Evaluating Transmission Opportunities in Integrated Resource Plans

By Remy Franklin, Ben Fitch-Fleischmann

Download the Reports:

Part 1: How to Incorporate Transmission in IRP Models
Part 2: A Review of Interior West Utilities

As electric utilities respond to rising demand and cost pressures, Integrated Resource Planning must thoroughly evaluate the role of transmission in delivering reliable, least-cost generation portfolios. Yet many Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) still focus primarily on generation and either omit transmission completely or treat it as a fixed constraint rather than a flexible investment choice. This limits utilities’ ability to identify lower-cost solutions and better manage reliability risks.

Interwest has published a two-part report that explains how to incorporate transmission in IRP models and how interior west utilities evaluate transmission opportunities in recent IRPs. 

• Part 1 reviews how utilities can incorporate transmission in capacity expansion models, production cost models and IRP scenarios and analysis.
• Part 2 offers an in-depth review of five recent IRPs, with specific examples of how utilities implement each method. The utilities reviewed include: 
  • Arizona Public Service
  • NV Energy
  • PacifiCorp
  • Public Service Company of New Mexico
  • Salt River Project