Inter-utility communications within WSCC

The development of real-time interutility data communications capabilities has resulted in many implementations in the western United States. The current state of these implementations and the future plans for additional capabilities spanning the entire Western Systems Coordinating Council (WSCC) are presented. In 1982, the WSCC formed a group to develop a protocol and a set of guidelines for real-time interutility data exchange. All the major utilities within the WSCC now have or are planning implementations based on the guidelines. Other implementations outside the WSCC are discussed. The impetus for this move is economic benefits realized by reduced hardware installation, better power system modeling that allows optimal use of existing resources, visibility outside a utility´s control area, better restoration coordination, and the ability to quickly match power system resources to markets at mutually beneficial prices