Total import capabilities between transmission planning regions also vary depending on the season, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said Tuesday.

Electric power transfer capability between transmission planning regions varies widely by location and season, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said Tuesday in a draft analysis that will be finalized and sent to federal regulators as part of an effort to improve grid reliability.

“NERC assessments have identified the need for more transmission capacity to support the energy transformation and the ongoing electrification of the economy, including transportation, industry, and data centers. The situation is further compounded by more frequent extreme weather events,” NERC said in the draft, pointing to a 2020 Western heat wave, Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and Winter Storm Elliott in 2022.

Congress in 2023 directed NERC to deliver a final interregional transfer capability study to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by Dec. 2. That report will include recommendations of “technically prudent” additions of transfer capability between neighboring areas.

The draft analysis published Tuesday examines existing total transfer capability between neighboring transmission planning regions, with a focus on current summer and upcoming winter conditions. It found large disparities in transfer capability across North America, with total import capability varying from negligible to more than 90% of peak load.

Oregon could import 92% of its peak summer load and 89% of its winter load from California, Washington and other neighbors. Northern California, however, could import only 14% of its summer peak and 29% of its winter peak load.

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