HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022.09.30 IMC Executed MinutesAlaska Intertie Management Committee (IMC)
REGULAR _ 1EET1NG MINUTES
Alaska Energy Authority Board Room
Friday, September 30, 2022
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Ed Jenkin called the meeting of the Alaska Intertie Management Committee to order on
September 30, 2022, at 8:59 a.m. A quorum was established.
2. ROLL CALL FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Members present: Ed Jenkin (Matanuska Electric Association (MEA)); Andrew Laughlin
(Chugach Electric Association (CEA)); Nathan Minnema (Golden Valley Electric Association
(GVEA)); and Bill Price (Alaska Energy Authority (AEA)).
3. PUBLIC ROLL CALL
Public present: Sunny Morrison (Accu-Type Depositions); Joel Paisner (Ascent Law Partners);
Jennifer Bertolini (AEA); Dona Keppers (AEA); Mark Ziesmer (AEA); Russell Thornton
(CEA); Dan Bishop (GVEA) (arrived late); Molly Howard (GVEA); Pete Sarauer (GVEA);
Larry Jorgensen (HEA); Martin Law (HEA); David Pease (MEA); John Bell; and Bernie Smith
(Public).
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS — None
5. AGENDA APPROVAL
MOTION: Vice -Chair Laughlin made a motion to approve the agenda, as presented.
Motion seconded by Mr. Price.
The agenda was approved without objection.
6. APPROVAL OF PRIOR MINUTES — July 29, 2022
MOTION: Mr. Price made a motion to approve the Meeting Minutes of July 29, 2022.
Motion seconded by Vice -Chair Laughlin.
Chair Jenkin commented that only one member in attendance today was in attendance at the July
29, 2022 meeting.
The Minutes of July 29, 2022 were approved without objection.
IMC Meeting Minutes — September 30, 2022
7. NEW BUSINESS - NONE
8. OLD BUSINESS
8A. Intertie Asset Management
Chair Jenkin requested that Molly Howard, GVEA, present the information. Ms. Howard
reviewed the document attached to the agenda regarding the objectives, goals, and current
progress of Alaska Intertie Asset Management (AM). Data entry of transmission line structures
and profiles is a continued effort. Work is ongoing to develop the transmission line preventative
maintenance program and manual. The Vegetation Management plan was previously submitted
to IOC.
Chair Jenkin asked if any of the mentioned activities will require additional funding to the
current budget. Ms. Howard expressed her belief that the activities are sufficiently covered in the
budget. Chair Jenkin asked if the activities are being undertaken through the Maintenance
Subcommittee. Ms. Howard agreed.
Vice -Chair Laughlin commented that Ms. Howard previously reported transmission data entry at
about 50% complete. He asked for an update on the completion amount. Ms. Howard noted that
staff has not made as much progress as hoped and they are still about 50% complete.
Chair Jenkin expressed appreciation to the Maintenance Subcommittee and to Ms. Howard for
the report. There were no other questions.
8B. Railbelt Protection Coordination
Chair Jenkin noted that the Chair of the Systems Protection Subcommittee is not in attendance
today. He indicated that this item was discussed at the previous Intertie Operating Committee
(IOC) meeting with Dan Bishop. Mr. Minnema provided information regarding the Railbelt
Protection Coordination. Mr. Minnema indicated that he spoke with Adam Vogel (sp), Chair of
the Relaying Subcommittee, and the determination was made that an increased evaluation of
system -wide events would occur at the subcommittee level, rather than through a coordinated
Railbelt-wide formal study.
Chair Jenkin agreed that issue was discussed at the IOC meeting and that no recommendation
was made to proceed with a Railbelt Protection Coordination Study. Any changes made that
would affect the protection on the Intertie would have to be reviewed by the Relay and
Reliability Subcommittee and the IOC. There were no other questions or comments.
8C. Systems Studies Subcommittee 2022/2023 work
Chair Jenkin informed that the IOC Planned Projects for 2022-2023 document prepared by John
Bell, Chair IOC System Studies Subcommittee (SSS), is attached to the agenda. Mr. Bell noted
that he was unable to join by MSTeams and that he is on the public line. He provided a brief
summary of the two ongoing efforts that the SSS will prioritize during the course of the current
IMC Meeting Minutes — September 30, 2022 2
budget year. The first focus includes the pilot project for a centralized synchrophasor data
system, which was motivated by the oscillation study completed in 2019. It was determined that
a tool was needed to perform oscillation analysis, frequency response analysis, and dynamic
model validation. The current work is focused on the technical specification and request for
proposal (RFP) for the centrally accessible system for the synchrophasor data.
Mr. Bell discussed the second focus is in coordination with the Dispatch and System Operations
Subcommittee on the development of a draft reserve policy that includes the recommendations of
the recently completed reserves study. Mr. Bell reviewed that the SSS is contemplating its next
Railbelt study topic direction of the stability impacts of inverter -based generation and battery
energy storage systems. The scope has not yet been determined.
Chair Jenkin expressed appreciation to Mr. Bell and supports the review of the effects and
settings of inverter -based generation and the ride -through capability of the Railbelt to
disturbances. Mr. Bell agreed that it makes sense to take direction from the IEEE 2800 standard
regarding frequency and voltage.
