One of the task items that NTAC received as a result of the Northwest Wind Integration Action Plan was the following:

FERC has also required that Transmission Providers:

Comply with new requirements on planning redispatch and conditional firm service (CFS) If customers request study of planning redispatch, Transmission Providers have an obligation to seriously evaluate the provision of planning redispatch from their own resources and provide customers with information on the capabilities of other generators to provide planning redispatch. If planning redispatch is unavailable from the Transmission Provider’s resources or inadequate to meet customers’ needs, Transmission Providers have an independent obligation to offer conditional firm, if available, as part of the firm point-to-point service. the Transmission Provider shall, at the request of the customer and in the system impact study, identify (1) the transmission upgrades necessary to provide the service, and (2) the options for providing service during the period prior to completion of those transmission upgrades. Additionally, if upgrades cannot be completed prior to expiration of the requested service term, the Transmission Provider shall, at the request of the customer and in the system impact study, identify options for providing the service during the requested term. The options studied by the Transmission Provider must include planning redispatch and conditional firm options. The Transmission Provider, at its discretion, may study and offer a mix of planning redispatch and conditional firm options for a single service request.

There is also a FERC requirement to look at third party redispatch and I believe a requirement to develop a regional approach to redispatch and Conditional Firm Service.

Since these items appear to be closely linked it would be beneficial to have a general discussion on the FERC items with regard to the overall NWPP footprint and the development of planning tools or planning strategies for wind development.

Chris Reese