POWER REGION
What is Western Interconnection?
The Western Interconnection · serves Western North America
The Western Interconnection is the synchronised AC grid covering the western US, the Canadian west, and a slice of northern Mexico. It stretches from the Pacific to the Rockies and includes CAISO, the Northwest's hydro system, and the desert Southwest's booming solar.
Long transmission lines move Pacific Northwest hydro south and desert solar north across enormous distances. Coordination across this footprint is the WECC reliability region's core job.
- Type
- Synchronous interconnection
- Region
- Western North America
- Signature
- NW hydro + SW solar
- Reliability
- WECC
Frequently asked questions
What is the Western Interconnection?
It's the synchronised AC grid spanning the western US, western Canada, and northern Baja Mexico, linking Northwest hydro, California, and Southwest solar.