Acronym World

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  • ACC

    Arizona Corporation Commission

  • ACE

    Area Control Error

  • ACORE

    American Council on Renewable Energy

  • AEP

    American Electric Power

  • AGC

    Automatic Generation Control

  • AMI

    Advanced metering infrastructure

  • APP

    America’s Power Plan
    A policy education project of Energy Innovation.

    America’s Power Plan is a platform for innovative thinking about how to manage the transformation happening in the electric power sector today.
    We curate expert information for decision-makers and their staffs, highlighting specific solutions to today’s most pressing policy, regulatory, planning, and market design challenges.

  • APS

    Arizona Pubic Service – power company

  • ARRA

    The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus bill)

  • ARRTIS

    Arizona Renewable Resource and Transmission Identification Subcommittee

  • ATC

    Available Transmission Capacity (i.e., that not reserved under contract)

  • AWEA

    American Wind Energy Association

  • BAA

    Balancing Authority Area (formerly known as Control Areas)

  • BART

    Best Available Retrofit Technology

  • BETC

    Business Energy Tax Credit

  • BLM

    Bureau of Land Management

  • BMP

    Best Management Practice

  • BPA

    Bonneville Power Administration

  • BTA

    Biennial Transmission Assessment (Arizona)

  • CAISO

    California Independent System Operator

  • CATS

    Central Arizona Transmission Study

  • CCPG

    Colorado Coordinated Planning Group

  • CCS

    Carbon capture and sequestration

  • CEDA

    Colorado’s Clean Energy Development Authority

  • CEM

    Continuous monitoring system

  • CEV

    Clean Energy Vision
    A comprehensive plan toward a clean energy future in the West.

  • CFE

    Mexico’s Comisión Federal de Electricidad

  • CLRTPG

    Colorado Long Range Transmission Planning Group (of CCPG)

  • CPCN

    Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

  • CPP

    Clean Power Plan
    The Clean Power Plan is a policy aimed at combating anthropogenic climate change (global warming) that was first proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency in June 2014, under the administration of US President Barack Obama. The final version of the plan was unveiled by President Obama on August 3, 2015.

  • CPUC

    California Public Utilities Commission

  • CREPC

    Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation (Western Governors’ Association)

  • CREZ

    Competitive Renewable Energy Zone

  • CRTS

    Colorado River Transmission Study

  • CTPG

    California Transmission Planning Group

  • DOE

    U.S. Department of Energy

  • DRECP

    Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (California)

  • EE

    Energy Efficiency

  • EEC

    Ely Energy Center

  • EHV

    Extra-high voltage

  • EIM

    Energy Imbalance Market (also known as the Western Energy Imbalance Market – not to be confused with SPP’s Western Energy Imbalance Service – which is a separate EIM)

  • EIR

    Environmental Impact Report

  • EIS

    Environmental Impact Study

  • EN-TI

    Eastern Nevada Transmission Intertie (proposed by NV Energy)

  • ERE

    NARUC Committee on Energy Resources and Environment

  • ESP

    Energy Supply Plan

  • ESS

    Electricity Service Supplier

  • EWG

    Environmental Work Group (of RETI)

  • EWG

    Energy Working Group (of WGA)

  • FERC

    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

  • FERC Project

    FERC Project – project of NRDC

  • FOA

    Funding Opportunity Announcement

  • GADS

    Generation Availability Data Systems (NERC)

  • GBT

    Great Basin Transmission

  • GEA

    Geothermal Energy Association

  • GHG

    greenhouse gases

  • GIPR

    Generation Interconnection Process Reform (of CAISO)

  • GIS

    Geographic Information System

  • GOED

    Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development

  • GRAC

    Generating Resource Advisory Committee (of NPCC)

  • HAWG

    Historical Analysis Workgroup (of the TEPPC TAS)

  • HTC

    Hydro-Thermal Co-optimization

  • IA

    Interconnection agreement

  • IEA

    Interwest Energy Alliance

  • IOU

    investor-owned utility

  • IPC

    Idaho Power Company (usually referred to as “Idaho Power” more often than its acronym)

  • IR

    Interconnection request

  • IRP

    Integrated resource planning

  • IRRP

    Integration of Renewable Resources Program (of CAISO)

  • ISO

    Independent System Operator – While utilities may own their own generating stations and power lines for distributing electricity to their customers, much of the operation of these assets occurs through their participation in a regional transmission organization (RTO), sometimes called an independent system operator (ISO). RTOs operate the transmission grid over a multi-state region on behalf of utilities—ensuring greater system reliability and reducing costs. As part of this process, RTOs “dispatch” power plants to start running as electricity demand increases, and they stop the plants when demand decreases. Typically, RTOs dispatch plants based on cost (lowest cost first), regardless of where in the multi-state region they may be located. As a result, overall cost and emissions implications can be complex, and may take little account of state borders.

