PORTLAND, Ore. – The Western Power Pool Board of Directors yesterday voted unanimously to approve the tariff that will implement the Western Resource Adequacy Program (WRAP). Board approval was the final procedural step required before the tariff can be filed at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), anticipated for August 31, 2022.

“This is another major milestone leading us closer to making this first-of-its-kind program a reality,” said Sarah Edmonds, WPP President and CEO. “Resource adequacy is an urgent and immediate challenge, especially in the West, and requires this type of region-wide approach to address it.”

The board vote follows approval by the Western Resource Adequacy Program Participant Committee (RAPC) last week.  

The WPP published the draft tariff for review in mid-July. Stakeholders were invited to comment at a public webinar hosted by WPP on July 25. Feedback gathered at the webinar and provided in writing was incorporated into the updated draft that the RAPC and Board approved.

“Throughout this process we have remained committed to collaboration and transparency,” Edmonds said. “For three years, we have worked with regulators, participants, and stakeholders to shape the program. We’ve listened to stakeholder voices, embraced their comments, and refined the program design and the tariff itself to get to a solution supported by all participants.”

WPP remains on target to file the tariff with FERC by the end of the month. The filing would open a 30-day public comment period, and WRAP leadership welcomes stakeholders across the region to file supportive comments at FERC.

“As demonstrated by the approval of the WPP board, we are committed to working through the upcoming regulatory process with FERC and our participants to resolve any issues so that we can secure FERC approval,” Edmonds said.

FERC’s approval of the tariff would enable WRAP to set terms and conditions for participation and allow for governance changes to be made. WPP is hoping for a final order from FERC giving approval by the end of this year. The WRAP team also intends to confirm commitments from potential participants for the next phase of their participation by mid-December.

About the WRAP: WPP is launching the WRAP, which is the first region-wide reliability planning and compliance program in the history of the West. With coordination and visibility across participants, the WRAP paints a more accurate, regional picture of resource needs and supply. It delivers a region-wide approach for assessing and addressing resource adequacy, taking advantage of operating efficiencies, diversity, and sharing of pooled resources. So far, 26 utilities from the northwest, parts of the desert southwest, Canada and northern California have joined WRAP’s non-binding phase.

Media contact: For more information, contact Kevin Langbaum at kevin@kblcommunications.com.