Tri-State to have 100% of its load in organized markets in 2023

• Xcel Energy’s plan to join the Southwest Power Pool Western Energy Imbalance Service would bring the remaining 20% of Tri-State’s member load into an organized market through Xcel Energy subsidiary Public Service Co. of Colorado’s balancing authority.
• In 2021, the majority of Tri-State’s load began participation in the SPP WEIS and California’s Independent System Operator’s Western Energy Imbalance Market.
• Tri-State's Eastern Interconnect load has been in the SPP Regional Transmission Organization since 2015.
• Tri-State continues efforts to advance towards a western regional transmission organization.

(January 25, 2022 – Wholesale power supply cooperative Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association will have 100% of its members’ load in organized markets in 2023, following the announcement of Xcel Energy’s plans to join the Southwest Power Pool Western Energy Imbalance Service (SPP WEIS). Approximately 20% of Tri-State’s load is within the balancing authority (BA) managed by Xcel Energy subsidiary Public Service Co. of Colorado (PSCo).

The addition of PSCo into the SPP WEIS, along with other utilities in its BA including Black Hills Colorado and Platte River Power Authority, significantly expands the energy imbalance market’s footprint. Colorado Springs Utilities previously joined the SPP WEIS in the fall of 2021 with a market go-live date later in 2022.

“We welcome additional participants into the SPP WEIS, which increases the efficiency of the market, lowers power costs and further helps to reliably and cost effectively integrate renewable energy resources,” said Duane Highley, CEO for Tri-State. “Our membership in the SPP WEIS has already greatly benefitted our members with lower costs, higher reliability and more efficient dispatch of resources.”

Tri-State entered two energy imbalance service markets in 2021, seeks participation in an RTO

Tri-State was a founding member of the SPP WEIS, joining the market at midnight Feb. 1, 2021, after announcing its intent to join in 2019 along with Basin Electric Power Cooperative and the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). Subsequent to the announcement, Deseret Power Electric Cooperative, the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN), Wyoming Municipal Power Agency and Colorado Springs Utilities announced their participation in the SPP WEIS. These entities are evaluating participation in a SPP West Regional Transmission Organization (RTO).

Tri-State also expanded its participation in the California Independent System Operator’s Western Energy Imbalance Market (CAISO WEIM) on April 1, 2021, when Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) joined the market. PNM is the BA for Tri-State’s load in New Mexico. In addition, Tri-State has had a portion of its Wyoming member load in CAISO WEIM since its inception in 2014, through the PacifiCorp BA.

Tri-State’s member load in the eastern grid, largely in Nebraska, is already in the SPP RTO.

“We remain focused on participating in a full RTO in the West, with day ahead markets and coordinated transmission development that will advance our clean energy and emissions reductions goals,” Highley said.

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About Tri-State

Tri-State is a power supply cooperative of 45 members, operating on a not-for-profit basis, including 42 utility electric distribution cooperative and public power district members in four states. Together with our member/owners, we deliver reliable, affordable and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West. For more information about Tri-State, visit www.tristate.coop.

Contact: Lee Boughey, 303-254-3555, lboughey@tristategt.org

Certain information contained in this press statement are forward-looking statements including statements concerning Tri-State’s plans, future events, and other information that is not historical information. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described from time to time in Tri-State’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Tri-State’s expectations and beliefs are expressed in good faith, and Tri-State believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, Tri-State cannot assure you that management’s expectations and beliefs will be achieved. There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein.