Western RTO

As electricity demand rises across the West and grid reliability and affordability concerns persist, a new report from Advanced Energy United shows that the Regional Organization for Western Energy (ROWE) offers a practical, uniquely Western-built pathway to a stronger regional grid.  

The Western electric grid operates as a fragmented patchwork: Thirty-eight separate grid operators manage power across 11 states, each required to generate and dispatch enough energy to meet its own peak demand. The path forward is clear, and the vision is achievable: the broadest and most diverse regional energy market in the nation, built by the West for the West, and grounded in affordability, reliability, and choice.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (Commission) today revised its decision regarding Xcel’s entry into SPP’s Markets+ to require greater scrutiny of Xcel’s future market-related decision-making amid growing concerns over rising costs, market seams, and governance.  

In an episode of NewsData’s People in Power Podcast, United’s Brian Turner discusses the recent passage of California Assembly Bill (AB) 825, and the path forward for an independently governed energy market in the West.

Colorado Newsline reports on a Western Governors’ Association Workshop, where United’s Leah Rubin Shen spoke on the “Transmission Needs for More-of-the-Above” panel, emphasizing that the West will need to increase transmission capacity in order to meet growing energy demand, strengthen reliability, and lower energy costs for consumers.

In an opinion piece for Utility Dive, United’s Brian Turner explains what comes next after the passage of California’s AB 825, a bill allowing the state’s utilities to join electricity markets governed by a new, independent West-wide organization. The new organization will let states opt into services a la carte, with more to come. This uniquely Western model will lower costs, improve reliability, and respect each state’s policy goals.

On Friday, September 19, 2025, AB 825, also known as “Pathways” bill was signed into law. On our blog, United’s Leah Rubin Shen outlines how this bill paves the way for California to take part in an independently governed regional electricity market, marking a transformative moment for the entire Western grid.

Canary Media reports on the passage of AB 825, the Pathways bill, which was signed into law as part of a major climate-and-energy legislative package. AB 825 will allow California to join with the West in creating a regional day-ahead energy market. The article quotes United’s Brian Turner, who called the bill a “starting gun” for a Western energy market that will lower costs, strengthen the grid, and protect California’s authority.

Bloomberg Government reports that California lawmakers are pushing for Assembly Bill (AB) 825, which would allow the state to join a regional energy market. United’s Leah Rubin Shen highlighted that the bill demonstrates California’s commitment to a more affordable, reliable, and sustainable Western energy market.

In an opinion piece for the Santa Cruz Sentinel, United’s Leah Rubin Shen urges the California legislature to pass Senate Bill 540, which would allow California to join a West-wide regional energy market this year. She warns that failing to act could leave California isolated from the rest of the West. The benefits of joining such a market would save ratepayers $1B annually, improve grid reliability during extreme weather, make better use of the clean energy resources we produce, and rely less on expensive, polluting peaker plants.

The Denver Post reports on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s approval of Xcel Energy’s plan to join SPP’s Markets+, despite concerns from consumer and environmental advocates. United’s Brian Turner criticized the decision and warned that it could delay progress toward a fully organized wholesale market, undermine Colorado’s clean energy goals, and urged the state to look into joining other markets in the region that offer greater renewable energy access and long-term cost savings.

The Colorado Sun reports on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s approval of Xcel Energy’s $30 million plan to join SPP’s Markets+. United’s Brian Turner said the decision will balkanize the Western grid, increase energy costs, and delay progress in clean energy development.