  • ITAP

    Intra-Hour Transaction Accelerator Platform (being developed by WestConnect and NTTG; will facilitate integration of renewables)

  • ITC

    Investment Tax Credit

  • JGC

    Joint Guidance Committee (of WECC)

  • LBNL

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • LCOE

    Levelized Cost of Energy

  • LCRIF

    Location Constrained Resource Interconnection Facilities (in CAISO)

  • LGIP

    Large Generator Interconnection Procedure (CAISO)

  • LRA

    Local Regulatory Authority

  • LSA

    Load serving entity – responsible for specific portion of load in CA (part of RSO planning)

  • LSA (group)

    Large-Scale Solar Association

  • LSE

    load-serving entity

  • LTPTTF

    Long-Term Planning Tools Task Force (of TEPPC’s TAS)

  • MISO

    Midwest Independent System Operator

  • MWG

    Modeling Work Group (of TEPPC’s TAS)

  • NARUC

    National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

  • NIMBY

    Not in my back yard

  • NOS

    Network open service

  • NPC

    Nevada Power Company (more often referred to as “NV Energy”)

  • NPCC

    Northwest Power and Conservation Council

  • NRDC

    Natural Resources Defense Council

  • NREL

    National Renewable Energy Laboratory

  • NTTG

    Northern Tier Transmission Group

  • NWCC

    National Wind Coordinating Collaborative

  • NWEC

    NW Energy Coalition

  • OASIS

    Open Access Same Time Information System

  • OATT

    Open Access Transmission Tariff

  • ODOE

    Oregon Department of Energy

  • ON Line

    One Nevada transmission line project, being developed by LS Power and NV Energy. It will connect northern and southern NV for the first time.

  • OPUC

    Oregon Public Utility Commission

  • PAC

    PacifiCorp

  • PCC

    Planning Coordination Committee (of WECC)

  • PD

    Proposed Decision

  • PEAK

    Peak Reliability (Peak) was formed as a result of the bifurcation of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) into a Regional Entity (WECC) and a Reliability Coordinator (Peak). The bifurcation of WECC received final approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on February 12, 2014. Peak, a company wholly independent of WECC performs the Reliability Coordinator function in its RC Area in the Western Interconnection.

    WECC was formed on April 18, 2002, by the merger of the Western Systems Coordinating Council (WSCC), and two regional transmission associations. WSCC, WECC’s predecessor organization was organized in August 1967 to facilitate electric industry coordination in the planning and operations of the electric system in Western North America.

  • PEFA

    ColumbiaGrid’s Planning and Expansion Functional Agreement

  • PEIS

    Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

  • PG&E

    Pacific Gas and Electric

  • PGE

    Portland General Electric (not to be confused with PG&E which is Pacific Gas and Electric)

  • PIER

    Public Interest Energy Research

  • PIRP

    Participating Intermittent Resources Program (California)

  • POR/POD

    Point of Receipt/Point of Delivery

  • POU

    Publicly-owned utility (referred more often as “publics” rather than acronym)

  • PPA

    Power purchase agreement

  • PRPA

    Platte River Power Authority
    (not to be confused with PURPA – which is the Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act of 1978).

  • PSG

    Plenary Stakeholder Group (of CA RETI)

  • PTO

    Participating Transmission Owner (CAISO)

  • PUC

    State public utility commission (general term for these kinds of commissions)

  • PUCN

    Public Utilities Commission of Nevada

  • PV

    Photovoltaic (generation)

  • RA

    resource adequacy

    Today’s electric system is primarily composed of mechanical, largely thermal generators. Coal, gas, nuclear and hydro plants have predictable characteristics, from which utility planners have built expectations of performance and metrics that are used to ensure there is sufficient energy available to meet demand under widely varying conditions. This assurance is known as Resource Adequacy (RA). In its simplest form RA is determined by projecting expected demand for each hour of the year, then adding extra reserves to plan for unexpected events. Unexpected events can include loss of a generator or transmission segment, weather anomalies, etc.

  • RE

    Renewable energy

  • REDI

    Colorado’s Renewable Energy Development Infrastructure

  • RES

    Renewable Energy Standard

  • RETAAC

    Renewable Energy Transmission Access Advisory Committee (NV)

  • RETI

    California Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative

  • RETPP

    Renewable Energy Transmission Planning Process (proposed in CA)

  • REZ

    Renewable energy zone

  • RFI

    Request for Information

  • RMATS

    Rocky Mountain Area Transmission Study

  • RNW

    Renewable Northwest (previously known as Renewable Northwest Project) – based in Portland, OR.

  • RO

    Regional Organization
    (See Pathway Initiative Regional Organization).

  • ROD

    Record of Decision

  • RPS

    Renewable Portfolio Standard

  • RSO

    Regional System Operator

  • RTO

    Regional transmission organization – While utilities may own their own generating stations and power lines for distributing electricity to their customers, much of the operation of these assets occurs through their participation in a regional transmission organization (RTO), sometimes called an independent system operator (ISO). RTOs operate the transmission grid over a multi-state region on behalf of utilities—ensuring greater system reliability and reducing costs. As part of this process, RTOs “dispatch” power plants to start running as electricity demand increases, and they stop the plants when demand decreases. Typically, RTOs dispatch plants based on cost (lowest cost first), regardless of where in the multi-state region they may be located. As a result, overall cost and emissions implications can be complex, and may take little account of state borders.

