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necessary to examine the larger interconnected system that would pro'dde a potential market for the power and energy. The electr ic power industry has divided the United States intCl nine electric reliability council regions encompassing the United States and a portion of Canada. The nine council regions are shown in Figure 11-5. These reliability councils were formed as a result of great national concern over the ability of interconnected bulk power systems to operate reliably without widespread failures in electric service. The Western Systems Coordinating Council region, which encompasses the western United States, is divided into four subregions, or general load areas. These reflect concentrations of natural resources and economic activity and the attendant growth of population and industry in certain geographical areas. The Western Systems Coordinating Council region and its subdivisions are shown on Figure 11-6. The greater interconnected system representing the potential market for power and energy production from a Cache la POudre Project is the It>cky Mountain Power Area of the Western Systems Coordinating Council region. The State of Colorado lies within the It>cky Mountain Power Area. The three utilities that most likely would be impacted by hydroelectric production from a Cache la Poudre Project; Public Service Company of Colorado, Tr i-State Generation and Transmission Association, and Platte River Power Authority are major member utilities of the Rocky Mountain Power Area. Under the reliability council arrangements, various utilities have joined together into operating pools for coordinated planning and operation to more efficiently match loads and resources. The Inland Power Pool is a formal operating pool with the principal objective of sharing reserve capacity among its members. Members of the Inland Power Pool operate electric generation and transmission systems in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, wyoming, and portions of Utah and Nebraska. The systems are interconnected by 345 kV, 230 kV, and 115 kV transmission lines. Output from a Cache la Poudre Project would most likely be integrated into the Inland Power Pool. The three utilities mentioned above that most likely would be impacted by the hydroelectric production of a Cache la Poudre Project are all members of the Inland Power Pool. II-14 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I