Natural Gas Infrastructure Assessment Jim Robb Chief Executive Officer Western Electricity Coordinating Council

Western Electricity Coordinating Council Study Purpose Identify potential future reliability risks related to the current and future natural gas infrastructure Contingencies Identify key natural gas related contingencies that should be included in utility planning Dependence Highlight risks associated with increasing dependence on gas—communicate to key policy makers Mitigation Identify risk mitigation options for policy maker and utility consideration Western Electricity Coordinating Council

Western Electricity Coordinating Council Key Concerns How secure and reliable is the gas supply? Supply restrictions due to weather or other supply disruptions Impacts of firm vs. interruptible contracts Can and will any needed new infrastructure be built in a timely manner? Challenges in permitting and siting Is there adequate flexibility to meet future electric system operational needs? Use of storage as a “shock absorber” to balance increasing ramping needs Use of storage and pipeline pack to meet deliverability requirements How should mid-stream risks be factored into electric reliability planning? Critical storage fields Critical processing facilities Interstate pipeline availability Western Electricity Coordinating Council

Western Electricity Coordinating Council Proposed Scope Western Interconnection BES, with primary focus on US-based generation Future scenario based on WECC’s 2026 Common Case load forecast, resource mix, and transmission topology Rely on public sources for other needed information (e.g., core gas loads) Western Electricity Coordinating Council

Western Electricity Coordinating Council Deliverables Map BES assets to natural gas infrastructure and identify key points of vulnerability Assess infrastructure adequacy to meet future needs based on 2026 Common Case Assess the firmness of Western Interconnection gas supply and transportation contracts (ROP 1600 Request) Identify key planning contingencies for utility planners to consider Western Electricity Coordinating Council

Deliverables (continued) Identify and assess risks of supply-side constraints and options for planning around them (e.g., Mexican gas exports) Identify operating protocol issues that should be reconciled Identify one or more “stress test” scenarios (e.g., weather and/or infrastructure failure stresses) and assess risk of cascading electric outage Suggest mitigation options for reducing any identified risks Western Electricity Coordinating Council

Technical Advisory Committee Project Structure Steering Committee J. Robb, Chair 3-4 WEIL Members 1-2 Policy-Regulatory 1-2 Natural Gas Industry Core Team WECC Staff Gas Consultant Technical Advisory Committee Electric Gas WIRAB NGO NERC Other TBD Western Electricity Coordinating Council

Western Electricity Coordinating Council Next steps Factor in responses from WEIL, WIRAB, WECC MAC and NERC Technical session review with WECC Board in March RFP for consulting support in March, selection in April Establish data sharing protocols once consultant selected Initiate project mid-year Western Electricity Coordinating Council