Interconnection

Western accepts requests from electric utilities, firm-power customers, private power developers and independent power generators to interconnect with its transmission system.

Costs

All Western costs associated with the interconnection request are the responsibility of the requesting entity. Advance funds are required before Western performs any studies, design, land acquisition or construction. The contractual agreements will specify the amount of funds required to be advanced. Upon receipt by Western, advance funds will be placed in a cost account for the project. Periodic cost statements will be furnished as studies and work progress.

There are eight steps in the interconnection process. The process may share steps with the transmission service request process detailed in Western's Open Access Transmission Service Tariff (63 FR 521), the environmental review process outlined in the U.S. Department of Energy's National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures and Western's land acquisition process. Western tries to make the separate processes as seamless as possible.

The guide "General Requirements for Interconnections" (pdf 584 kb) provides an overview of funding, reliability, safety and security, environmental, land acquisition, technical and contractual requirements, as well as Western's points of contacts and references. (PDF MB)

There are several interconnection projects currently under construction in Western's territory. Western provides ongoing progress reports for each project and issues a final report with lessons learned when the facility is completed.

Entities wishing to interconnect with Western's system should discussed the proposed project with a representative at the Western office that controls the area in which the interconnection will occur.