Steven Ashbaker
Director of Operations
801.582.0353 ashbaker@wecc.biz
July 1, 2009 WECC Transmission Operator, Member Representatives WECC Transmission Operator, Planning Coordination Committee Representatives WECC Transmission Operator, Operating Committee Representatives
Subject: DOE Smart Grid Funding Opportunity (Synchro-Phasor Project) webinar The WECC would like to invite you to participate in a webinar scheduled for July 8, 2009 from 9:30-12:00 MDT/8:30-11:00 PDT. The purpose of the webinar will be to discuss the DOE Smart Grid Funding Opportunity (Synchro-Phasor Project) in the Western Interconnection, the overall benefits and opportunities of this project to you as a Transmission Operator, and what your role and participation in this effort will be. We will outline the structure of this project from the funding application through project execution and what principals will be used to determine the distribution of the Grant Program funds if our funding proposal is successful. During this webinar you will be provided the details of the current effort within WECC to develop and submit an application in response to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Smart Grid Investment Grant Program Funding Opportunity. The overall purpose of the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program (SGIG) is to accelerate the modernization of the nation’s electric transmission and distribution systems and promote investments in smart grid technologies, tools, and techniques which increase flexibility, functionality, interoperability, cyber-security, situational awareness, and operational efficiency. This purpose will be accomplished through a merit-based, competitive solicitation for projects to receive federal financial assistance for up to 50% percent of eligible project costs. WECC intends to apply for this funding to further its pursuit of synchro-phasor infrastructure and applications in the West. This project proposes installation of Phasor Measurement Units, and taking the data from individual systems or utility phasor data concentrators forward into super phasor data concentrators to deliver interconnection-wide networking, situational awareness, event analysis, model validation, and real-time controls on a wide-area basis. This west-wide project will significantly further the pursuit of a reliable and economic power system delivery system in the West with the capability to integrate an increasingly renewable generation fleet. The Western Interconnection has a long history of using synchro-phasor technology to understand the behavior of the western power system, especially under abnormal conditions. The value of the existing synchro-phasor network -- some of which is over 30 years old -- has
W E S T E R N E L E C T R I C I T Y C O O R D I N A T I N G C O U N C I L • W W W . W E C C . B I Z 615 ARAPEEN DRIVE • SUITE 210 • SALT LAKE CITY • UTAH • 84108-1262 • PH 801.582.0353 • FX 801.582.3918
been to time-synchronize power system disturbance data and analyze it to improve generator, transmission, and load modeling and to understand abnormal power system behavior in the stability limited Western Interconnection. Power system oscillations have been detected and analyzed off-line, leading to better understanding of power system dynamics and modest improvements in operational standing orders and transfer path operating limits. The enhancement and broader use of this technology can and should be made to integrate renewable resources, which have intermittent output characteristics, improve the operator’s situational awareness of the status and vulnerabilities of the system in real-time, and to develop and implement real-time control -- a self-healing grid concept. The scope of the synchro-phasor project will accomplish 2 main objectives: Infrastructure Improvement and expansion of the existing synchro-phasor network which includes moving from the existing research network to a secure, reliable, production grade synchro-phasor network with sufficient reach. Development and Demonstration of Synchro-Phasor Applications that will include situational awareness tools, analysis and assessment tools (system performance and event analysis), local or sub-regional advanced applications, and regional advanced applications (wide area controls).
Attached are diagrams of the current WECC synchro-phasor communication network, the proposed enhanced network and a diagram displaying the location of Phasor Measurement Units (PMU) in the Western Interconnection. An agenda will be provided in advance of the conference call. Due to recent changes in the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program Funding Opportunity, DEFOA-0000058, the timeline for developing and submitting our application has been shortened. WECC will need to have our application submitted to DOE by August 6, 2009. The promise is huge, the opportunity immense. It is time to take a significant leap forward in developing the myriad uses of this available technology and stand on the shoulders of the research and demonstration of the utility, government, vendor and academic visionaries over the past 30 years to implement a better, more flexible, and more resilient grid. We look forward to your participation. To join the web conference meeting: Go to http://wecc.na3.acrobat.com/synchrophasor/ Type your name into the “Enter as Guest” box and click the “Enter Room” button Once you are in the room, you will be prompted to enter a phone number. The meeting will call you at this number. If you can’t be dialed directly (e.g. You are on an extension and don’t have a direct line), see “Just calling In” below. If you are just calling in: If you are just joining by phone, or if you can’t be dialed directly, you may join the meeting at: (719) 359-4032, participant passcode – 461996#.
W E S T E R N E L E C T R I C I T Y C O O R D I N A T I N G C O U N C I L • W W W . W E C C . B I Z 615 ARAPEEN DRIVE • SUITE 210 • SALT LAKE CITY • UTAH • 84108-1262 • PH 801.582.0353 • FX 801.582.3918
If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before you may wish to: Test your connection: http://wecc.na3.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview If you have any questions please feel free to contact me (ashbaker@wecc.biz) or Donald Davies (Donald@wecc.biz). Sincerely,
Steven Ashbaker
Steven Ashbaker Director Operations & Training
Cc: Mark Maher Vickie VanZandt Donald Davies Anitha Neve
W E S T E R N E L E C T R I C I T Y C O O R D I N A T I N G C O U N C I L • W W W . W E C C . B I Z 615 ARAPEEN DRIVE • SUITE 210 • SALT LAKE CITY • UTAH • 84108-1262 • PH 801.582.0353 • FX 801.582.3918