EASTERN INTERCONNECTION PLANNING COLLABORATIVE | EIPC Planning Coordinators Elect New Officers

On December 1, 2021, the electric system Planning Coordinators that formed the Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative (EIPC) announced the election of Zach Smith, Vice President of System & Resource Planning at the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), to be the Chairman of the EIPC Executive Committee for 2022 - 2023. Greg Stone, General Manager of Transmission Planning, Policy and Operations Services at Duke Energy, was elected to serve as Vice Chairman.

EIPC is a first-of-its-kind collaborative made up of the major U.S.-based Transmission Planning Coordinators responsible for planning the bulk power grid throughout the Eastern Interconnection which represents approximately two-thirds of the U.S. and Canada.  The EIPC was formed to provide a forum to coordinate and conduct interconnection-wide transmission analysis, while also providing policymakers and regulators with relevant, complete and technically sound information.

“The major value of EIPC is that the Eastern Interconnection is one big machine. Various organizations each have a piece of that machine, but in the end, it is one big machine. A major part of our objective is working together to keep that machine running to provide an efficient and reliable supply of electricity to meet consumers’ needs at all times,” said Smith. “EIPC is a unique and invaluable organization, well positioned to address the challenges stemming from the rapid transformation of the power industry, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to this effort.” 

As the Vice President for System & Resource Planning for the NYISO, Smith is responsible for the oversight and implementation of system planning and strategic initiatives for the New York State transmission system. These include ensuring a reliable electric grid for the future, identifying economic opportunities for transmission investment beneficial to ratepayers, and implementation of system upgrades to enable public policies. Mr. Smith also oversees the interconnection process through which renewable resources and other new generation technologies reliably connect to the New York State electric grid. 

Since joining the NYISO in 2004, Mr. Smith has spearheaded numerous renewable integration and transmission planning initiatives through key positions of increasing responsibility, and he actively represents the NYISO on interregional coordination committees. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

At Duke Energy, Stone is responsible for Transmission Planning, Policy and Operations Services across multiple Operating Companies with a presence in six states.This includes administration of Duke’s open access transmission tariff as well as several operations support areas such as operator training, energy accounting and engineering suport for Duke’s control centers.  He has over 35 years of experience in Planning, Operations and Asset Management at Duke.  

Mr. Stone received a BSEE degree from North Carolina State University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina and is a registered professional engineer.  He has participated on numerous industry committees and is currently a member of the NERC Reliability and Security Technical committee (RSTC) and the EEI Reliability Executive Advisory Committee (REAC).

About the EIPC

Formed under an agreement by 20 planning authorities from the Eastern United States and Canada, the EIPC has developed a “bottom-up” approach to transmission planning, starting with a roll-up of the existing grid expansion plans of electric system planning authorities in the Eastern Interconnection. The EIPC membership currently includes Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Cube Hydro Carolinas, LLC; Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc.; Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Florida, and Duke Energy Progress; Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company; Florida Power & Light Company; Georgia Transmission Corporation (An Electric Membership Corporation); ISO New England, Inc.; Midcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.; Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia; New York Independent System Operator, Inc.; PJM Interconnection; PowerSouth Energy Cooperative; South Carolina Public Service Authority; Southern Company Services Inc., as agent for Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, and Mississippi Power Company; Southwest Power Pool, Inc.; and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

For more information, visit www.eipconline.com.