ISO/RTO Council

ISO/RTO Council
Name	ISO/RTO Council
Abbreviation	IRC
Formation	1990s
Type	Industry association
Headquarters	United States
Region served	North America
Membership	Independent System Operators, Regional Transmission Organizations

ISO/RTO Council The ISO/RTO Council is a North American association of independent transmission system operators and regional transmission organizations that coordinates operational, technical, and policy issues among Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, North American Electric Reliability Corporation, Department of Energy (United States), Canadian Electricity Association, and Mexican Energy Regulatory Commission stakeholders. It serves as a forum linking PJM Interconnection, ISO New England, New York Independent System Operator, Midcontinent Independent System Operator, California Independent System Operator, and other system operators with federal agencies, provincial authorities, and state regulators including New York State Department of Public Service, California Public Utilities Commission, and Illinois Commerce Commission. The council engages in technical exchanges with entities such as National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, United States Environmental Protection Agency, and major utilities including Duke Energy, Exelon, and NextEra Energy.

History

The council emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s amid continental restructuring debates involving Energy Policy Act of 1992, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order No. 888, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order No. 2000, and regional initiatives following incidents like the Northeast blackout of 2003. Early convenings included participation from Bonneville Power Administration, Ontario Energy Board, Hydro-Québec, Alberta Electric System Operator, and academic partners such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley. Over time the council expanded its remit to address integration challenges posed by resources like Pioneer Battery Storage Project, Hornsdale Power Reserve, Alta Wind Energy Center, and interties exemplified by the Pacific DC Intertie and Quebec-New England Transmission. It has adapted to policy shifts following events including Hurricane Sandy, Polar Vortex (2014 North American cold wave), and the California energy crisis.

Mission and Structure

The council's mission aligns with reliability, market efficiency, and interregional coordination as reflected in interactions with North American Electric Reliability Corporation Standards, Regional Entity, NERC Reliability Standards, and market rules applied by Independent System Operators. Its structure comprises committees and working groups that mirror technical bodies like IEEE Power & Energy Society, North American Transmission Forum, Electric Power Research Institute, and National Governors Association task forces. Leadership typically includes executives from PJM Interconnection, ISO New England, New York Independent System Operator, Midcontinent Independent System Operator, California Independent System Operator, and representatives from provincial agencies such as Ontario Power Authority and Alberta Utilities Commission. The council coordinates with research institutions including Argonne National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and consults on standards with International Electrotechnical Commission counterparts.

Member Organizations

Members include the major independent system operators and regional transmission organizations: PJM Interconnection, ISO New England, New York Independent System Operator, Midcontinent Independent System Operator, California Independent System Operator, Southwest Power Pool, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (observer relationships), Alberta Electric System Operator, Independent Electricity System Operator (Ontario), and provincial entities like Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie. Affiliate members have included utilities and market participants such as Duke Energy, FirstEnergy, American Electric Power, Southern Company, NextEra Energy Resources, and transmission developers involved with projects like TransWest Express and Champlain Hudson Power Express.

Activities and Programs

The council facilitates interregional planning, operational coordination, and technical exchanges addressing topics like renewable portfolio standards implementation in coordination with State of California energy planning and grid modernization pilots such as those run by Smart Grid Investment Grant participants. Programs cover resource adequacy modeling, transmission planning, and cyber and physical security coordination in partnership with North American Electric Reliability Corporation, Department of Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The council publishes white papers and technical reports used by entities including Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners committees, and provincial regulators. It organizes workshops, joint exercises, and training with organizations such as National Renewable Energy Laboratory, GridWise Alliance, and Electric Power Research Institute.

Policy and Regulatory Influence

Through technical filings, stakeholder comments, and coordinated positions, the council has influenced rulemakings at Federal Energy Regulatory Commission including those on regional transmission planning, interconnection queue reforms, and market design changes linked to Order No. 841 and Order No. 2222. It engages with legislative offices and committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and interacts with provincial legislative bodies like the Ontario Legislative Assembly and Alberta Legislature. The council’s analyses inform debates on capacity markets, carbon policy interactions across jurisdictions including attention from California Air Resources Board, and cross-border coordination with U.S.–Canada energy relations participants.

Governance and Funding

Governance is effected via an executive steering committee composed of CEOs and senior officers from member independent system operators and regional transmission organizations, with rotating chairs and technical leads drawn from participating organizations such as PJM Interconnection and ISO New England. Funding derives from member dues, shared project fees, and grants or cooperative agreements with agencies including the Department of Energy (United States), research organizations like Electric Power Research Institute, and provincial partners. The council maintains transparency through stakeholder sessions that include representatives from consumer advocacy groups, trade associations such as American Public Power Association, and industry investors like BlackRock and Brookfield Renewable Partners.

Category:Energy organizations