Utility Dive•21 days ago
Winter Storm Fern highlighted need for expanded interregional transmission, Senate hears
Key Takeaway
Insufficient interregional transmission creates extreme price volatility and curtails available power, underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure expansion to ensure grid reliability and market access for developers and large loads.
AI Summary
- •Winter Storm Fern led to extreme price volatility, with some regions experiencing hundreds of dollars/MWh while neighboring areas saw negative prices.
- •Significant power generation was stranded and unused due to inadequate interregional transmission capacity, preventing it from reaching demand centers.
- •The event underscored to the Senate the critical need for expanded interregional transmission infrastructure to enhance grid resilience and market efficiency.
Topics
interconnectpolicytransmission
Article Content
Some regions saw prices of hundreds of dollars per megawatt-hour, while neighboring areas experienced negative power prices. “There was power not being used at all because the transmission was not available,” said Liza Reed of the Niskanen Center think tank.