticipated and Prospective Reserve Margins for the four WECC subregions, and all zones within the subregions, are 

expected to exceed the NERC Reference Margin Level

45 for the upcoming summer season. The NERC Reference Margin Level

is calculated using a building block methodology46 created by WECC’s Loads and Resources Subcommittee. The elements of 

the building block margin calculation are consistent from year to year but the calculations can, and do, have slight annual 

variances by region and subregion. The reserve margins are adequate, due largely to the construction of power plants in 

anticipation of a load growth that was interrupted by the economic recession. It should be noted that abnormal weather 

conditions, either warmer or colder than average, would result in reserve margins different from those reported in this 

 

43 The terms “subregion” and “assessment area” are used interchangeably in this report.

44 Northwest Power Pool, Rocky Mountain Reserve Group, Southwest Reserve Sharing Group.

45 The NERC Reference Margin Level and all reserve margins are for planning purposes. Firm load would not be disrupted to maintain these margins. 

Rather, the margins are reference points that indicate areas that have lower reserves and tighter margins. The tighter margins are not forecasts of 

resource shortages. However, areas with tighter margins have a higher possibility, although not likelihood, of resource shortages associated with extreme 

events such as record-setting temperature deviations.

46 Elements of the Building Block Target are detailed in the NERC: Seasonal Assessment – Methods and Assumptions report.
WECC

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assessment. In addition, severe adverse weather conditions or unexpected equipment failure may result in localized power 

supply or delivery limitations.

The aggregate WECC 2014 summer total coincident peak demand is forecast to be 153,426 MW and is projected to occur in 

July. The forecast is 0.8 percent above last summer’s actual peak demand of 152,259 MW, which occurred with above-normal 

temperatures and improving economic conditions in portions of the region. The 2014 summer coincident peak demand 

forecast is 0.1 percent above last summer’s forecast coincident peak demand of 153,248 MW, reflecting increases in energy 

efficiency as well as continued slow demand growth associated with the economic downturn. All margin results assume 

demands associated with normal weather conditions. 

In 2013, more than 4,700 MW of thermal generation was retired, including 2,250 MW of nuclear generation, 909 MW of coalfired generation, and 1,588 MW of natural gas-fired generation. However, those retirements were replaced by more than 

9,500 MW of generation additions, including 1,206 MW of wind generation, 3,162 MW of natural gas-fired generation, and 

3,990 MW of solar generation. WECC continues to track and study the impacts on reliability, as well as other issues, associated 

with the retirement of large thermal generating units in response to higher air emission and water quality standards. 

Associated with the retirement of large coal-generating units is the increased demand on natural gas supply and 

transportation as natural gas becomes the primary fuel for new thermal generation. WECC is working with the natural gas 

industry to study potential impacts to reliability as the Western Interconnection becomes more reliant on natural gas-fired 

generation. Southern California, in CA/MX, is expected to have adequate reserves for the upcoming summer season, but this 

area could experience supply issues due to the retirement of the 2,250 MW San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and the 

expected reduced hydro generation associated with the drought conditions in California. However, CAISO reports that the 

retired capacity and the expected reduced hydro generation in Southern California, which has been lessened with improved 

precipitation, has been offset by 1,840 MW of natural gas-fired generation and 1,770 MW of solar generation installed during 

2013. 

WECC staff does not perform special operating studies concerning extreme weather or drought conditions for the seasonal 

assessments. However, these studies are performed by the individual LSEs and BAs within WECC, and none of these entities 

have reported any extreme weather or drought-related issues. In the event of extreme weather, margins may drop below 

planning margins, but it is not expected that any subregion will need to cut firm demand in order to maintain operating 

reserve margins. 

In addition to the Nevada ON Line project referenced above, the Montana Alberta Tie Line (MATL), a 300 MW, 230 kV 

transmission line between northern Montana and southern Alberta, entered service in June 2013. Although this line does not 

increase import capability into Alberta, due to internal constraints that limit imports to 800 MW, it does give Alberta increased 

operational flexibility for energy imports. 