  • SATS

    Southern Arizona Transmission Study

  • SCADA

    Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

  • SCE

    Southern California Edison Company

  • SCG

    Subregional Coordination Group (a WECC group)

  • SDG&E

    San Diego Gas & Electric

  • SEIA

    Solar Energy Industries Association

  • SPG

    Sub-regional Planning Group

  • SPSC

    State-Provincial Steering Committee (of WGA)

  • SPSG

    Scenario Planning Steering Group (of RETP)

  • SRP

    Salt River Project

  • SSC

    Stakeholder Steering Committee (of RETI)

  • SSPG

    Sierra Pacific Power Company

  • SWAT

    Southwest Area Transmission (Subregional Planning Group for AZ-NM, southern portions of Nevada, Utah and Colorado)

  • SWG

    Studies Work Group (of TEPPC’s TAS)

  • SWIP

    Southwest Intertie Project (Southern Idaho to Las Vegas)

  • TAC

    Transmission Access Charge

  • TAS

    Technical Advisory Subcommittee (of TEPPC)

  • TEPPC

    Transmission Expansion Planning Policy Committee (of WECC)

  • UCE

    Utah Clean Energy

  • UREZ

    Utah Renewable Energy Zones

  • USDOE

    U.S. Department of Energy

  • USFS

    U.S. Forest Service

  • UWIG

    Utility Wind Integration Group

  • VGS

    Variable Generation Subcommittee (of WECC’s JGC)

  • VSC

    Voltage Source Converter

  • WAPA

    Western Area Power Administration

  • WCEA

    Western Clean Energy Advocates

  • WCPSC

    Western Conference of Public Commissioners

  • WECC

    Western Electricity Coordinating Council

    The Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) is a non-profit corporation that exists to assure a reliable Bulk Electric System in the geographic area known as the Western Interconnection. WECC has been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the Regional Entity for the Western Interconnection. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) delegated some of its authority to create, monitor, and enforce reliability standards to WECC through a Delegation Agreement.

    WECC was formed on April 18, 2002, by the merger of the Western Systems Coordinating Council (WSCC), and two regional transmission associations. WSCC, WECC’s predecessor organization was organized in August 1967 to facilitate electric industry coordination in the planning and operations of the electric system in Western North America.

  • WEIB

    Western Interstate Energy Board

  • WEIL

    Western Electricity Industry Leaders

  • WEIM

    Western Energy Imbalance Market (also known informally as EIM since it was the first EIM in the region.  Not to be confused with SPP’s Western Energy Imbalance Service – which is a separate EIM)

  • WGA

    Western Governors’ Association

  • WGG

    Western Grid Group

  • WIA / WYIA

    Wyoming Infrastructure Authority

  • WIRAB

    Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body

  • WIRES

    Working Group for Investment in Reliable & Economic Electric Systems

  • WIST

    Columbia Grid/NTTG Wind Integration Study Team

  • WMEG

    Western Markets Exploratory Group

    The WMEG, which is made up of 14 western utilities, plans to explore the potential for a staged approach to new market services including day-ahead energy sales, transmission system expansion, power supply and grid solutions, and existing and emerging public policies.

    The Western Markets Exploratory Group (WMEG) today (March 23, 2022) announced the hiring of Utilicast, an energy consulting company, to evaluate regional market structures to improve affordability, reliability, and decarbonization opportunities across the West.

    The WMEG, which is made up of 14 western utilities (see list below), plans to explore the potential for a staged approach to new market services including day-ahead energy sales, transmission system expansion, power supply and grid solutions, and existing and emerging public policies.

    “Utilicast is excited to continue supporting our clients in this ambitious project to create a roadmap for greater regional market solutions in the West,” said Brian Holmes, Utilicast Director of Western Markets. “Having worked extensively in support of the evolution of independent system operator and regional transmission organization markets throughout North America, we look forward to helping the WMEG decide which path forward best meets their needs.”

    The group also hopes to identify market solutions that can help achieve carbon reduction goals while supporting reliable, cost-effective service for customers. WMEG anticipates Utilicast will develop this roadmap before the end of summer 2022.

    WMEG participants include Xcel Energy-Colorado, Arizona Public Service, Black Hills Energy, Idaho Power, NV Energy, Inc., PacifiCorp, Platte River Power Authority, Portland General Electric, Puget Sound Energy, Salt River Project, Seattle City Light, and Tucson Electric Power.

    With the recent addition of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Public Service New Mexico, the WMEG now consists of 14 entities representing nearly 70,000 MW of load and 13 million customers across the Mountain West, Desert Southwest, and Pacific Northwestern part of the Western Interconnection.

    Many of the organizations in the group are currently participating in, or preparing to join the California Independent System Operator’s Western Energy Imbalance Market or Southwest Power Pool’s Western Energy Imbalance Service Market.  WMEG’s discussions will not impact participation in or evaluation of those markets, as the group is focused on long-term market solutions.

