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Nonprofiteer
← SOUTHWEST POWER POOL INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by SOUTHWEST POWER POOL INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$291,717,736
Total expenses
$268,327,083
Contributions and grants received
$720,000
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$282,190,922
Investment income
$8,806,814
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$1,870,065,706
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,929,388,156
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
-$59,322,450
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$0
Management and general expenses
$0
Fundraising expenses
$0
Program service expenses (Part III)
$268,327,083

Program services were 0.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $0

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $720,000

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $0

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $0

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $0

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $0

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $0

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Tariff Administration Service

    total $196,251,094 · related or exempt $196,251,094 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Fees and Assessments

    total $35,059,973 · related or exempt $35,059,973 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 2c · Program service revenue: Contract Services

    total $25,371,892 · related or exempt $25,371,892 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $25,507,963 · related or exempt $25,507,963 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $8,806,814 · related or exempt $8,806,814 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $0 · other assets $0

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $0

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $15,641,288

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $110,497,180

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $14,519,592

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $11,076,618

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $8,553,893

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $3,597,336

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $170,013

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $0

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $0

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $1,768,483

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $21,282,258

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $3,217,922

  • 17 · Travel

    total $2,070,901

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $1,323,470

  • 20 · Interest

    total $5,393,092

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $17,822,616

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $2,089,573

  • 24a · Other expenses: FERC Fees

    total $36,232,261

  • 24b · Other expenses: Consulting Expenses

    total $30,610,540

  • 24c · Other expenses: Communication Expenses

    total $4,811,126

  • 24d · Other expenses: Change in Funded Status of Employee Benefit Plans

    total -$21,537,814

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total -$813,265

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $411,593 · end of year $1,493,698

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,571,930,388 · end of year $1,469,299,942

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $120,038,289 · end of year $171,617,788

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $9,787,735 · end of year $10,758,501

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $357,263,134

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $293,465,891

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $59,817,604 · end of year $63,797,243

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $116,942,526 · end of year $141,163,989

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $10,679,618 · end of year $11,934,545

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $278,278,008 · end of year $343,571,097

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $15,444,291 · end of year $10,527,808

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $1,515,739,525 · end of year $1,431,179,554

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $1,696,200 · end of year $1,490,600

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $128,654,426 · end of year $126,654,809

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $33,143,928 · end of year $15,964,288

  • 29 · Capital stock, trust principal or current funds

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 30 · Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building or equipment fund

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 31 · Retained earnings, endowment or other funds

    beginning of year -$83,348,625 · end of year -$59,322,450

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

Regional transmission organization that provides the following services to its members and customers: tariff administration, electric reliability coordination, regional transmission scheduling, regional transmission expansion planning, day-ahead and real time markets, transmission congestion rights, reliability unit commitment, operating reserve market, and consolidated balancing authority.

  • See Statement 1

    Expenses $268,327,083 · Revenue $282,190,922

  • N/A

  • N/A

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Barbara Sugg

    President and CEO

    Total calculated
    $2,121,977
    From this org
    $1,945,092
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $176,885
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $816,492
    Bonus
    $1,113,750
    Other
    $14,850
    Deferred
    $152,571
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,314
    Filer's total
    $2,121,977
  • Lanny Nickell

    Executive Vice President and COO

    Total calculated
    $1,662,662
    From this org
    $1,515,293
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $147,369
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $653,884
    Bonus
    $600,000
    Other
    $261,409
    Deferred
    $120,710
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,659
    Filer's total
    $1,662,662
  • Bruce Rew

    Senior Vice President - Operations

    Total calculated
    $863,266
    From this org
    $688,563
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $174,703
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $377,787
    Bonus
    $300,000
    Other
    $10,776
    Deferred
    $148,077
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,625
    Filer's total
    $863,265
  • Antoine Lucas

    Vice President - Markets

    Total calculated
    $837,573
    From this org
    $755,271
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $82,302
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $367,685
    Bonus
    $260,000
    Other
    $127,586
    Deferred
    $75,744
    Nontaxable benefits
    $6,558
    Filer's total
    $837,573
  • Paul Suskie

