Powering the West with more clean, affordable and reliable energy

The West has been one of the few regions in the U.S. without a coordinated system to buy and sell electric power across the region a day ahead of when it’s needed. Instead, nearly 40 local grid managers have relied on a patchwork of agreements, making it hard to move low-cost power from where it’s generated to the homes and businesses that need it.

That fragmented approach cannot keep pace with the challenges facing the West today. Power demand is expected to grow rapidly in the next decade, while more frequent extreme weather, like heat waves, puts increasing strain on the grid. A new regional day-ahead market will allow utilities to plan and share affordable power more efficiently across state lines.

EDF is advocating for a shared day-ahead Western electricity market because it will make the grid cleaner, more affordable and more reliable. By unlocking broader access to the West’s abundant energy resources, a market can lower electricity costs, make better use of clean energy and create a more resilient grid that can withstand extreme weather.