    About the participating utilities: 

    Arizona Public Service

    APS serves more than 1.3 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties, and is a leader in delivering affordable, clean, and reliable energy in the Southwest. The company is committed to serving customers with 100% clean power by 2050. As owner and operator of Palo Verde Generating Station, the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free electricity, and with one of the country’s most substantial renewable energy portfolios, APS’s current energy mix is 50% clean. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW)

    Black Hills Corp.

    Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves over 1.3 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com.

    Idaho Power
    Idaho Power, headquartered in vibrant and fast-growing Boise, Idaho, has been a locally operated energy company since 1916. Today, it serves a 24,000-square-mile area in Idaho and Oregon. The company’s goal to provide 100% clean energy by 2045 builds on its long history as a clean-energy leader that provides reliable service at affordable prices. With 17 low-cost hydroelectric projects at the core of its diverse energy mix, Idaho Power’s residential, business and agricultural customers pay among the nation’s lowest prices for electricity. Its 2,000 employees proudly serve more than 600,000 customers with a culture of safety first, integrity always and respect for all.

    IDACORP Inc. (NYSE: IDA), Idaho Power’s independent publicly traded parent company, is also headquartered in Boise, Idaho. To learn more, visit idahopower.com or idacorpinc.com.

    Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
    The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the nation’s largest municipal utility, with 8,019 megawatts (MW) of electric capacity and serving an average of 435 million gallons of water per day to the more than 4 million residents of Los Angeles, its businesses and visitors. For more than 100 years, LADWP has provided the city with reliable water and power service in a cost effective and environmentally responsible manner

    NV Energy
    NV Energy provides a wide range of energy services to more than 1.5 million customers throughout Nevada and a typical tourist population of 54 million annually. NV Energy, Inc. is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, do business as NV Energy. NV Energy is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. Information about NV Energy is available on the company’s website, TwitterFacebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via nvenergy.com.

    PacifiCorp
    Innovating to power a better future for the West, PacifiCorp operates the largest grid in the western United States, serving the growing energy needs of 2 million customers through 17,645 miles of transmission lines over a service area of 141,503 square miles. Our operating divisions are leaders in providing safe, reliable and sustainable low-cost power. Pacific Power serves 800,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. Rocky Mountain Power serves 1.2 million customers in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.

    Platte River Power Authority
    Platte River Power Authority is a not-for-profit, community-owned public power utility that generates and delivers safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and financially sustainable energy and services to Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland, Colorado, for delivery to their utility customers. For more information, visit prpa.org.

    Portland General Electric
    Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon, with operations across the state. The company serves approximately 900,000 customers with a service area population of 2 million Oregonians in 51 cities. PGE owns 16 generation plants across Oregon and other Northwestern states and maintains and operates 14 public parks and recreation areas. For over 130 years, PGE has delivered safe, affordable and reliable energy to Oregonians. Together with its customers, PGE has the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the U.S. PGE and its 3,000 employees are working with customers to build a clean energy future. In 2020, PGE, employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.6 million and volunteered 18,200 hours with more than 400 nonprofits across Oregon. For more information visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/news.

    Public Service New Mexico
    With headquarters in Albuquerque, PNM is the largest electricity provider in New Mexico, serving more than 530,000 customers in dozens of communities across the state. PNM is a subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company also headquartered in Albuquerque. For more information, visit PNM.com

    Puget Sound Energy (PSE)
    Puget Sound Energy is proud to serve its neighbors and communities in 10 Washington counties. PSE is the state’s largest utility, supporting 1.2 million electric customers and nearly 900,000 natural gas customers.The company aspires to be a beyond net zero carbon energy company by 2045. For more about PSE, visit pse.com or follow on Facebook and Twitter.

    Salt River Project (SRP)
    SRP is a community-based, not-for-profit public power utility and the largest provider of electricity in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, serving more than 1 million customers. SRP is also the metropolitan area’s largest supplier of water, delivering about 750,000 acre-feet annually to municipal, urban and agricultural water users.

    Seattle City Light 
    Seattle City Light, one of the nation’s largest publicly owned utilities, generates and delivers affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible power to the homes, businesses, and communities we serve. We provide carbon-neutral electricity, generated primarily from carbon-free hydropower, to over 900,000 residents in Seattle and the surrounding areas.

    Tucson Electric Power
    TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to more than 438,000 customers in Southern Arizona. For more information, visit tep.com. TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis Inc. (TSX/NYSE: FTS), which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across Canada and in the United States and the Caribbean. For more information, visit fortisinc.com.

    Xcel Energy
    Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com

  • WPA

    Wind Powering America

  • WRA

    Western Resource Advocates

  • WREZ

    Western Renewable Energy Zone

  • WTLG

    Western Transmission Leadership Group (of NWCC)

  • WW&SIS

    Western Wind and Solar Integration Study

  • WWSIS

    Western Wind & Solar Integration Study (of NREL)

  • ZITA

    Zone Identification and Technical Analysis (of WREZ)

  • ACC

    Arizona Corporation Commission

  • ACE

    Area Control Error

  • ACORE

    American Council on Renewable Energy

  • AEP

    American Electric Power

  • AGC

    Automatic Generation Control

  • AMI

    Advanced metering infrastructure

  • APP

    America’s Power Plan
    A policy education project of Energy Innovation.

