Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

On August 14th and 15th, 2020, the power system experienced two consecutive days’ load shedding in the accident of electricity restriction in California, USA. Based on the comprehensive consideration of the high-penetration renewable energy and the unique market mechanism design of the California Electric Power System, this paper analyzes two topics which are the causes of the process of electricity restriction in California and the role of the regional market mechanism in the electricity restriction. To this end, firstly, combined with the actual market operation data, this paper focuses on the quantitative analysis of the influence of two aspects: renewable energy with net load and imported electricity in the accident of electricity restriction in California, USA. Secondly, focusing on the regional power trading mechanism that is being promoted in California and its surrounding areas, an in-depth analysis of the operation mode and implementation logic of the mechanism of the western energy imbalanced market (WEIM) is carried out. The impact of the mechanism of WEIM on the accident of electricity restriction is analyzed and evaluated. Finally, after summarizing and discussing the experience and lessons of the accident of electricity restriction, combining with the conditions and progress of Chinese electricity market construction, relevant suggestions are made for the future regional collaboration, mechanism coordination and construction path of Chinese electricity market.