CalChoice Associate Members Meet Virtually for November Operational Meeting

CalChoice Associate Members met virtually on Tuesday, November 2 for an all-member operational meeting and received a wholesale market update from CalChoice partner NRG. The meeting is the most recent in CalChoice’s ongoing series of monthly operational meetings.

“Our CalChoice staff and partners look forward to our operational meetings each month and we encourage our associate members to let us know of any topics they’d like us to cover,” said CalChoice Executive Director Jason Caudle. “These meetings are an opportunity for members to receive important updates and learn more about what goes on behind the scenes of their CCA programs.”

NRG Portfolio Director Jay Robertson kicked off the meeting with an overview of weather conditions, including a lookback at summer 2021 and a forecast into winter 2021/22. Robertson noted that summer 2021 was the sixth warmest nationally and fourth warmest for California. Additionally, the weather outlook shows a dry winter with minimal precipitation levels which will impact hydropower availability in summer 2022. 

The NRG team also provided an update on 2021 renewable energy curtailments and an overview of the 2022 reliability outlook. Notably, the California Independent Systems Operator curtailed 4.2% less renewable energy to balance the grid in 2021 compared to 2020. NRG notes a need to focus on storage buildout to reduce renewable energy curtailment. 

In addition to the wholesale market update, CalChoice Treasurer Barbara Boswell also updated the group on the California Public Utilities Commission’s California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP). Each CalChoice Associate Member has submitted the survey required to submit an application for CAPP. Now, Southern California Edison is responsible for submitting the final application to the CPUC.

CalChoice expects to resume onsite operational meetings every other month starting January 2022. To facilitate travel logistics, the meetings may be scheduled for a day other than the regular first Tuesday. 

If you have a request for a topic to cover at a future meeting, please reach out to Barbara Boswell (Barbara@CalChoice.org), Cathy DeFalco (Cathy@CalChoice.org)  or Kathy Wells (Kathy@CalChoice.org).