Western stakeholders, SPP, stress positive connections in Seams Symposium

Carrie Simpson, SPP’s vice president of markets, stressed that all energy market participants are on the same team when it comes to reliably and efficiently delivering electricity throughout the western United States.

It’s up to SPP to lead and serve, she said.

“Market choice drives performance — when customers can choose where to participate, market operators have to earn that participation,” Simpson said.

Simpson gave the closing address to SPP’s “Seams Symposium” on Feb. 26 in Tempe, Ariz. SPP invited industry leaders from across the West to gather and find common ground and discuss how to bridge gaps.

Listen to the closing remarks here.

Carrie Simpson, SPP Vice President, Markets giving closing address at 2026 Western Seams Symposium.

In industry jargon, “seams” are boundaries, interfaces, or connecting points between two or more adjacent electricity markets, balancing authorities, or transmission systems. Without proper preparation and safeguards, these areas can create inefficiencies, high costs, and operational challenges.

SPP is expanding into the West offering utilities full membership in SPP as a regional transmission organization (RTO) partner or, on a more limited basis, in the Markets+ real-time and day-ahead energy trading market.

SPP leaders have worked extremely hard to reduce any complications from seams to ensure a smooth transition and market operation.

“How do multiple markets work without one big RTO?” Simpson asked. “Well, with shared common objectives: good coordination and communication – through data exchange, prioritizing common objectives, and building that trust enables seams to not be an issue.”

Simpson emphasized five principles for SPP and western participants:

·       Prioritize reliability

·       Improve market efficiency

·       Increase transparency

·       Seek fairness and reciprocity

·       Balance independence with inclusivity

“The key to seams is good coordination and communication between neighbors,” Simpson said. “Much of that good coordination and communication exists today and has for years. The next step is implementing it — together.”

Markets+ anticipates a launch in October 2027. RTO expansion is scheduled to start in April 2026.

SPP Chief Operating Officer Antoine Lucas gave opening remarks at the symposium.

Antoine Lucas, SPP Chief Operating Officer giving opening remarks at 2026 Western Seams Symposium.

“We want to ensure that as markets evolve, reliability is strengthened, that consumers are protected and that the effectiveness of the markets and the efficiencies that they can provide are gained by all customers,” Lucas said. “Competition and redundancy will actually strengthen the western grid.”

He added, “Competition increases efficiency and shapes and sharpens performance. Transparency builds trust. Fairness and reciprocity are what sustains cooperation.”

Topics covered during panels at the Seams Symposium included finding opportunities in seams, reliability coordination, grid security, and empowering progress.