WECC Rating Process

On October 31, 2007 the Project Sponsors submitted to WECC a letter initiating Phase 1 of the Path Rating Process.

On December 19, 2008, the WECC Phase 1 Rating Comprehensive Progress Report for a north-to-south rating was submitted to WECC Planning Coordination Committee (PCC) and Technical Studies Subcommittee (TSS). Click the links below to download the report.

Transmittal Letter (PDF, 302 KB)
Main Report and Attachments 1-6 (PDF, 3 MB)
Attachment 7.1 (1.PDF, 8.3 MB)
Attachment 7.2 (2.PDF, 8.3 MB)
Attachment 7.3 (3.PDF, 11 MB)
Combined Full Report (PDF, 30.3 MB)

On February 6, 2009 WECC distributed to PCC and TSS a letter from the project sponsors initiating the south-to-north WECC Phase 1 Rating Process (PDF, 326 KB).

On March 6, 2009 WECC accepted the Phase 1 Comprehensive Progress Report and granted the Project Phase 2 status for the north-to-south rating. Phase 1 Accepance Letter (PDF, 20 KB)

Coordination of WECC Rating Studies

This Project is being coordinated with several other high voltage projects in the Pacific Northwest.

The Transmission Coordination Work Group (TCWG) is a joint effort of Portland General Electric Co., Avista Corp, Idaho Power Co., PacifiCorp, Pacific Gas and Electric, TransCanada, Sea Breeze Pacific-RTS, and Bonneville Power Administration to coordinate development of transmission projects that are expected to interconnect at or (electrically) near the proposed NEO Station.

While Northwest Power Pool Transmission Planning Committee (TPC)membership does not directly sponsor this effort, most are TPC members. If you would like to join TCWG, attend an upcoming event, or be added to TCWG's email distribution list, please go to TCWG's website.

The WECC Rating Process

This is a process intended to ensure that new projects are integrated into the existing system with a rating that recognizes protected ratings of other facilities. The three-phase process is intended to address planned new facility additions and upgrades or rerates of existing facilities that require coordination through a review group comprised of the project sponsors and other members which may be affected by the project.

Phase 1 is conducted by the project sponsor and is initiated when the project sponsor submits a report through the WECC Progress Report Policies and Procedures process or when a formal letter of notification is provided to the PCC and Technical Studies Subcommittee (TSS). During Phase 1, the project sponsor is to conduct sufficient studies to demonstrate the proposed non-simultaneous rating of the project and prepares a Comprehensive Progress Report documenting study results and describing project details including a preliminary plan of service.
Phase 2 encompasses a review of the project’s plan of service by a Project Review Group, comprised of interested WECC members. During this phase the Project’s Planned Rating is validated and the simultaneous transfer capability effects and the impact of the project on neighboring transmission systems are further assessed. The project sponsor and the Project Review Group must document all the studies and findings in a report called Project Review Group Phase 2 Rating Report. Phase 2 is completed when the Phase 2 Rating Report is accepted and the project is granted an “Accepted Rating.”
Phase 3 is the last part of the Project Rating Review Process. Phase 3 is a monitoring phase where major changes in assumptions and conditions are evaluated to assure the “Accepted Rating” is maintained. Phase 3 is completed when the project is placed into service.

More information on the WECC Rating Process can be found here.

For additional information please contact us at WECCprocessinfo@pge.com