The California Independent System Operator (ISO) has welcomed Valley Electric Association Inc. (VEA) as the newest transmission owner to join the California grid as a participating member.
The Pahrump, Nev.-based electric cooperative and its wholly owned subsidiary, Valley Electric Transmission Association LLC, serve more than 20,639 meters across a 6,849 square-mile service territory in southwestern Nevada along the California-Nevada border. VEA also serves parts of Mono and Inyo counties in California.
According to the system operator, this interregional partnership will allow VEA and the ISO to share efficiencies and be the conduit for cost-effective renewable resources, as well as to add competition, liquidity and reliability to their energy markets.
"VEA is excited to join the California ISO and provide renewable resources in VEA’s service area access to California markets. VEA also looks forward to working with other ISO market participants to enhance the regional transmission grid," says Thomas H. Husted, VEA’s CEO.
