TEP, UniSource Issue New RFP for Additional Energy Resources

Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and UniSource Energy Services have issued a combined all-source request for proposals (ASRFP) for new power plants, energy storage systems, and additional solutions to address their energy requirements. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their proposals by March 8. This ASRFP, which was released in December, aims to find resources that align with the companies’ integrated resource plans (IRPs) published in the previous year, which outline their strategy for fulfilling customer energy demands in the future. Susan Gray, the president and CEO of TEP, expressed the companies’ intent by stating, “We are actively seeking to incorporate reliable and cost-efficient resources to meet the increasing energy needs of the communities we are responsible for.” Similar to our past ASRFP, we are especially focused on securing resources capable of delivering service during the peak energy usage times of summer, which often occur in the late afternoon to early evening periods when our customers’ energy consumption is at its highest. In the ASRFP, TEP and UniSource are inviting proposals for various kinds of resources. The firms intend to evaluate submissions prior to the summer season and expect to choose the winning proposals during the autumn period. Both firms are looking for resources that can start operating by 2026 or at the latest by 2027. Projects that integrate multiple technologies can be considered. The ASRFP procedure benefits from the evaluation and external monitoring services supplied by Sargent & Lundy.