    America’s Power Plan is a platform for innovative thinking about how to manage the transformation happening in the electric power sector today.
    We curate expert information for decision-makers and their staffs, highlighting specific solutions to today’s most pressing policy, regulatory, planning, and market design challenges.

  • APS

    Arizona Pubic Service – power company

  • ARRA

    The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus bill)

  • ARRTIS

    Arizona Renewable Resource and Transmission Identification Subcommittee

  • ATC

    Available Transmission Capacity (i.e., that not reserved under contract)

  • AWEA

    American Wind Energy Association

  • BAA

    Balancing Authority Area (formerly known as Control Areas)

  • BART

    Best Available Retrofit Technology

  • BETC

    Business Energy Tax Credit

  • BLM

    Bureau of Land Management

  • BMP

    Best Management Practice

  • BPA

    Bonneville Power Administration

  • BTA

    Biennial Transmission Assessment (Arizona)

  • CAISO

    California Independent System Operator

  • CATS

    Central Arizona Transmission Study

  • CCPG

    Colorado Coordinated Planning Group

  • CCS

    Carbon capture and sequestration

  • CEDA

    Colorado’s Clean Energy Development Authority

  • CEM

    Continuous monitoring system

  • CEV

    Clean Energy Vision
    A comprehensive plan toward a clean energy future in the West.

  • CFE

    Mexico’s Comisión Federal de Electricidad

  • CLRTPG

    Colorado Long Range Transmission Planning Group (of CCPG)

  • CPCN

    Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

  • CPP

    Clean Power Plan
    The Clean Power Plan is a policy aimed at combating anthropogenic climate change (global warming) that was first proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency in June 2014, under the administration of US President Barack Obama. The final version of the plan was unveiled by President Obama on August 3, 2015.

  • CPUC

    California Public Utilities Commission

  • CREPC

    Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation (Western Governors’ Association)

  • CREZ

    Competitive Renewable Energy Zone

  • CRTS

    Colorado River Transmission Study

  • CTPG

    California Transmission Planning Group

  • DOE

    U.S. Department of Energy

  • DRECP

    Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (California)

  • EE

    Energy Efficiency

  • EEC

    Ely Energy Center

  • EHV

    Extra-high voltage

  • EIM

    Energy Imbalance Market (also known as the Western Energy Imbalance Market – not to be confused with SPP’s Western Energy Imbalance Service – which is a separate EIM)

  • EIR

    Environmental Impact Report

  • EIS

    Environmental Impact Study

  • EN-TI

    Eastern Nevada Transmission Intertie (proposed by NV Energy)

  • ERE

    NARUC Committee on Energy Resources and Environment

  • ESP

    Energy Supply Plan

  • ESS

    Electricity Service Supplier

  • EWG

    Environmental Work Group (of RETI)

  • EWG

    Energy Working Group (of WGA)

  • FERC

    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

  • FERC Project

    FERC Project – project of NRDC

  • FOA

    Funding Opportunity Announcement

  • GADS

    Generation Availability Data Systems (NERC)

  • GBT

    Great Basin Transmission

  • GEA

    Geothermal Energy Association

  • GHG

    greenhouse gases

  • GIPR

    Generation Interconnection Process Reform (of CAISO)

  • GIS

    Geographic Information System

  • GOED

    Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development

  • GRAC

    Generating Resource Advisory Committee (of NPCC)

  • HAWG

    Historical Analysis Workgroup (of the TEPPC TAS)

  • HTC

    Hydro-Thermal Co-optimization

  • IA

    Interconnection agreement

  • IEA

    Interwest Energy Alliance

  • IOU

    investor-owned utility

  • IPC

    Idaho Power Company (usually referred to as “Idaho Power” more often than its acronym)

  • IR

    Interconnection request

  • IRP

    Integrated resource planning

  • IRRP

    Integration of Renewable Resources Program (of CAISO)

  • ISO

    Independent System Operator – While utilities may own their own generating stations and power lines for distributing electricity to their customers, much of the operation of these assets occurs through their participation in a regional transmission organization (RTO), sometimes called an independent system operator (ISO). RTOs operate the transmission grid over a multi-state region on behalf of utilities—ensuring greater system reliability and reducing costs. As part of this process, RTOs “dispatch” power plants to start running as electricity demand increases, and they stop the plants when demand decreases. Typically, RTOs dispatch plants based on cost (lowest cost first), regardless of where in the multi-state region they may be located. As a result, overall cost and emissions implications can be complex, and may take little account of state borders.