    Executive Vice President - Regulatory Policy & General Counsel

    Total calculated
    $827,941
    From this org
    $723,015
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $104,926
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $400,729
    Bonus
    $315,000
    Other
    $7,287
    Deferred
    $78,616
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,309
    Filer's total
    $827,941
  • David Kelley Jr

    Vice President and CFO/VP Engineering

    Total calculated
    $762,167
    From this org
    $661,080
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $101,087
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $324,010
    Bonus
    $210,000
    Other
    $127,070
    Deferred
    $71,981
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,106
    Filer's total
    $762,167
  • Michael Ross

    Senior Vice President - External Affairs

    Total calculated
    $742,999
    From this org
    $603,012
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $139,987
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $343,178
    Bonus
    $250,000
    Other
    $9,835
    Deferred
    $110,750
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,237
    Filer's total
    $743,000
  • Kelly Carney

    Vice President - Human Capital & CPO

    Total calculated
    $733,114
    From this org
    $624,177
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $108,937
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $305,931
    Bonus
    $210,000
    Other
    $108,246
    Deferred
    $86,917
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,020
    Filer's total
    $733,114
  • John Sam Ellis

    Vice President, IT and Chief Information Security Officer

    Total calculated
    $663,803
    From this org
    $506,271
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $157,532
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $307,585
    Bonus
    $190,000
    Other
    $8,686
    Deferred
    $147,371
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,162
    Filer's total
    $663,804
  • Michael Desselle

    Vice President Chief Compliance & Admin Officer

    Total calculated
    $635,769
    From this org
    $549,120
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $86,649
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $329,825
    Bonus
    $210,000
    Other
    $9,295
    Deferred
    $63,083
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,566
    Filer's total
    $635,769
  • Ralph Chapman Jr

    Senior Director - Facilities and IT Applications

    Total calculated
    $502,704
    From this org
    $364,841
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $137,863
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $265,628
    Bonus
    $94,100
    Other
    $5,113
    Deferred
    $109,100
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,763
    Filer's total
    $502,704
  • Bert Bressers

    Senior Director - Operations Support

    Total calculated
    $481,036
    From this org
    $395,283
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $85,753
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $282,848
    Bonus
    $106,900
    Other
    $5,536
    Deferred
    $67,224
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,529
    Filer's total
    $481,037
  • Felek Abbas

    Vice President & Chief Security Officer

    Total calculated
    $480,588
    From this org
    $417,350
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $63,238
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $311,095
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $106,256
    Deferred
    $37,700
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,538
    Filer's total
    $480,589
  • Carrie Simpson

    Senior Director, SEAMS and Western Services

    Total calculated
    $467,415
    From this org
    $339,667
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $127,748
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $247,236
    Bonus
    $90,800
    Other
    $1,631
    Deferred
    $104,964
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,784
    Filer's total
    $467,415
  • Carlie M Brown Jr

    Senior Director - Systems Operations

    Total calculated
    $464,657
    From this org
    $388,576
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $76,081
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $274,367
    Bonus
    $112,200
    Other
    $2,009
    Deferred
    $49,051
    Nontaxable benefits
    $27,029
    Filer's total
    $464,656
  • Michael Riley

    Vice President - Corporate Services & Chief Compliance

    Total calculated
    $452,509
    From this org
    $361,756
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $90,753
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $265,432
    Bonus
    $94,100
    Other
    $2,225
    Deferred
    $64,745
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,007
    Filer's total
    $452,509
  • James Gunnell Sr

    Technical Director of IT Program OPTI

    Total calculated
    $450,591
    From this org
    $381,642
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $68,949
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $101,929
    Bonus
    $55,600
    Other
    $224,113
    Deferred
    $58,077
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,872
    Filer's total
    $450,591
  • Deborah Sterzing

    Senior Vice President Finance and CFO

    Total calculated
    $450,388
    From this org
    $453,593
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    -$3,205
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $83,710
    Bonus
    $240,000
    Other
    $129,883
    Deferred
    -$11,321
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,116
    Filer's total
    $450,388
  • Casey Cathey

    Vice President - Engineering

    Total calculated
    $450,064
    From this org
    $370,320
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $79,744
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $266,847
    Bonus
    $101,500
    Other
    $1,973
    Deferred
    $48,633
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,111
    Filer's total
    $450,064
  • Jerome Wild

