Part of that included repowering the wind turbines on our Wyoming wind projects. We recently completed the Energy Vision 2020 project, which implemented Rocky Mountain Power’s renewable energy action plan from the previous planning cycle. Please give us a progress report on Rocky Mountain Power’s path forward on renewables. Having a reliable power system is not only important to our residential customers, but to our large industrial customers who require it to keep their operations running. Our 2021 Integrated Resource Plan features a strengthened and modernized transmission network that ensures resilient service, reduces costs and creates maximum opportunities for our communities to thrive. There is a significant amount of transmission infrastructure built through Utah, as well as a number of large-scale projects planned throughout the state. Utah is quite literally the crossroads for the Western power grid, as we are right in the middle of the grid. Can you explain how this is true for power as well? Utah is considered the ‘Crossroads of the West’ in many regards. For example, if there is an overabundance of power in California and it is less expensive than producing our own power, we will buy it, and pass those savings on to our customers. Members of this energy market can buy and sell electricity from each other. Additionally, we have been pioneers in the industry by partnering to create an energy market that nearly every utility provider in the West has joined. Essentially, this means that we can avoid gridlock at peak usage times and provide reliable service to our customers. Our system is built to handle our busiest of busy days and is required to have an additional reserve margin of 13 percent. We strive to pull from our own resources before turning to our partners for power. This model also means we won’t end up with a situation like we saw in Texas last winter when their grid went down we’re tied into a larger grid with more interconnections to more power sources, so we can draw from other states if necessary. What this means is that when one power source is down or reduced, like hydro due to the drought, we can draw more heavily from other sources.
For example, hydropower is predominately generated in the Pacific Northwest, thermal in the Rocky Mountains, wind in Wyoming, and solar in the Southwest. The diversity in generating sources and geography means we have significant resiliency in our power grid. Further, we own generating assets in nearly every state we serve. How do you balance the supply of different power sources with demand across your service area?įirst, we have a tremendous amount of generating resources across a diverse geography that we can pull from. We like to say that the cleanest power you will ever use is the power you never use. We also have our Wattsmart program to incentivize private customers, retail, and other businesses to be more energy efficient. We will also work with businesses to achieve their own sustainability goals beyond our own initiatives. The relationship with us doesn’t end when a company moves here. We recognize each customer has their own unique power needs and we will work with them to succeed in Utah and locate here. When it comes to affordability, reliability, and sustainability Utah performs very well on all those criteria. Let’s start with your message to site selectors and companies considering Utah for operations? Rocky Mountain Power is a Founder investor in EDCUtah.
We sat down with Jon Cox, Vice President of Government Affairs at Rocky Mountain Power to learn more about power and the company’s long-term plans. Rocky Mountain Power’s service area accounts for two thirds of PacifiCorp’s customers, with Utah being the largest of the markets served, consuming 46 percent of the power the company produces. Along with Pacific Power, the two companies form PacifiCorp, serving customers in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. Serving more than two million people, Rocky Mountain Power provides its customers with affordable and reliable power.
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