  • ITAP

    Intra-Hour Transaction Accelerator Platform (being developed by WestConnect and NTTG; will facilitate integration of renewables)

  • ITC

    Investment Tax Credit

  • JGC

    Joint Guidance Committee (of WECC)

  • LBNL

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • LCOE

    Levelized Cost of Energy

  • LCRIF

    Location Constrained Resource Interconnection Facilities (in CAISO)

  • LGIP

    Large Generator Interconnection Procedure (CAISO)

  • LRA

    Local Regulatory Authority

  • LSA

    Load serving entity – responsible for specific portion of load in CA (part of RSO planning)

  • LSA (group)

    Large-Scale Solar Association

  • LSE

    load-serving entity

  • LTPTTF

    Long-Term Planning Tools Task Force (of TEPPC’s TAS)

  • MISO

    Midwest Independent System Operator

  • MWG

    Modeling Work Group (of TEPPC’s TAS)

  • NARUC

    National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

  • NIMBY

    Not in my back yard

  • NOS

    Network open service

  • NPC

    Nevada Power Company (more often referred to as “NV Energy”)

  • NPCC

    Northwest Power and Conservation Council

  • NRDC

    Natural Resources Defense Council

  • NREL

    National Renewable Energy Laboratory

  • NTTG

    Northern Tier Transmission Group

  • NWCC

    National Wind Coordinating Collaborative

  • NWEC

    NW Energy Coalition

  • OASIS

    Open Access Same Time Information System

  • OATT

    Open Access Transmission Tariff

  • ODOE

    Oregon Department of Energy

  • ON Line

    One Nevada transmission line project, being developed by LS Power and NV Energy. It will connect northern and southern NV for the first time.

  • OPUC

    Oregon Public Utility Commission

  • PAC

    PacifiCorp

  • PCC

    Planning Coordination Committee (of WECC)

  • PD

    Proposed Decision

  • PEAK

    Peak Reliability (Peak) was formed as a result of the bifurcation of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) into a Regional Entity (WECC) and a Reliability Coordinator (Peak). The bifurcation of WECC received final approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on February 12, 2014. Peak, a company wholly independent of WECC performs the Reliability Coordinator function in its RC Area in the Western Interconnection.

    WECC was formed on April 18, 2002, by the merger of the Western Systems Coordinating Council (WSCC), and two regional transmission associations. WSCC, WECC’s predecessor organization was organized in August 1967 to facilitate electric industry coordination in the planning and operations of the electric system in Western North America.

  • PEFA

    ColumbiaGrid’s Planning and Expansion Functional Agreement

  • PEIS

    Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

  • PG&E

    Pacific Gas and Electric

  • PGE

    Portland General Electric (not to be confused with PG&E which is Pacific Gas and Electric)

  • PIER

    Public Interest Energy Research

  • PIRP

    Participating Intermittent Resources Program (California)

  • POR/POD

    Point of Receipt/Point of Delivery

  • POU

    Publicly-owned utility (referred more often as “publics” rather than acronym)

  • PPA

    Power purchase agreement

  • PRPA

    Platte River Power Authority
    (not to be confused with PURPA – which is the Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act of 1978).

  • PSG

    Plenary Stakeholder Group (of CA RETI)

  • PTO

    Participating Transmission Owner (CAISO)

  • PUC

    State public utility commission (general term for these kinds of commissions)

  • PUCN

    Public Utilities Commission of Nevada

  • PV

    Photovoltaic (generation)

  • RA

    resource adequacy

    Today’s electric system is primarily composed of mechanical, largely thermal generators. Coal, gas, nuclear and hydro plants have predictable characteristics, from which utility planners have built expectations of performance and metrics that are used to ensure there is sufficient energy available to meet demand under widely varying conditions. This assurance is known as Resource Adequacy (RA). In its simplest form RA is determined by projecting expected demand for each hour of the year, then adding extra reserves to plan for unexpected events. Unexpected events can include loss of a generator or transmission segment, weather anomalies, etc.

  • RE

    Renewable energy

  • REDI

    Colorado’s Renewable Energy Development Infrastructure

  • RES

    Renewable Energy Standard

  • RETAAC

    Renewable Energy Transmission Access Advisory Committee (NV)

  • RETI

    California Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative

  • RETPP

    Renewable Energy Transmission Planning Process (proposed in CA)

  • REZ

    Renewable energy zone

  • RFI

    Request for Information

  • RMATS

    Rocky Mountain Area Transmission Study

  • RNW

    Renewable Northwest (previously known as Renewable Northwest Project) – based in Portland, OR.

  • RO

    Regional Organization
    (See Pathway Initiative Regional Organization).

  • ROD

    Record of Decision

  • RPS

    Renewable Portfolio Standard

  • RSO

    Regional System Operator

  • RTO

    Regional transmission organization – While utilities may own their own generating stations and power lines for distributing electricity to their customers, much of the operation of these assets occurs through their participation in a regional transmission organization (RTO), sometimes called an independent system operator (ISO). RTOs operate the transmission grid over a multi-state region on behalf of utilities—ensuring greater system reliability and reducing costs. As part of this process, RTOs “dispatch” power plants to start running as electricity demand increases, and they stop the plants when demand decreases. Typically, RTOs dispatch plants based on cost (lowest cost first), regardless of where in the multi-state region they may be located. As a result, overall cost and emissions implications can be complex, and may take little account of state borders.

