WESTERN ELECTRICITY COORDINATING COUNCIL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE June 18, 2009 Salt Lake City, UT Base Case Coordination System (BCCS) Request For Information (RFI) Presented by: Randy Rhodes David Franklin

BCCS RFI The purpose of this RFI is to seek information from Responders qualified to provide WECC with a software solution for improved management of transmission planning data at a central location and improved coordination of transmission planning base cases. SRWG/TSS is seeking to improve the existing process by automating planning case development and review that are now done manually. These improvements are expected to both improve planning model accuracy and reduce manpower requirements. In this RFI, SRWG/TSS is seeking information that will likely be used in developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to supply and implement this software. 2

Back Ground History In July 2006, SRWG Evaluated The Base Case Process SRWG (Randy Rhodes) Meetings with WECC RC In Vancouver, WA PCC/OC Conference Call Meeting – May 29 th, 2009 OC agreed that a RFI would be the next step for BCCS 3

Planning Functions The two primary Planning deliverables are to deliver a construction plan and establish boundary operating conditions for the transmission system. To support these primary deliverables and other needs, Planners: Validate/establish path ratings Respond to generation interconnection requests Respond to transmission service requests Perform stability studies Examine major transmission changes Evaluate system device changes/additions/deletions Support the WECC Annual Study Program Support their company Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process Support TEPPC and other regional transmission planning needs 4

Current Base Case Preparation Process The current interaction process between Transmission Planners and WECC A base case generally requires 14 weeks or longer from data request to posting the base case on WECC website. currentbasecaseassembly.docx 5

SRWGs Evaluation Issues With The Current Base Case Preparation Process Process Manual Base Case Preparation Process Time Consuming for Area Coordinators Communication Data Submittal Consistency (Improved With Short Term Solution) Late Data submittals (Improved With Short Term Solution) Lack Viewing of Significant Additions Lack of a Centralized Data Base System 6

Planning Needs WECC's System Review Work Group (SRWG), as a representative of the transmission planning community, has tentatively established a set of needs and desired improvements to support the base case development process and aid the planning community as a whole. Needs and desired improvements are: Improve data entry Improve Area Coordinators Communication Independent of Power Flow Format Better data error checking and correction capability Store current/future year topologies of the system Add more automation to the planning process (less manual) Potentially increase the number of yearly base cases Be able to more efficiently make base case variations To have a more centralized data base Web based accessibility 7

Plannings Needs (Cont) Potentially develop longer-range cases (10-15 years) Increase efficient to assemble disturbance validation cases Improve data consistency/accuracy Need a way to help validate load modeling Need a way to validate dispatch patterns Capture any real-time scenario for examination Capture sequential system conditions for study Easy project additions for any year-out cases Model voltages below 100kV 8

BCCS Implementation WECC anticipates that this system could be hosted at the WECC facilities. The primary systems at that location include the EMS and associated model management environment. The following diagram illustrates the relationship between the BCCS and the WSM environment in the Reliability Centers in more detail. 9

BCCS Implementation (cont) The Full BCCS Implementation Will Take Place in Stages and in Coordination with the Further Development of the WSM. 10

SRWGs Conclusion Conceptual BCCS Although there are programs available to potentially meet planning needs, further evaluation is required to make that determination. West Wide System Model A tool to meet operations needs and to develop validation base cases Although the WSM meets some planning needs, additional tools are required to fully address base case preparation issues. For example, but not limited to: Model Voltages Below 100kV Identify Facility Outages When The Snap – Shot is Taken of the System Improve Interchange Discrepancies Improve Communication Between Area Coordinators Provide the ability to build long term base cases 11