Wes R. Wingen
Manager, Transmission Planning
wes.wingen@blackhillscorp.com
409 Deadwood Avenue • PO Box 1400
605.721.2511
Rapid City,P:SD
57709-1400
P: 605.721.2268
F: 605.721.2735
March 14, 2013
Mr. David Franklin
Chair, WECC Technical Studies Subcommittee
Southern California Edison
1 Innovation Way
Pomona, CA 91768
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 2013 Annual Progress Report
Gentlemen:
In accordance with reporting guidelines by the WECC Planning Coordinating Committee (PCC),
please find attached Black Hills Power’s 2013 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
2013 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
Dan Baye – SRWG Representative
Wes R. Wingen
Manager, Transmission Planning
wes.wingen@blackhillscorp.com
TSS Members
409 Deadwood Avenue • PO Box 1400
605.721.2511
Rapid City,P:SD
57709-1400
P: 605.721.2268
F: 605.721.2735
WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power
2013
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 2014.
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.
WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power
2013
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.
WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power
2013
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:
I.
St. Onge 230 kV Substation
The St. Onge 230 kV substation project was identified to provide additional
230/69 kV transformation capacity in the northern Black Hills. The station
will tap the existing Lange-Lookout 230 kV line approximately 10 miles from
the Lookout substation and will include a 150 MVA 230/69 kV transformer.
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 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 2017, but an
alternative to this substation addition is under review. The alternative consists
of a second 230/69 kV transformer at the existing Yellowcreek substation.
II.
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 2012
BHBE LTP Study. 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 2014.
WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power
2013
C. Transmission Projects Completed, On-Hold or Cancelled
The following projects were listed in BHP Annual Progress Report 2012:
III.
Reno Junction 200 MW Wind Farm
The Reno Junction Wind Farm is a proposed generation project consisting of
up to one hundred thirty-four (134) GE 1.5 MW wind turbines. The
generation project will interconnect to the Pumpkin Buttes 230 kV substation
via a radial 230 kV line. The project had an executed LGIA that reached the
end of its suspension period in 2013 and has subsequently been deemed
terminated.
IV.
Weston Wind I 250.7 MW Wind Farm
The Weston Wind I Wind Farm is a proposed generation project consisting of
one hundred nine (109) Siemens SWT-2.3-93 2.3 MW wind turbines. The
generation project will interconnect to a new substation on the Wyodak-Osage
230 kV line approximately 6 miles northwest of the existing Osage power
plant in Weston County, Wyoming. The customer has completed the System
Impact Study phase, and a Facilities Study Agreement has been tendered. The
SIS report for this project was included in the 2011 WECC Annual Progress
Report Submittal. The Facilities Study Agreement was not returned and this
project has been deemed terminated/complete.
V.
Minnekhata 230 kV Substation
The Minnekhata 230 kV substation is required to provide additional 230:69
kV transformation capacity in the southern Black Hills. The station taps the
existing Westhill-Osage 230 kV line approximately 9.7 miles from the
Westhill substation and includes a 70 MVA 230/69 kV transformer. This
project was placed in-service Q4 2011.