Southwest Power Pool, Inc.’s Markets+, its Western day-ahead market, recently marked a significant milestone when it officially launched phase two governance.
The Markets+ Participant Executive Committee (MPEC) met Aug. 12 to approve phase two working group and task force rosters, establishing the governance structure that will guide Markets+ through implementation.
SPP on Aug. 14 reported that 40 entities have committed to participate in Markets+ phase two governance, which enables them to hold seats and vote on market design initiatives.
Participation in phase two governance is separate from a commitment to participate and fund the market. Any entity interested in joining Markets+ before launch is encouraged to request an agreement, the grid operator said.
"After securing financing and beginning system development in June, SPP proudly celebrates the regulatory and industry momentum in support of a transformative organized market initiative for the Western Interconnection," it said.
The following list of Markets+ phase two participants includes utilities, clean energy advocates, renewable energy developers and regulatory bodies across the Pacific Northwest, Desert Southwest and Rocky Mountain regions across the Western United States and Canada, demonstrating broad stakeholder engagement in the market’s development and implementation, it said:
Advanced Power Alliance
- Northwest Requirements Utilities
American Clean Power Association - NW Energy Coalition
- Arizona Public Service
- Pattern Energy
Basin Electric Power Cooperative - Powerex Corp
- Black Hills Power, Inc.
- Public Generating Pool
- Bonneville Power Administration
- Public Power Council
- Chelan County Public Utility District
- Puget Sound Energy
- Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power
- Renewable Northwest
- Clatskanie Peoples Public Utility District
- Salt River Project
- Clean Energy Buyers Association
- Shell Energy US
- Colorado Energy Office
- Snohomish County Public Utility District
- CORE Electric Cooperative
- Tacoma Power
- EDP Renewables North America, LLC
- The Energy Authority, Inc.
- Grant County Public Utility District
- Tri-state Generation and Transmission Association
- Idaho Power
- Tucson Electric Power
- Interwest Energy Alliance
- Voltus
- Leeward Energy
- Western Energy Freedom Action
- Lewis County Public Utility District
- Western Power Trading Forum
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- Western Resource Advocates
- Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition
- Xcel Energy Colorado
"The commitment from these diverse stakeholders represents unprecedented collaboration across the Western Interconnection," said Carrie Simpson, SPP vice president of markets. "Markets+ provides a stakeholder-driven structure that delivers the coordination benefits essential for grid modernization and renewable energy integration."
SPP received funding commitments from nine utilities in the Western Interconnection Aug. 12. More information about registration, including deadlines, is available on SPP's website.
SPP filed the Markets+ Tariff March 29, 2024, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the tariff Jan. 16.
Markets+ is expected to launch October 2027.
