The Southwest Power Pool and the California Independent System Operator submitted their joint report to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission outlining a coordinated approach to addressing future market seams issues as organized electricity markets continue to evolve across the Western Interconnection, SPP reported on Oct. 1.
"The report reflects extensive collaboration between the two market operators and input gathered through a series of public workshops involving regulators, transmission providers, balancing authorities, market participants, and other stakeholders throughout the West," SPP said,
SPP and CAISO identified six near-term objectives that reflect their shared prioritization.
It includes improving data exchange, enhancing model alignment, expanding education and training efforts, supporting implementation of the Western Interconnection Loading Relief and Enhanced Curtailment Calculator initiatives, developing processes to address for transmission constraints that are affected by multiple market areas, and a commitment to develop and publish a longer-term plan that evaluates opportunities for further enhancements to seams coordination.
Looking ahead, SPP and CAISO intend to formalize many of their shared commitments through a coordination agreement and to continue working closely with each other and stakeholders across the West to advance the priorities identified in the report.
"As western electricity markets continue to expand, both organizations remain committed to collaborative solutions that support reliable grid operations, transparent market outcomes, and the long-term success of the Western Interconnection," SPP said.
There is a thirty-day comment period for the report. SPP and CAISO have scheduled a fourth joint workshop for Oct. 22, 2026, with in-person attendance at WECC’s headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT.
