"Northern Tier is focused on results."
-- NTTG Co-Chair and Idaho Public Utilities Commissioner Marsha Smith
The Northern Tier Transmission Group is committed to improving transmission service and operations within its footprint. Transmission owners affiliated with NTTG are focused on near term, meaningful improvements that can be achieved with stakeholder participation and the participation of nearby control areas on a project-by-project basis.
Northern Tier is currently focused on three programs:
- Collaborating on control area operations.
- Expediting “actionable” planning for transmission grid expansion.
- Improving available transmission capacity (ATC).
Click on each of the program titles below or to the left to learn about ongoing activity and how you can get involved.
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“We will increase efficiency and lower operational costs when we improve communications between control areas.”
-- John Cupparo, NTTG co-chair and PacifiCorp Vice President for Transmission.
Several NTTG members, in cooperation with the British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC), are coordinating aspects of their load balancing. The “ACE Diversity Interchange (ADI),” is the first example of how enhanced cooperation between key control areas can deliver markedly improved efficiencies at low cost.
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“…the coordinated planning and construction of new power lines will improve our ability to deliver new resources including wind and other renewables.”
-- John Cupparo, NTTG Co-Chair and Vice President, PacifiCorp Transmission
The Northern Tier utilities are committed to working collaboratively among themselves and with their neighbors toward a grid that supports an efficient west-wide electricity market with excellent reliability. NTTG members welcome the full spectrum of stakeholders – state officials, IPPs, environmentalists, consumer representatives, and others. The result of this collaboration will bring tangible near term results and set the stage for longer lead-time infrastructure initiatives.
Planning Committee Membership
- John Leland - Chair, NorthWestern Energy
- Dave Angell - Vice Chair, Idaho Power
- Johanna Bell - Idaho Public Utilities Commission
- John Chatburn - Idaho Office of Energy Resources
- Chris F. Collins - NextEra Energy Resources, Inc.
- Marshall Empey - UAMPS
- Brian Fritz - PacifiCorp
- Bill Hosie - TransCanada
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Don Johnson - Portland General Electric
- Kim Johnson - Riverbank Power Corp.
- Rodney L. Lenfest - Sea Breeze Pacific - Regional Transmission System
- David Lofftus - Montana Public Service Commission
- Jerry Maio - Utah Public Service Commission
- Matthew Stoltz - Basin Electric
- Jim Tucker - Deseret Power Electric Cooperative
- David Walker – Wyoming Public Service Commission
- Scott Waples - Avista Corporation
- Dan Wheeler - Gaelectric, LLC
- Wes Wingen - Black Hills Power
- TBD - Grasslands Renewable Energy
How to Join the NTTG Planning Committee
2012-2013 NTTG Planning Process
2010-2011 NTTG Planning Process
2008-2009 NTTG Planning Process
2007 NTTG Annual Planning Process
Additional Planning and Siting Information
Planning Committee Charter
Public Stakeholder Meetings
Meeting Notes
Planning Documents
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Northern Tier Transmission Group is committed to increasing the usage and efficiency of the existing transmission network for the benefit of electric and end use customers. In support of this principle, Northern Tier is working in partnership with ColumbiaGrid and WestConnect to identify and develop economically justified regional transmission products and services that are of the highest value to the Western Interconnection.
Joint Initiative with NTTG, ColumbiaGrid & WestConnect
In mid-2008, representatives from Northern Tier Transmission Group, ColumbiaGrid and WestConnect decided to join forces to pursue a number of projects that would benefit from a broader reach of expertise and geography. Each group had begun work in areas that captured the interest of the others and a mutual Joint Initiative program was conceived and begun.
As part of the Joint Initiative, two "Strike Teams" will tackle technical exploration of individual projects using resources from entities who see value in participation. A broad stakeholder "Think Tank" group will provide a place for information sharing. Those parties who decide to move forward with implementation of the projects developed by the Strike Teams will do so pursuant to an Implementation Agreement among such parties. A more detailed description of the process is described in the "Facilitators' Proposed Approach".
ColumbiaGrid is providing a website (http://www.columbiagrid.org/ji-nttg-wc-overview.cfm) as a single point for the posting of Joint Initiative documents and calendar scheduling.
DSS Final Open Window Announcement
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“We will offer transmission customers a new level of insight into the workings of the transmission system, enhancing its value to all consumers.”
-- Marsha Smith, NTTG Co-Chair and Commissioner, Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Summary: Available Transmission Capacity
Northern Tier is working to increase understanding of how the transmission system is being used and the business practices governing the use. Greater transparency will lead to more efficient and economic use of the grid, identification of where greater ATC is called for, and ultimately setting the groundwork for strategic transmission expansion.
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Transmission Use Committee Membership
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Jim Tucker - Chair, Deseret G&T Representative
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Matt Richard - Vice Chair, Portland General Electric Representative
- Mike Flanick - Northwestern Energy Representative
- Brian Fritz - PacifiCorp Representative
- Beth Ryan - Idaho Power Comany Representative
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Transmission Use Committee Presentations:
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Programs 