Advancing Technology

As technology and public policy advance at a rapid pace, SPP collaborates with its stakeholders to learn and understand their needs; apply our regional, member-driven strategic approach to the development of new policies, market practices and software applications; and advocate on their behalf throughout the industry.

Through our proven stakeholder process and thoughtful embrace of technology, we ensure electric reliability; hedge against bad investments; and facilitate collaborative, trusting relationships among our members and their customers.

Learn

SPP coordinates with peers and industry experts, conducts evaluations of member efforts and presents findings to members and stakeholders to further efforts to learn about emerging technologies.

• IRC Emerging Technologies Task Force
  • SPP participates in the ISO/RTO Council’s (IRC) Emerging Technologies Task Force to share experiences and objectives regarding the adoption of emerging technologies.  
  • The group collected data and assessed each technology’s current use in grid operations.
  • The collaboration and data collection resulted in a public-facing report about emerging technologies and related policy questions.
• Member surveys
  • Collaborating with the Synchrophasor Strike Team to gather data related to the availability of PMU data
  • Implementing a distributed energy resource survey as a part of the Supply Adequacy Working Group’s Resource Adequacy Workbook
• Stakeholder education
  • SPP hosted a Technology Expo where members were invited to learn about topology optimization, dynamic line ratings, energy storage, etc.
  • SPP facilitated a panel discussion among members at the 2017 Variable Generation Workshop targeted with sharing experiences and goals for integrating variable generation.
  • SPP conducted a PMU Workshop preceding the Markets and Operations Policy Committee meeting to share what we’ve learned through participation with NASPI, NERC Synchronized Measurement Subcommittee and visits with other ISO/RTO’s regarding their synchrophasor initiatives.

Plan

SPP facilitates the coordination and prioritization of efforts related to emerging technologies both internally and through stakeholder processes.

• The Synchrophasor Strike Team thoughtfully plans SPP’s implementation of synchrophasor technology and coordinates the development of a business case and planning criteria for SPP member use.
• The Market Working Group allows stakeholders to plan for advanced technologies. The group has revised governing documents to prepare for increases in solar resources and is evaluating mechanisms for stored energy resources and ramp products to address the growing variability of the resource mix.
• The Operating Reliability Working Group helps maintain reliability of the bulk electric system by preparing stakeholders for the change in resource fuel mix and technological changes in operating through changes in policy, tools and procedures.

Implement/Advocate

SPP collaborates with stakeholders to prepare the organization and its membership for the reliable and economic incorporation of emerging technologies.

• SPP utilizes the Revision Request process to create policies where all interests are considered.
• SPP represents its membership at the ISO/RTO level and advocates on their behalf.
• SPP also helps the membership evolve with regulatory and other outside drivers when necessary.