  • SATS

    Southern Arizona Transmission Study

  • SCADA

    Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

  • SCE

    Southern California Edison Company

  • SCG

    Subregional Coordination Group (a WECC group)

  • SDG&E

    San Diego Gas & Electric

  • SEIA

    Solar Energy Industries Association

  • SPG

    Sub-regional Planning Group

  • SPSC

    State-Provincial Steering Committee (of WGA)

  • SPSG

    Scenario Planning Steering Group (of RETP)

  • SRP

    Salt River Project

  • SSC

    Stakeholder Steering Committee (of RETI)

  • SSPG

    Sierra Pacific Power Company

  • SWAT

    Southwest Area Transmission (Subregional Planning Group for AZ-NM, southern portions of Nevada, Utah and Colorado)

  • SWG

    Studies Work Group (of TEPPC’s TAS)

  • SWIP

    Southwest Intertie Project (Southern Idaho to Las Vegas)

  • TAC

    Transmission Access Charge

  • TAS

    Technical Advisory Subcommittee (of TEPPC)

  • TEPPC

    Transmission Expansion Planning Policy Committee (of WECC)

  • UCE

    Utah Clean Energy

  • UREZ

    Utah Renewable Energy Zones

  • USDOE

    U.S. Department of Energy

  • USFS

    U.S. Forest Service

  • UWIG

    Utility Wind Integration Group

  • VGS

    Variable Generation Subcommittee (of WECC’s JGC)

  • VSC

    Voltage Source Converter

  • WAPA

    Western Area Power Administration

  • WCEA

    Western Clean Energy Advocates

  • WCPSC

    Western Conference of Public Commissioners

  • WECC

    Western Electricity Coordinating Council

    The Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) is a non-profit corporation that exists to assure a reliable Bulk Electric System in the geographic area known as the Western Interconnection. WECC has been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the Regional Entity for the Western Interconnection. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) delegated some of its authority to create, monitor, and enforce reliability standards to WECC through a Delegation Agreement.

    WECC was formed on April 18, 2002, by the merger of the Western Systems Coordinating Council (WSCC), and two regional transmission associations. WSCC, WECC’s predecessor organization was organized in August 1967 to facilitate electric industry coordination in the planning and operations of the electric system in Western North America.

  • WEIB

    Western Interstate Energy Board

  • WEIL

    Western Electricity Industry Leaders

  • WEIM

    Western Energy Imbalance Market (also known informally as EIM since it was the first EIM in the region.  Not to be confused with SPP’s Western Energy Imbalance Service – which is a separate EIM)

  • WGA

    Western Governors’ Association

  • WGG

    Western Grid Group

  • WIA / WYIA

    Wyoming Infrastructure Authority

  • WIRAB

    Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body

  • WIRES

    Working Group for Investment in Reliable & Economic Electric Systems

  • WIST

    Columbia Grid/NTTG Wind Integration Study Team

  • WMEG

    Western Markets Exploratory Group

    The WMEG, which is made up of 14 western utilities, plans to explore the potential for a staged approach to new market services including day-ahead energy sales, transmission system expansion, power supply and grid solutions, and existing and emerging public policies.

    The Western Markets Exploratory Group (WMEG) today (March 23, 2022) announced the hiring of Utilicast, an energy consulting company, to evaluate regional market structures to improve affordability, reliability, and decarbonization opportunities across the West.

    The WMEG, which is made up of 14 western utilities (see list below), plans to explore the potential for a staged approach to new market services including day-ahead energy sales, transmission system expansion, power supply and grid solutions, and existing and emerging public policies.

    “Utilicast is excited to continue supporting our clients in this ambitious project to create a roadmap for greater regional market solutions in the West,” said Brian Holmes, Utilicast Director of Western Markets. “Having worked extensively in support of the evolution of independent system operator and regional transmission organization markets throughout North America, we look forward to helping the WMEG decide which path forward best meets their needs.”

    The group also hopes to identify market solutions that can help achieve carbon reduction goals while supporting reliable, cost-effective service for customers. WMEG anticipates Utilicast will develop this roadmap before the end of summer 2022.

    WMEG participants include Xcel Energy-Colorado, Arizona Public Service, Black Hills Energy, Idaho Power, NV Energy, Inc., PacifiCorp, Platte River Power Authority, Portland General Electric, Puget Sound Energy, Salt River Project, Seattle City Light, and Tucson Electric Power.

    With the recent addition of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Public Service New Mexico, the WMEG now consists of 14 entities representing nearly 70,000 MW of load and 13 million customers across the Mountain West, Desert Southwest, and Pacific Northwestern part of the Western Interconnection.

    Many of the organizations in the group are currently participating in, or preparing to join the California Independent System Operator’s Western Energy Imbalance Market or Southwest Power Pool’s Western Energy Imbalance Service Market.  WMEG’s discussions will not impact participation in or evaluation of those markets, as the group is focused on long-term market solutions.

