The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has set October 2028 as its target date to begin participating in the Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) Markets+ day-ahead market. The timing aligns with the start of BPA’s new 20-year regional power contracts and fiscal year. SPP plans to launch Markets+ in October 2027, with more than 40 energy organizations—including several Western utilities—currently engaged in governance development, systems buildout, and market trials. In parallel, the California Independent System Operator’s Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) is scheduled to launch in 2026 with initial participants, expanding in 2027.
Northwest utilities have largely supported BPA’s selection of Markets+ over CAISO’s EDAM, citing benefits for regional operations and governance. However, BPA faces concerns about staffing capacity as it manages multiple major initiatives. These include $5 billion in new transmission projects, reforms to interconnection processes, negotiations on the Residential Exchange Program, and participation in the Western Resource Adequacy Program. While the agency lost nearly 200 employees earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Energy has since authorized BPA to hire 118 critical positions.
Industry leaders emphasized the importance of BPA meeting the 2028 deadline and preparing for a regional landscape with two parallel day-ahead markets. Stakeholders highlighted the need to address “seams” between Markets+ and EDAM to ensure efficiency and reliability for end-use customers. BPA has said Markets+ best supports its statutory mission, accommodates the federal hydropower system, and provides an independent, stakeholder-driven governance structure.
Despite current staffing challenges, BPA leadership expressed confidence in the agency’s ability to meet the target date, noting the value of its workforce and the recent restoration of hiring authority to bolster implementation efforts.