FERC Directs Grid Operators To Report On Changing System Needs, Plans

April 25, 2022

by APPA News
April 25, 2022

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on April 21 directed the operators of six regional organized electric power markets to provide information regarding their changing system needs and plans for potential reforms. 

The California Independent System Operator Corp., ISO New England, Inc., Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., New York Independent System Operator, Inc., PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., and Southwest Power Pool, Inc. have 180 days to file reports in response to the order.

The order follows a staff whitepaper and four technical conferences conducted in 2021 that explored the changing nature of the organized markets and their operations.  

The Commission received comments on the potential challenges associated with “one size fits all” solutions and is gathering additional information from each market operator to better understand how their unique resource mixes and load profiles impact their respective system needs across all their markets and their respective plans to address those needs. 

Reports are expected to comprehensively address current system needs given recent changes in resource mixes and load profiles; operator expectations regarding system needs over the next five years and ten years; whether and how each market operator plans to reform its markets to meet expected system needs.

Public comments are due 60 days following the filing of the reports. The Commission will review the reports and comments to determine whether further action is appropriate.