Regulatory Services
Southwest Power Pool (SPP)
The Kansas Power Pool is a member of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which manages the transmission grid in Kansas and all or parts of 13 additional states located primarily in the Plains Region of the United States. The SPP ensures the reliable supply of power, adequate transmission infrastructure, and competitive wholesale electricity prices for a 546,000-square-mile region including more than 60,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines serving more than 18 million people. KPP staff are active in numerous committees and working groups representing KPP members and their transmission needs.
Southwest Power Pool Integrated Marketplace
The Integrated Marketplace (IM) launched in 2014 under management of the Southwest Power Pool, replacing the Energy Imbalance Service (EIS) market. It includes a day-ahead market with transmission congestion rights, a reliability unit commitment process, a real-time balancing market replacing the EIS market, and the incorporation of price-based operating reserve procurement. All daily energy procurement by KPP staff on behalf of KPP member electric utilities must be cleared through the Integrated Marketplace.
Transmission Access Policy Study Group (TAPS)
The Kansas Power Pool is a member of and supports TAPS initiatives. TAPS is an association of transmission-dependent electric utilities with representation in 35 states. TAPS participate in policy proceedings at all federal agencies, which include the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Commission (NERC) and others that deal with electric transmission and market power issues.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines as well as licensing hydropower projects. The KPP staff must take certain electric transmission projects to the FERC for approval.