SPP demonstrating innovation with large loads

SPP is generating national attention through its innovative processes to connect large load customers to the grid.

Allison Clements, a former member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), was recently quoted in RTO Insider saying she’s impressed with SPP’s “proactive approach” in study and efficiency toward facilitating the build-out of large loads.

“That helps to maintain affordability and reliability [while] still getting these data centers hooked up,” she said, urging the entire industry to adopt SPP’s model.

In January, FERC approved SPP’s High Impact Large Load (HILL) tariff change which incorporates transmission, generation, and load interconnection into a single evaluation.

HILL includes an efficient 90-day study process for connecting large loads to the grid when paired with new generation or planned generation.

Natasha Henderson, Senior Director of Grid Asset Utilization

“The impetus was speed to reliable power,” SPP Senior Director of Grid Asset Utilization Natasha Henderson said.

SPP’s initiatives would also enhances the ability of load to come online prior to full transmission build out or service procurement, including mitigating the risk associated with the loss of power to these loads. This feature is part of the Conditional High Impact Large Load (CHILL) product recently approved by FERC.

Henderson explained that CHILL does not provide a firm source of power. So, in cases of loss of power in the grid, large loads receiving power under CHILL would be subject to curtailment, or loss of power in extreme circumstances.

But adding generation at the same location as large load would reduce the chance that SPP will need to turn off the CHILL load.

SPP, in developing these innovative processes, learned from recent large-scale power losses in Texas and in Spain. SPP’s procedures ensure that large loads don’t ramp up and down too quickly, or trip in response to system events inappropriately, either of which can disrupt power delivery.

“Grid operators need to have predictable behavior and interactions with the grid to ensure the system can ride through events [that cause stress to the grid],” Henderson said.

With assistance from a task force called CARE (Cost Control & Allocation Review and Evaluation), the Regional State Committee (RSC), which consists of a regulatory commissioner from each of the states within the SPP footprint, is discussing costs affecting large loads. The goal is to allocate transmission costs necessary to serve large loads in a way that minimizes impacts on other types of loads.

“The RSC is a critical partner for SPP, especially in the paradigm that we're in now, to ensure SPP cost allocations for the RTO takes into account what is best for all of the states,” Henderson said.

The CARE recommendations are expected to be considered by the SPP Board and RSC in November.