Dive Brief:
- California is inviting power generators from other Western states to sell electricity in the state as part of its “energy imbalance market” (EIM).
- The California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO) last week approved the framework for the market expected to go live on Oct. 1, 2014. The planned market would enhance grid reliability, more efficiently integrate intermittent renewable power and save on wholesale energy costs.
- PacifiCorp is Cal-ISO's first EIM partner. It operates Pacific Power in Oregon, Washington and Northern California and Rocky Mountain Power in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. Nevada's NV Energy has also said it will ask state regulators to join the EIM.
Dive Insight:
“EIM marks a step forward in the West to more ably manage current complexities as the electric industry undergoes transformative changes to create a significantly cleaner energy network that enhances the utilization of renewables,” said ISO Board Chair Bob Foster. “By leveraging the ISO’s real-time market, a broad array of resources can be shared and economically dispatched. This strengthens grid reliability through enhanced real-time visibility across neighboring grids while matching energy needs with the lowest cost resources.”