The diversity of the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC) membership provides a unique opportunity to identify common interests, share perspectives, learn from each other, and have frank, valuable discussions to ensure members understand where their interests overlap and why they diverge when they do.
PNUCC provides the only regional utility perspective of loads, resources, and future power supply through the annual development of the Northwest Regional Forecast. This work gives us a fundamental starting point for addressing regional power issues and providing members and decision-makers facts about the state of the Northwest power system and industry.
PNUCC remains alert to emerging issues and will bring perspectives from inside and outside the Northwest to members. PNUCC will be a conduit for sharing information and provide forums for thoughtful discussion on policy issues, opportunities, and challenges of regional importance.
Key Issues
PNUCC focuses on key issues facing the Northwest power industry and keep our ear to the ground as new issues emerge. The Board of Directors, Collaborative, System Planning Committee, and other ad hoc groups provide the structure to tackle this Member Agenda, a.k.a. our work plan.
- Regional Power Supply & Demand Picture (Resource Adequacy)
- Northwest Regional Forecast – utility perspective of loads, resources and future power supply
- Understand the latest analytical and planning approaches for adapting electrification and incorporating climate change
- Stay current on the state of the power system, utility IRPs
- Track the development of the Western Resource Adequacy Program (WRAP)
- Understand peak capacity needs and options available to meet clean energy goals
- Understand current energy storage, other nascent technologies and opportunities for the West
- Continue to be the knowledge sharing forum for system planners and other technical experts
- Identify and weigh in on the Council’s power planning efforts impacting Northwest utilities
- Actively participate on the Council’s Resource Adequacy, System Analysis and other advisory committees as warranted
- Continue to provide regular updates of the Council meetings/activities
- Clean Energy Transition and Changes to Electric Utility Business
- Evaluate the implications of deep decarbonization and electrification
- Explore emerging technologies
- Share experiences with more flexible and nimble approaches
- Bring lessons learned from new business/customer relations
- Promote the value of Northwest carbon-free generation
- Track the progress we’re making and the challenges we still face
- Transmission Infrastructure
- Encourage work to enhance the transmission system to efficiently deliver a changing power system
- Explore opportunities for increasing support of new projects
- Support coordination with Western states
- Call together ad hoc work group(s) when/if warranted to advance regional solutions
- Western Wholesale Market Developments
- Be a clearinghouse for sharing what is happening in the various efforts relative to markets
- Seek opportunity to provide clarification and understanding as proposals are considered
- Work collaboratively to evolve, modernize and realize the benefits of a well-functioning market
- Emerging Issues
- Provide opportunities for discussion of new issues at the forum
- Organize ad hoc workgroups when warranted
- Columbia River Treaty Power Group
- Provide accounting services – invoicing participants and managing accounts payable
- Consider requests from the Power Group to support the services of Van Ness Feldman and other contractors
- Create opportunities for updates on Treaty developments