    About the participating utilities: 

    Arizona Public Service

    APS serves more than 1.3 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties, and is a leader in delivering affordable, clean, and reliable energy in the Southwest. The company is committed to serving customers with 100% clean power by 2050. As owner and operator of Palo Verde Generating Station, the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free electricity, and with one of the country’s most substantial renewable energy portfolios, APS’s current energy mix is 50% clean. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW)

    Black Hills Corp.

    Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves over 1.3 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com.

    Idaho Power
    Idaho Power, headquartered in vibrant and fast-growing Boise, Idaho, has been a locally operated energy company since 1916. Today, it serves a 24,000-square-mile area in Idaho and Oregon. The company’s goal to provide 100% clean energy by 2045 builds on its long history as a clean-energy leader that provides reliable service at affordable prices. With 17 low-cost hydroelectric projects at the core of its diverse energy mix, Idaho Power’s residential, business and agricultural customers pay among the nation’s lowest prices for electricity. Its 2,000 employees proudly serve more than 600,000 customers with a culture of safety first, integrity always and respect for all.

    IDACORP Inc. (NYSE: IDA), Idaho Power’s independent publicly traded parent company, is also headquartered in Boise, Idaho. To learn more, visit idahopower.com or idacorpinc.com.

    Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
    The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the nation’s largest municipal utility, with 8,019 megawatts (MW) of electric capacity and serving an average of 435 million gallons of water per day to the more than 4 million residents of Los Angeles, its businesses and visitors. For more than 100 years, LADWP has provided the city with reliable water and power service in a cost effective and environmentally responsible manner

    NV Energy
    NV Energy provides a wide range of energy services to more than 1.5 million customers throughout Nevada and a typical tourist population of 54 million annually. NV Energy, Inc. is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, do business as NV Energy. NV Energy is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. Information about NV Energy is available on the company’s website, TwitterFacebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via nvenergy.com.

    PacifiCorp
    Innovating to power a better future for the West, PacifiCorp operates the largest grid in the western United States, serving the growing energy needs of 2 million customers through 17,645 miles of transmission lines over a service area of 141,503 square miles. Our operating divisions are leaders in providing safe, reliable and sustainable low-cost power. Pacific Power serves 800,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. Rocky Mountain Power serves 1.2 million customers in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.

    Platte River Power Authority
    Platte River Power Authority is a not-for-profit, community-owned public power utility that generates and delivers safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and financially sustainable energy and services to Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland, Colorado, for delivery to their utility customers. For more information, visit prpa.org.

    Portland General Electric
    Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon, with operations across the state. The company serves approximately 900,000 customers with a service area population of 2 million Oregonians in 51 cities. PGE owns 16 generation plants across Oregon and other Northwestern states and maintains and operates 14 public parks and recreation areas. For over 130 years, PGE has delivered safe, affordable and reliable energy to Oregonians. Together with its customers, PGE has the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the U.S. PGE and its 3,000 employees are working with customers to build a clean energy future. In 2020, PGE, employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.6 million and volunteered 18,200 hours with more than 400 nonprofits across Oregon. For more information visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/news.

    Public Service New Mexico
    With headquarters in Albuquerque, PNM is the largest electricity provider in New Mexico, serving more than 530,000 customers in dozens of communities across the state. PNM is a subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company also headquartered in Albuquerque. For more information, visit PNM.com

    Puget Sound Energy (PSE)
    Puget Sound Energy is proud to serve its neighbors and communities in 10 Washington counties. PSE is the state’s largest utility, supporting 1.2 million electric customers and nearly 900,000 natural gas customers.The company aspires to be a beyond net zero carbon energy company by 2045. For more about PSE, visit pse.com or follow on Facebook and Twitter.

    Salt River Project (SRP)
    SRP is a community-based, not-for-profit public power utility and the largest provider of electricity in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, serving more than 1 million customers. SRP is also the metropolitan area’s largest supplier of water, delivering about 750,000 acre-feet annually to municipal, urban and agricultural water users.

    Seattle City Light 
    Seattle City Light, one of the nation’s largest publicly owned utilities, generates and delivers affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible power to the homes, businesses, and communities we serve. We provide carbon-neutral electricity, generated primarily from carbon-free hydropower, to over 900,000 residents in Seattle and the surrounding areas.

    Tucson Electric Power
    TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to more than 438,000 customers in Southern Arizona. For more information, visit tep.com. TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis Inc. (TSX/NYSE: FTS), which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across Canada and in the United States and the Caribbean. For more information, visit fortisinc.com.

    Xcel Energy
    Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com

  • WPA

    Wind Powering America

  • WRA

    Western Resource Advocates

  • WREZ

    Western Renewable Energy Zone

  • WTLG

    Western Transmission Leadership Group (of NWCC)

  • WW&SIS

    Western Wind and Solar Integration Study

  • WWSIS

    Western Wind & Solar Integration Study (of NREL)

  • ZITA

    Zone Identification and Technical Analysis (of WREZ)