On September 8, 2011, customers in Baja California, Mexico; southern California’s Imperial, Orange and San Diego counties; 

and a small portion of southwestern Arizona experienced a major power outage. Several entities within WECC have taken, or 

are in the process of taking, actions to prevent similar disturbances in the future. These actions include the implementation 

of additional real-time data exchange and coordination with additional entities in the Southwest. These processes will help 

facilitate a more detailed monitoring capability of neighboring systems in their energy management systems and real-time 

contingency analysis applications. In addition, the WECC Reliability Coordinator47 has coordinated the development of an 

interim monitoring procedure of the San Diego and Imperial Valley areas with specific actions that will be taken for overload 

conditions. In response to the June 5, 2012, letter sent by NERC to Regional Entity executives,

48 WECC has established an 

update page on the WECC website that reports on the status of “Key Categories of Findings and Recommendations” 

highlighted in the NERC letter. This page is updated monthly with the latest information concerning activities related to these 

recommendations. These updates are found on the September 8, 2011, Outage Event Response page on the WECC website.49

 

47 As of February 12, 2014, the WECC Reliability Coordinator—as part of the WECC bifurcation effort—became Peak Reliability, a wholly independent 

company.

48 NERC: Follow-Up Actions for September 8, 2011 Southwestern Blackout.

49 http://www.wecc.biz/About/sept8/Pages/default.aspx
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Appendix I: Reliability Assessment Subcommittee Roster

Reliability Assessment Subcommittee Roster

Name Position Represents Organization

Layne Brown Chair WECC* WECC

Amir Najafzadeh Vice Chair SERC* SERC

Richard Becker Member FRCC* FRCC

Philip A. Fedora Member NPCC* NPCC

Paul D. Kure Member RFC* RFC

Paul Walter Member MRO* ATC System Planning LLC

Lewis De La Rosa Member TRE* TRE

Alan C. Wahlstrom Member SPP RE* SPP RE

Brad Woods Member TRE TRE

Vince Ordax Member FRCC FRCC

John G Mosier Jr. Member NPCC NPCC

John Lawhorn Member MRO MISO

Salva R. Andiappan Member MRO MRO

Digaunto Chatterjee Member MRO MISO

Peter Wong Member NPCC ISO-NE

William B. Kunkel Member MRO MRO

Mark J. Kuras Member RFC PJM

Esam A.F. Khadr Member RFC PSE&G

Mohammed Ahmed Member RFC AEP

Barbara A. Doland Member SERC SERC

Hubert C. Young Member SERC SCE&G

K. R. (Chuck) Chakravarthi Member SERC Southern Company Services, Inc.

Ben Crisp Member SERC SERC

Gary S. Brinkworth Member SERC TVA

Chris Haley Member SPP RE SPP Inc.

Pete Warnken Member TRE ERCOT

James Leigh-Kendall Member WECC SMUD

Maria Haney Observer SERC SERC

Tina G. Ko Observer WECC BPA

David Burnham Observer FERC FERC

Alan Phung Observer FERC FERC

*Regional Entity Representative
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Appendix II: Seasonal Reliability Concepts

Seasonal Reliability Concepts

Demand Definition

Total Internal Demand

The sum of the metered (net) outputs of all generators within the system and the metered line flows into the system, 

less the metered line flows out of the system (forecast). Total Internal Demand includes adjustments for the indirect 

Demand-side management programs such as Conservation programs, improvements in efficiency of electricity use, 

and all nondispatchable demand response programs.

Demand Response – Available

The amount of controllable and dispatchable Demand-Side Management (DSM) programs expected to be available 

during peak demand. DSM is defined as all activities or programs undertaken by Load-Serving Entity or its customers 

to influence the amount or timing of electricity they use. For NERC assessments, the following four demand response 

programs are included: Direct Control Load Management (DCLM), Interruptible Load (IR), Critical Peak-Pricing (CPP) 

with Load Control, and Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR).

Net Internal Demand Total Internal Demand, less Demand Response – Available (Direct Control Load Management (DCLM), Interruptible 

Load (IR), Critical Peak-Pricing (CPP) with Load Control, and Load as a Capacity Resource (LCR).