    Senior Director - Technology & Services

    Total calculated
    $444,024
    From this org
    $355,259
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $88,765
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $264,313
    Bonus
    $87,600
    Other
    $3,346
    Deferred
    $65,086
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,679
    Filer's total
    $444,024
  • Keith Norman Collins

    VP - Market Monitoring

    Total calculated
    $433,240
    From this org
    $398,207
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $35,033
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $139,505
    Bonus
    $245,245
    Other
    $13,457
    Deferred
    $21,290
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,743
    Filer's total
    $433,240
  • Steven Johnson

    Senior Director Markets Admin

    Total calculated
    $405,099
    From this org
    $334,017
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $71,082
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $238,436
    Bonus
    $92,500
    Other
    $3,081
    Deferred
    $46,417
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,665
    Filer's total
    $405,099
  • Leonard Tao

    Technical Director, FERC Policy

    Total calculated
    $404,652
    From this org
    $336,447
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $68,205
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $260,829
    Bonus
    $69,500
    Other
    $6,118
    Deferred
    $66,035
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,170
    Filer's total
    $404,652
  • Natasha Henderson

    Senior Director Grid Asset Utility

    Total calculated
    $386,914
    From this org
    $329,204
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $57,710
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $247,585
    Bonus
    $64,100
    Other
    $17,519
    Deferred
    $29,184
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,526
    Filer's total
    $386,914
  • John Cupparo

    Board Chair

    Total calculated
    $216,250
    From this org
    $216,250
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $216,250
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $216,250
  • Steve Wright

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $182,500
    From this org
    $182,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $182,500
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $182,500
  • Raymond Hepper

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $182,500
    From this org
    $182,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $182,500
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $182,500
  • Elizabeth Moore

    Board Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $182,500
    From this org
    $182,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $182,500
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $182,500
  • Irene Dimitry

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $162,500
    From this org
    $162,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $162,500
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $162,500
  • Bastone Bronwen

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $157,500
    From this org
    $157,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $157,500
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $157,500
  • Stuart Solomon

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $157,500
    From this org
    $157,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $157,500
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $157,500
  • Susan Certoma

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $153,750
    From this org
    $153,750
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $153,750
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $153,750
  • John Ben Trowbridge

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $150,000
    From this org
    $150,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $150,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $150,000

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · First-class or charter travel
  • 1a · Tax indemnification and gross-up payments
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan

Answered no

  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a
Southwest Power Pool (SPP) board members are permitted to travel first class. SPP's expense policy allows for executive level management to use private planes or charter travel for business purposes. In 2024, neither private plane or charter travel options were utilized. Also, all employees of the organization who are eligible to receive benefits are provided an insurance credit which is grossed-up for payroll purposes and reported as taxable compensation.
Schedule J, Part I, Line 1b
Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has a travel and expense reimbursement policy in place to govern expenses incurred by employees for the benefit of the company that specifically addresses first class, charter or private aircraft travel. There's no specific policy that governs the insurance gross-up payments, however it's a longstanding company-wide practice applied to all employees.
Schedule J, Part I, Line 3
The SPP Compensation Subcommittee, consisting of the Board members of the Human Resources (HR) Committee, is responsible for conducting periodic executive compensation reviews and determining the salary and incentives for the SPP CEO. These reviews are typically conducted every two to three years through a survey with an outside consultant. The Subcommittee is led by the Chair of the HR Committee. The Subcommittee is responsible for ensuring that critical job functions and goals for the SPP CEO are reviewed and discussed annually with them. The Chair of the Subcommittee annually recommends compensation and benefit adjustments to the Board Chair, who then presents the recommendation for board approval. All compensation decisions for the SPP officers are determined by the SPP CEO with board awareness.
Schedule J, Part I, Line 4
In June 2024, James Gunnell Sr., Technical Director of IT Program OPTI, left Southwest Power Pool (SPP). Upon his departure, he received a severance payment of $211,810. SPP has a 457(f) plan for the executive officers. The following officers are participants in the plan: Barbara Sugg, Paul Suskie, Michael Desselle, Michael Ross, Bruce Rew, Lanny Nickell and Antoine Lucas.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
27 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.0
Source object
202523009349301547

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