The Council has adopted a Resource Adequacy Pilot Capacity Standard for the Pacific Northwest. The capacity standard represents the third and final phase in the development of a resource planning standard for the regional power supply. The Resource Adequacy Energy Standard (phase 1) was adopted in May of 2006 and the Warning Implementation Plan (phase 2) was adopted in November. This three-phase standard was developed, over nearly a two year period, by the Resource Adequacy Forum (Forum) — a committee created and sponsored jointly by the Council and the Bonneville Power Administration. The Council recommends that this pilot standard be used as an interim guide for regional entities to inform their resource planning efforts. The Council also recommends that this interim standard be submitted to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) in order to inform WECC’s ongoing process to develop West-wide adequacy standards.
The pilot capacity standard is defined as the surplus sustained peaking capability (in percent) over the expected peak load over the peak duration period. This standard differs from capacity standards in other regions in that it measures the balance between resources and loads over an extended period of hours, rather than just a single hour. Because the hydroelectric system's maximum generating capability declines significantly as the peak load period increases, a sustained generating assessment must be used. The interim capacity targets are 25 percent for winter and 19 percent for summer. It is anticipated that these targets will change over the course of this next year as the Forum completes the process of calibrating the analytical models and validating the data used to develop these values.