Demand Response Definition

Direct Control Load 

Management (DCLM)

Demand-Side Management that is under the direct control of the system operator. DCLM may control the electric 

supply to individual appliances or equipment on customer premises. DCLM as defined here does not include 

Interruptible Demand. Note: This type of control usually reduces the demand of residential or small commercial 

customers. [Source: NERC Demand Response Availability Data Systems Definitions]. "Program Total" represents total 

enrolled in this program. "Available" represents the estimated amount of customer demand that will be interruptible 

at the time of peak hour demand by direct control of a system operator by interrupting power supply to individual 

appliances or equipment on customer premises. 

Interruptible Load (IR)

A program where the electrical consumption is subject to curtailment or interruption under tariffs or contracts that 

provide a rate discount or bill credit for agreeing to reduce Load during system contingencies. In some instances, the 

Demand Reduction may be affected by action of the System Operator, called “remote tripping,” after notice to the 

customer in accordance with contractual provisions. [Source: NERC Demand Response Availability Data Systems 

Definitions]. "Available" represents the estimated magnitude of customer demand that will be interruptible at the 

time of peak hour demand by direct control of a system operator by interrupting power supply to individual appliances 

or equipment on customer premises. "Program Total" represents the total amount of customer demand categorized 

as Interruptible Load (IL).

Critical Peak-Pricing (CPP) with 

Load Control

Price structure designed to encourage reduced consumption during periods of high wholesale market prices or system 

contingencies by imposing a pre-specified high rate or price for a limited number of days or hours. Critical Peak Pricing 

(CPP) with Direct Load Control combines Direct Load Control with a pre-specified high price for use during designated 

critical peak periods triggered by system contingencies or high wholesale market prices. [Source: NERC Demand 

Response Availability Data Systems Definitions] "Program Total" represents the total amount of customer demand 

enrolled in CPP programs. "Available" represents the magnitude of customer demand that, in accordance with 

contractual arrangements, can be interrupted at the time of peak hour demand by direct control of the System 

Operator or by action of the customer by responding to high prices of energy triggered by system contingencies or 

high wholesale market prices.

Load as a Capacity Resource 

(LCR)

Customers that commit to making pre-specified load reductions when system contingencies arise. [Source: NERC 

Demand Response Availability Data Systems Definitions] "Program Total" represents total amount of customer 

demand enrolled in LCR programs. "Available" represents the magnitude of customer demand that, in accordance with 

contractual arrangements, is committed to pre-specified load reductions when called upon when system 

contingencies arise.

Projected Resource Categories Definition

On-Peak Capacity Includes Existing-Certain and Planned-Tier 1 capacity projected to be operable and available to deliver power during 

peak demand.

Net Firm Transfers Total firm imports into the assessment area, minus firm exports out of the assessment area. All transfers are based 

on the existence of firm contracts.

Anticipated Resources On-Peak Capacity, plus Net Firm Transfers

Existing-Other Existing or planned generation resources that may be operable and available to deliver power during the peak demand, 

but may be curtailed or interrupted for various reasons.

Prospective Resources Anticipated Resource, plus Existing-Other resources.

Planning Reserve Margins Definition

Anticipated Reserve Margin Anticipated Resources, minus Net Internal Demand, Divided by Net Internal Demand

Prospective Reserve Margin Prospective Resources, minus Net Internal Demand, Divided by Net Internal Demand

NERC Reference Margin Level

The NERC Reference Margin Levels identified throughout the assessment are planning reserve margins and firm load 

would not be disrupted to maintain these margins. Rather, the margins are reference points that indicate areas that 

have lower reserves and tighter margins. The tighter margins are not forecasts of resource shortages. However, areas 

with tighter margins have a higher possibility, although not likelihood, of resource shortages associated with extreme 

events such as record-setting temperature deviations. Each Region/subregion may have their own specific margin level 

(or method) based on load, generation, and transmission characteristics as well as regulatory requirements. If provided 

in the data submittals, the assessment area’s target reserve margin level is adopted as the NERC Reference Margin 

Level. If not, NERC assigned 15 percent and 10 percent for predominately thermal and hydro systems, respectively.
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