Southwest Power Pool Western Expansion: Progress Update

We'll be joined by Steve Johnson, Senior Director, Markets Administration, of the Southwest Power Pool to receive an update on their western expansion via their RTO and Markets + initiatives. Colorado Utilities are required by law to join an organized wholesale market by 2030, which should enhance efficiencies, lower wholesale energy costs, and provide for coordinated transmission development. It should also help better integrate renewable energy resources. Join us to learn how the market has worked as it has moved from the initial energy imbalance market to a full wholesale market (RTO) and what the future holds.

Steve Johnson joined Southwest Power Pool in August 2020 after a 20-year career with the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and was named SPP’s Senior Director of Markets Administration in 2023. He began his career in 1996 as an apprentice operator at Hetch Hetchy Water and Power near his hometown of Sonora, California, before joining Western Area Power Administration as a power system operator. Before transitioning to SPP, he served as WAPA’s Senior Vice President and Manager of the Colorado River Storage Project. Steve has extensive real-time operations experience, including hydroelectric plant operations, transmission operations, energy marketing, scheduling and accounting, balancing authority operations, and reliability coordination throughout the Western Interconnection.

Zoom registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UL6haruVTfW_kLYMc1wA6w#/registration

In his current role at SPP, Steve oversees the administration of the RTO’s day-ahead and congestion hedging markets. He was also an integral part of the team that facilitated SPP’s recent expansion of RTO operations into the Western Interconnection. Steve holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy Management from Bismarck State College.