Press Releases
Southwest Power Pool Board of Directors announces new leadership
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Board of Directors, a regional power grid operator that ensures access to reliable and affordable electricity, announced Raymond Hepper assumed the role of board chair, effective Aug. 12.
Read MoreMarkets+ phase two governance begins with key Western commitments
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP)’s Markets+, its Western day-ahead market, marked a significant milestone this week 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.
Read MoreSPP consolidated planning process to reduce costs and help meet nation’s growing energy needs
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Years of collaboration among Southwest Power Pool (SPP) staff and stakeholders to accelerate and improve regional transmission planning culminated today with the SPP Board of Directors’ approval of the Consolidated Planning Process (CPP). This new approach replaces legacy study methods, leveraging industry best practices, advanced technology and decades of expertise to provide a modern blueprint for keeping the regional grid reliable and affordable.
Read MoreSPP ANNOUNCES PROMOTION, RETIREMENT
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Southwest Power Pool (SPP) today announced the pending retirement of a longtime, highly respected member of its executive team and the promotion of another long-tenured leader who will fill the position.
Read MoreSouthwest Power Pool Celebrates Landmark Federal Approvals Advancing Regional Resource Adequacy
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Southwest Power Pool (SPP) today announces a milestone in its commitment to securing a reliable energy future for the region: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved SPP’s performance-based accreditation (PBA) and effective load carrying capability (ELCC) methodologies and its innovative Expedited Resource Adequacy Study (ERAS) process.
Read MoreSPP names external affairs and markets leadership positions
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Southwest Power Pool (SPP), the regional transmission organization (RTO) serving 14 states across the central United States, is pleased to announce two key appointments that will help shape and lead its pursuit of strategic opportunities and continued growth:
• Emily Shuart as senior director, external affairs and stakeholder relations, effective Sept. 2
• Carrie Dixon as technical director, market policy and operations, effective Aug. 4
SPP publishes report on April 26, 2025 load-shed event
SPP published its comprehensive report on the April 26 load-shed event in Northwest Louisiana that analyzes the event, identifies the main causes that led to the need to shed load, examines how SPP responded during and after the event, and provides actionable recommendations and improvements to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Read MoreMarkets+ phase two development begins with secured financing
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Markets+, SPP’s western day-ahead and real-time market, reached a major milestone this week as it entered the second phase of development, backed by secured financing to cover the $150 million needed for full market implementation.
Read MoreSPP Partners with Hitachi to Develop Advanced AI Solution
SANTA CLARA, Calif. and LITTLE ROCK, Ark., June 5, 2025 – Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) and Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) today announced a strategic partnership to solve critical and imminent problems slowing the modernization of U.S. energy infrastructure. The partnership will produce an integrated AI-based solution that accelerates generator interconnection (GI) by reducing study analysis times by 80% while also informing faster, higher-quality decision-making by GI customers. This will markedly improve SPP’s ability to facilitate the addition of its 14-state region’s generating capacity to keep pace with increasing demand for electricity.
Read MoreSPP forecasts anticipate higher-than-normal summer temperatures, high likelihood of meeting regional demand for electricity
Southwest Power Pool (SPP), responsible for coordinating electric reliability in a 14-state area in the central United States, expects to have enough generation to meet energy demand despite higher regional temperatures this summer. SPP will present its summer reliability forecast during its bi-annual Seasonal Preparedness and Emergency Communications User Forum meeting May 19.
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