Benefits of Open Season Process
OPEN SEASON INFORMATION:
- Brings generators/suppliers/load-serving entities together.
- Allows "preview" of system impacts prior to significant financial commitment.
- Potentially eliminates "lumpiness" in transmission planning and construction that results from requests that are studied sequentially (ex. 2000 MW expansion that no single party can commit to).
- All parties cooperate, including the transmission provider, to solve region-wide problem of "what comes first, transmission or generation."
Benefit to Customers
NorthWestern Energy believes that focusing efforts on the development of the MSTI line has benefits for many parties including potential generation projects in Montana and load serving entities in Idaho, Utah, Colorado and other portions of the West. While development is in the early stages, a concerted effort among these parties, the states and regulators could provide us with the first significant generation and transmission development in Montana since the 1980s and additional resources to meet growing loads within the western states.
For access to NWE's OASIS Open Season Related Information use the following link: http://www.oatioasis.com/NWMT/index.html