On November 30, 2022, Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which serves all or parts of 14 states in the central U.S., published details of its proposed Markets+ service.[1] SPP has been working with Western stakeholders since December 2021 to sketch out a day-ahead and real-time market. The proposed bundle of services would centralize day-ahead and real-time unit commitment and dispatch, utilize hurdle-free transmission service across its footprint, and allow for the reliable integration of renewable generation. This set of services would build on SPP’s Western Energy Imbalance Services market, which began operating in 2021. The market will provide a voluntary, incremental opportunity for utilities that see value in these services but are not ready to be a member in a regional transmission organization (RTO).

SPP’s plan includes a two-phase development process for the Western market. During phase one, potential participants and stakeholders will commit to the market. SPP plans to begin reaching out to interested parties in December 2022, and any parties interested in joining must sign up by April 2023. Upon approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), SPP will launch the second phase, during which SPP will acquire necessary software and hardware while participating entities fully commit to fund and are integrated into the system.

[1] https://www.spp.org/newsroom/press-releases/southwest-power-pool-releases-detailed-proposal-for-western-energy-market/