The Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC) is a joint powers agency established by a group of California publicly-owned utilities in 1984. TANC’s initial purpose was to plan, design and construct the California-Oregon Transmission Project (COTP), a 340-mile long, 500-kilovolt (kV) alternating current (AC) transmission line between the California-Oregon border and Central California. The COTP was completed and energized in 1993.
Today, TANC’s primary purpose is to provide electric transmission to its Member utilities through transmission line ownership or contract arrangements. As the project manager for the COTP, TANC is responsible for its day-to-day operation and maintenance, and any potential upgrades to the line.
TANC’s current Membership includes 15 publicly-owned utilities. The cities of Alameda, Biggs, Gridley, Healdsburg, Lodi, Lompoc, Palo Alto, Redding, Roseville, Santa Clara, and Ukiah, as well as the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, the Modesto Irrigation District and the Turlock Irrigation District are full members. The Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative is an Associate Member.
TANC is a member of WestConnect, wesTTrans, and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). In addition, TANC is registered with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) as a Transmission Owner, Transmission Planner and Transmission Service Provider.
Mission
The mission of the Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC) is to assist its publicly-owned Member utilities in providing cost-effective energy supplies to their customers, through long-term ownership or contracts for service over high-voltage transmission lines within California and the western United States.
History
TANC was formed in 1984 as a joint powers authority to allow its Member utilities to plan and develop transmission facilities in a coordinated manner.
In the 1980s, as California utilities looked to access abundant hydro-electric energy in the Pacific Northwest, TANC led a diverse group of public and private utilities and federal agencies in the planning, permitting and ultimately the construction of the COTP, a 340-mile long, 500-kV AC transmission line between Southern Oregon and Central California. TANC successfully obtained Congressional approval for federal participation in the COTP.
Following a decade-long development cycle, the COTP was energized and began commercial operations in March 1993, dramatically increasing the reliability of the Northern California electric grid and the amount of clean hydroelectric energy that can be imported into California. Since the start of commercial operation of the COTP, TANC has served as the Project Manager of the COTP, ensuring that this critical piece of California’s energy infrastructure is well maintained and available for energy transfers between California and the Pacific Northwest.
In addition, TANC has made improvements to the COTP to assist TANC Members and neighboring utilities improve the load serving capability in Northern California. TANC is continually working with utilities throughout the Western United States to address electric reliability issues.
Q&A
1. What is TANC?
The Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC) is a California joint powers authority established by a group of publicly-owned utilities in 1984. Its Membership currently consists of 15 publicly-owned utilities in the cities of Alameda, Biggs, Gridley, Healdsburg, Lodi, Lompoc, Palo Alto, Redding, Roseville, Santa Clara (Silicon Valley Power), and Ukiah, as well as the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, the Modesto Irrigation District and the Turlock Irrigation District. The Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative is an associate member. TANC is governed by a Commission consisting of a representative from each TANC Member.
2. What does TANC do?
TANC’s initial purpose when it was established in 1984 was to plan, design and construct the California-Oregon Transmission Project (COTP), which was completed and energized in 1993. Today, TANC continues to provide electric transmission to its Members through transmission line ownership (TANC owns 87 percent of the COTP) or contract arrangements. TANC has 300 megawatts (MW) of transmission rights across portions of PG&E’s transmission grid. As project manager for the COTP, TANC is responsible for its day-to-day operation and maintenance as well as upgrades to the line and the planning of new lines. TANC works with transmission owners and other stakeholders to prudently plan for future electricity infrastructure needs for California and the West.
3. What is the COTP?
The California-Oregon Transmission Project (COTP) consists of 340-miles of 500-kV AC transmission lines connecting Southern Oregon and Central California. With a capacity of 1,600 megawatts (enough to power more than 1 million homes at any given time), the COTP provides wholesale power to municipal utilities who in turn directly serve consumers throughout Central and Northern California.
The COTP is one of only three major transmission lines that connect the electric systems of the Pacific Northwest (which includes access to clean hydroelectric, wind and other electricity generation sources) to the electric system in Northern California. Together, these three lines comprise the California-Oregon Intertie.
4. Who serves on the TANC Commission?
Each Member of TANC is represented on the TANC Commission. Annually, the TANC Commission elects its officers, including its Chair and Vice Chairs.
5. Who are TANC’s Member agencies?
A complete list of TANC’s Members can be found here.
6. When does TANC hold its meetings?
TANC’s meetings are held on the third Wednesday following the first Monday, of each month. All business is conducted consistent with requirements of the State of California Fair Political Practices Act as well as other applicable statutes and regulations. All TANC meetings are noticed and administered consistent with the provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act, which governs the meetings of local legislatives bodies.
7. How can I get more information about TANC’s meetings?
Agendas from TANC Commission meetings can be found on this website.