Wes R. Wingen Manager, Transmission Planning wes.wingen@blackhillscorp.com 409 Deadwood Avenue • PO Box 1400 Rapid City, SD 57709-1400 P: 605.721.2268 F: 605.721.2735 February 27, 2014 Mr. Tracy Rolstad Chair, WECC Technical Studies Subcommittee Avista Corporation 1411 East Mission Ave Spokane, WA 99220 Mr. Enoch Davies WECC Technical Staff Western Electricity Coordinating Council 155 North 400 West, Suite 200 Salt Lake City, UT 84103 Re: Black Hills Power 2014 Annual Progress Report Gentlemen: In accordance with reporting guidelines by the WECC Planning Coordinating Committee (PCC), please find attached Black Hills Power’s 2014 Annual Progress Report on significant additions and changes to our system. Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power is combined with Black Hills Power as a single NERC Registered Entity, so projects sponsored by CLF&P would be included in this submittal. Since there were no projects that meet the reporting guidelines, all projects included in the 2014 Annual Progress Report were included on behalf of Black Hills Power. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Wes R. Wingen Manager, Transmission Planning Enclosure cc: Eric Egge – PCC Representative Jon Cichosz – SRWG Representative TSS Members WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power 2014 A. Planned Transmission and Generation Projects The WECC Progress Reports Policies and Procedures document is intended to provide the policies and procedures for notification and reliability assessment requirements related to projects planned within the Western Interconnection. Projects subject to these policies and procedures include: • All generation projects (200 MW or greater) connected to the transmission system through step-up transformers. In the context of these policies and procedures, such projects include, but are not limited to, new generation plants, generation repower or upgrades that may significantly alter the operation of the generation facilities. All new and upgraded transmission facilities with (voltage levels over 200 kV). Such projects include, but are not limited to, new transmission facilities, transmission re-designs or upgrades, permanent removal of existing transmission facilities, or other changes (e.g., operating procedures) that may significantly alter the operation of the transmission facilities. Any facilities below these thresholds that may have a significant impact on the reliability of the Western Interconnection. • • I. Teckla-Osage 230 kV Transmission Line The Teckla-Osage 230 kV line will consist of approximately 60 miles of 1272 ACSR ‘Bittern’ conductor on H-frame poles. The line will be constructed to provide needed Common Use System (CUS) transmission capacity, accommodate projected load growth, and increase Wyodak area stability margins. Reliability analysis for this project was initially performed as part of the 2008 BHBE LTP Study and the need reviewed in subsequent BHBE LTP Studies. The Colorado Coordinated Planning Group (CCPG) is a Sub regional Planning Group in the Rocky Mountain Region and allows open participation in its planning meetings to stakeholders interested in this project through the WY/SD Common Use Subcommittee (WY/SD CUS). The requirements of project coordination review for this project have been met through the CCPG. http://www.westconnect.com/filestorage/WY_CUS_Update_2012-12-13.pdf The planned in-service date is 2015. II. Osage-Lange 230 kV Transmission Line The Osage-Lange 230 kV line will consist of approximately 75 miles of 1272 ACSR ‘Bittern’ conductor on H-frame poles. The line will be constructed to provide needed Common Use System (CUS) transmission capacity and provide an additional path to the Rapid City load center. Reliability analysis for this project was initially performed as part of the 2008 BHBE LTP Study and the need reviewed in subsequent BHBE LTP Studies. 2 WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power 2014 The Colorado Coordinated Planning Group (CCPG) is a Sub regional Planning Group in the Rocky Mountain Region and allows open participation in its planning meetings to stakeholders interested in this project through the WY/SD Common Use Subcommittee (WY/SD CUS). The requirements of project coordination review for this project have been met through the CCPG. http://www.westconnect.com/filestorage/WY_CUS_Update_2012-12-13.pdf The planned in-service date is 2015. 3 WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power 2014 B. Waiver of “Significant Transmission Project” Status The WECC Project Coordination Process document indicates that a waiver may be requested based upon the following criteria: • • The purpose of the project is to serve local load. The transmission project does not have significant impact on the operation of the Western Interconnection. BHP requests waiver of “Significant Transmission Project” status for the following project: III. Bill Durfee (Sundance) 230 kV Substation On July 10, 2012, Powder River Energy Corporation (PREC) submitted to Black Hills Power a formal application for a new interconnection on the existing Lookout-Hughes 230 kV line. The interconnection will consist of a 100 MVA 230/69 kV transformer and a three terminal 69 kV switching station. The proposed location of the new interconnection is approximately 5 miles south of Sundance, Wyoming. Basin Electric Power Cooperative (BEPC) is currently performing a system impact study for this project. In addition, reliability analysis for this project was included as part of the 2013 BHBE LTP Study. The planned substation near Sundance, Wyoming was formerly named the Bill Durfee 230 kV substation at the end of 2013. The purpose of this project is to serve local load and increase local reliability. It is not expected to have a significant impact upon the operation of the Western Interconnection. The planned in-service date is currently 2015. The WECC 2013 List of Projects Requesting a Waiver of “Significant Transmission Project” document includes the following BHP projects: 4. St. Onge 230 kV Substation – Project Cancelled 5. Sundance 230 kV Substation – Project Renamed “Bill Durfee” 4 WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power 2014 C. Transmission Projects Completed, On-Hold or Cancelled The following projects were listed in BHP Annual Progress Report 2013: IV. St. Onge 230 kV Substation (Cancelled) The St. Onge 230 kV substation project was identified to provide additional 230/69 kV transformation capacity in the northern Black Hills. The 2013 BHBE LTP Studies proposed an alternative to the St. Onge 230 kV substation. The addition of a second Yellowcreek 230/69 kV transformer was determined to be a more cost effective solution and the St Onge 230 kV substation project was cancelled. The purpose of the Yellowcreek 230/69 kV transformer project is to serve local load and increase local reliability. It is not expected to have a significant impact upon the operation of the Western Interconnection. The planned in-service date is currently 2018. 5