Tacoma Power Transfer Tariff
Introduction
Tacoma Power prepared its “Strawman” in response to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Order No. 890. Tacoma Power’s Strawman is
composed of information outlined in this letter and the ColumbiaGrid May 24,
2007, ColumbiaGrid Policy Statement Regarding Order No. 890 Regional
Planning – Strawman Materials (ColumbiaGrid
Strawman). Tacoma Power’s Strawman describes how Tacoma Power plans to
meet the nine transmission planning principles outlined in Order No.890
(www.ferc.gov).
Background
In 2000, the Tacoma Public Utility Board approved Tacoma Power’s
Open Access Transfer
Tariff (Tariff). Tacoma Power’s Tariff was progressive and in alignment
with industry practice and the FERC’s pro forma Open Access Transmission
Tariff (OATT) established through Order No. 888 in 1996.
On February 16, 2007, FERC issued Order No. 890, which revises the OATT.
FERC proposes a number of revisions, including the addition of a
transmission planning attachment (Attachment K). Before finalization of
Attachment K, FERC has requested parties to post a Strawman which describes
how the organization plans to satisfy the following nine planning principles
outlined in Order No. 890: coordination, openness, transparency, information
exchange, comparability, dispute resolution, regional coordination, economic
planning studies, and cost allocation for new projects.
Discussion
Tacoma Power intends to revise its Tariff, and, among other things,
include an Attachment K. Tacoma Power’s Attachment K planning process for
its system will mesh with the planning processes of ColumbiaGrid for
multi-system projects, other local and sub-regional planning activities, and
the west-wide regional planning coordination services provided by WECC.
Tacoma Power is consulting with its transmission customer, stakeholders and
other transmission providers in the region as Tacoma Power develops
revisions to its Tariff.
Regional and Sub-Regional Transmission Planning Activities.
Tacoma Power is a ColumbiaGrid member and has executed Columbia Grid’s
Planning and Expansion Functional Agreement (PEFA). The PEFA provides a
foundation and process to coordinate planning activities on a regional basis
through a single-system approach for both public utility and non-public
utility transmission providers. The ColumbiaGrid Strawman delineates how the
PEFA planning process, including the roles of specific regional and
sub-regional transmission planning organizations, will meet the nine
transmission planning principles provided by Order No. 890.
Local Transmission System Planning Activities
The Tacoma Power Tariff contains applicable provisions that apply to
local transmission planning activities, including Tacoma Power’s Service
Agreements and its standard Network Operating Agreement. Tacoma Power has
utilized its Service Agreement and attendant instruments to share load data
and discuss relevant operation and maintenance issues to assist Tacoma Power
in planning the operation and expansion of its transmission system to meet
the Tariff customers’ needs. Tacoma Power will continue to utilize these
processes as well as the planning activities outlined in the Columbia Grid
Strawman.
Tacoma Power’s local planning process
supports a coordinated, open and transparent local
transmission planning as outlined in
Attachment K.
Conclusion
Tacoma Power solicits and welcomes comments. Please contact Catherine
Leone-Woods at (253) 502-8322 (cleone@cityoftacoma.org)
or Alan Cooke at (253) 502-8596 (acooke@cityoftacoma.org).
Sincerely,
Catherine Leone-Woods
Assistant Transmissions & Distribution Manager
Planning & Operations
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