Vice -Chair Laughlin asked for the timeframe on beginning the inverter -based generation study.
Mr. Bell indicated that the scope of the study will likely begin in early 2023, and the draft RFP
will likely occur in the 2023/2024 budget year.
Chair Jenkin expressed appreciation for the Subcommittee's efforts in providing the timely
reserve policy data that is important for regional resource planning by the Railbelt's approved
electrical reliability organization. There were no other comments or questions.
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS
9A. Budget Subcommittee
i. Budget to Actual Expense Report for 06.30.22
Mark Ziesmer, AEA, discussed the Budget to Actual Expense Report for the period from July 1,
2021 to June 30, 2022. The total revenues were approximately $465,177 greater than budgeted.
This was primarily due to the increased amount of energy usage. The total operating expenses
were approximately $815,000 less than budgeted. The total administration expenses were
approximately $51,000 less than budgeted. Mr. Ziesmer noted that an amendment was approved
in May to increase the administration expense category. The total budget surplus was $1.3
million.
Mr. Ziesmer explained that one of the impacts to revenue and invoicing was the amount of actual
energy usage. The projected energy usage budgeted was 185,535 MWH and the actual energy
usage was 224,243 MWH.
Chair Jenkin requested staff to review the process for utility reimbursement based on wheeling.
Dona Keppers, AEA, discussed that the audit firm has begun their field work for information.
The surplus is calculated and then any entries as a result of the annual audit are included. The
audit is usually completed in November. The report and analysis is presented in December and
IMC Meeting Minutes — September 30, 2022 3
the surplus is then reimbursed to the utilities. Ms. Keppers commented on the budget surplus of
$1.3 million. She noted that approximately half of the surplus was the budgeted marker ball
project that did not occur in FY22.
Chair Jenkin reported that the marker balls have been ordered and are expected to arrive during
this year's budget. There were no other comments or questions.
9B. IOC Committee
Chair Jenkin asked Mr. Minnema to present on this item and to answer any questions, since Mr.
Bishop is not in attendance. Mr. Minnema noted the IOC Committee was briefed on some of the
projects related to the budget to actual report previously discussed. There were no questions.
Chair Jenkin noted under Item 4b. of the IOC Report that the Engineering, Relay, and Reliability
Subcommittee indicated their desire and willingness to work with the SSS to evaluate the impact
of inverter -based resources on the system reliability. He expressed appreciation for their offer.
There were no other comments.
9C. Operator's Report
Chair Jenkin welcomed Russell Thornton, CEA, to present the Operator's Report. Mr. Thornton
indicated that the numbers included in the report are for July through August. Both MEA and
GVEA have increased their Intertie usage compared to this time last year. One Intertie trip event
occurred between Teeland and Douglas. It was a line -to -line fault and the cause has not yet been
determined. The quarterly reliability report is included and lists the frequency response during
the month of August. The low was 7.1 MW/0.1 Hz and the recent high was 11.9 MW/0.1 Hz.
Chair Jenkin noted that the frequency response numbers are higher than normal. He asked Mr.
Thornton to comment on the possible reasons. Mr. Thornton discussed that there is no current
analysis that substantiates the highest event. He reviewed that efforts are ongoing to try to find
correlations between the beta and changes seen and to try to determine clear causal relationships.
Chair Jenkin supports the effort to find a correlation to system beta that can be used for data
dispatch and consideration. Mr. Thornton reviewed that the system beta has seen some
abnormally low values, as discussed in the previous meeting. He believes the system beta has
stabilized more recently at a minimum of 6 to 7 MW/0.1 Hz. Chair Jenkin noted the recent
change in responsiveness from Nikiski's battery system that could have an affect on the data.
Mr. Thornton agreed there are two batteries online in the Railbelt and specific generation tuning
has occurred to improve response.
Mr. Bishop indicated that he is on the phone line and is available to answer any questions. Chair
Jenkin noted that the IOC Committee item was previously discussed and asked Mr. Bishop if he
had any specifics comments to add. Mr. Bishop responded that he had no additional comments.
There were no other questions.
10. MEMBER COMMENTS
IMC Meeting Minutes — September 30, 2022 4
Vice -Chair Laughlin thanked Chair Jenkin for an efficient first meeting. He expressed
appreciation to staff for their reports and explanations. He welcomed Mr. Price to the
Committee.
Mr. Price echoed the comments of Vice -Chair Laughlin. He expressed appreciation for
members' patience as he becomes informed and able to add value to the Committee.
Mr. Minnema expressed appreciation to members.
Jennifer Bertolini, AEA, informed that there were issues with the link provided for this meeting.
She apologized and advised that a new link has been initiated and distributed to those attending
the BPMC meeting, which will begin directly after the IMC meeting.
Chair Jenkin expressed appreciation for everyone's participation in the meeting. He emphasized
appreciation for the work and efforts of the System Studies Subcommittee and the Engineering,
Relay, and Reliability Subcommittee.
11. NEXT MEETING DATE — December 9, 2022
Chair Jenkin informed that the next meeting is December 9, 2022. There were no questions.
12. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business of the AIMC, the meeting adjourned at 9:42 a.m.
Ed Jenkin, Chai
Bill Pitco, AEA -Secretary
IMC Meeting Minutes — September 30, 2022