Press Releases
SPP names Emily Pennel chief of staff
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has named Emily Pennel as chief of staff reporting to incoming president and chief executive officer Lanny Nickell, effective April 1.
Read MoreSPP names Carrie Simpson new Vice President of Markets
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has chosen Carrie Simpson to serve as Vice President of Markets, effective April 1. Simpson currently serves as SPP’s Senior Director of Seams and Western Services. She will fill the role vacated by Antoine Lucas, recently named SPP’s new chief operating officer (COO).
Read MoreSPP names Felek Abbas senior vice president, chief technology and security officer
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has selected Felek Abbas as senior vice president, chief technology and security officer, effective March 3. The new position combines Abbas’ current duties as chief security officer with new responsibilities for overseeing information technology and corporate facilities.
Read MoreMarkets+ phase two development confirmed with western market commitments
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Weeks after receiving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) approval of the Markets+ Tariff, Southwest Power Pool (SPP) announced Feb. 14 it has received commitments sufficient to support the financing necessary for the next phase of development. Commitments from Arizona Public Service, Bonneville Power Administration, Chelan County PUD, Grant County PUD, Powerex, Salt River Project, Tacoma Power and Tucson Electric Power will support the build out of market systems beginning in Q2 2025 in anticipation of the market's launch.
Read MoreSPP names Kevin Bryant EVP, Stakeholder Affairs and Chief Strategy Officer
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) incoming President and CEO Lanny Nickell announced Feb. 4 that Kevin Bryant will join the organization as its first Executive Vice President of Stakeholder Affairs and Chief Strategy Officer. In this new role, Bryant will oversee development and execution of SPP’s corporate strategy; lead the administration of SPP’s independent and inclusive stakeholder process; and direct the management of the organization’s relationships and communications with internal and external stakeholders, including member companies and market participants in the Eastern and Western Interconnections, neighboring utilities and grid operators, regulators, elected officials, the media and the public across SPP’s expanding service territory.
Read MoreSPP’s Markets+ tariff receives FERC approval
SPP’s proposed Markets+ service reached a significant milestone Jan. 16 when it received approval of its tariff by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Markets+ is the regional, day-ahead energy market developed in collaboration between SPP and more than 30 western entities, anticipated to launch in 2027. This milestone achievement allows participants to begin phase two of Markets+ development following the execution of phase-two funding commitments.
Read MoreSPP names Antoine Lucas as new chief operating officer
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) announced Jan. 14 that Antoine Lucas will become its executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) effective April 1. Lucas joined SPP in 2007 and currently serves as vice president of markets. He will succeed current COO Lanny Nickell, who was selected to serve as SPP’s new president and CEO effective April 1.
Read MoreSouthwest Power Pool board names Lanny Nickell as new president and CEO
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) board of directors announced Dec. 17 that Lanny Nickell has been selected to serve as the organization’s new president and CEO effective April 1, 2025. Nickell is currently SPP’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Read MoreSPP Projects Confidence in Meeting Energy Needs This Winter
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — 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 this winter.
Read MoreCarrie Bivens named vice president of SPP Market Monitoring Unit
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Southwest Power Pool's (SPP) Board of Directors has named Carrie Bivens the new vice president of SPP's Market Monitoring Unit (MMU), effective December 2.
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