Reliability coordinator

Reliability is an essential element of operating the electric grid. The ISO is taking steps to become its own reliability coordinator (RC) and offer these services to other balancing authorities in the western United States.

What is a reliability coordinator?

A reliability coordinator is an entity with the highest level of authority responsible for the reliable operation of the high voltage system, complying with federal and regional grid operation standards. It has a wide area view of the bulk electric system, and has the authority to prevent or mitigate emergency operations in day-ahead and real-time operations that may be beyond the operational awareness of individual transmission operators. The RC also provides leadership in system restoration following a major event.

Reliability Coordinator FAQ10/09/2018 16:04

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Milestones

11/6/2018
Posted technical specifications to the ISO public website for applications with web service changes for Reliability Coordinator. View the specifications.
11/2/2018
Proposed Revision Requests (PRRs) for the Business Practice Manual submitted for new Reliability Coordinator services BPM (PRR 1104); Settlements and Billing BPM (PRR 1099); and Management Full Network Model BPM (PRR 1097.) PRR initial comment period open Nov. 2 – 16, 2018. Initial BPM change management meeting scheduled for Nov. 27, 2018, at 11 a.m. (Pacific). For more information, email BPM_CM@caiso.com.
08/31/2018
Filed tariff amendments with FERC to implement rate design, terms, and conditions of the RC service. View the filing.
08/23/2018
Idaho Power and PacifiCorp announce commitment to receive RC services from ISO. View the news release.
08/2018
Formed a regulatory working group to expand outreach efforts with the larger stakeholder community, including regulatory bodies in western states.
07/30/2018
Balancing Authority of Northern California becomes first entity to publicly commit to taking RC services from ISO. View the news release.
07/26/2018
ISO Board of Governors approves proposed rates, terms and conditions for the ISO to provide RC services.
07/18/2018
ISO posts draft tariff language for RC rate design, terms, and conditions.
04/12/2018
ISO launches stakeholder initiative for RC rate design, terms, and conditions. Visit the RC Stakeholder Initiative page.
03/2018
Identified and established seven working groups comprised of subject matter experts in their respective fields to address the following topics: operations planning; real-time operations; seams management; settlements; emergency response and power system restoration; data exchange; and training.
03/2018
Formed a Steering Committee comprised of prospective participants to help design an Oversight Committee that would give guidance and foster consensus on reliability compliance once the ISO begins providing RC services.
01/17/2018 - 01/19/2018
ISO holds three in-person meetings with stakeholders in Folsom, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and Portland, OR. View presentations and listen to audio.
01/04/2018
ISO holds an RC Plan Overview meeting. Listen to audio of the meeting.
01/02/2018
California ISO announces plans to become its Reliability Coordinator (RC) and offer these services to other balancing authorities and transmission operators in the western United States. The ISO gave notice to withdraw from its current RC services provided by Peak Reliability. View the news release.

Tracks for becoming a reliability coordinator

The ISO has launched multiple tracks for becoming a reliability coordinator.

Track 1: Stakeholder initiative process: Reliability Coordinator Rate design, Terms and Conditions
Track 2: Federal regulatory requirements for RC certification. Operating Procedures
Track 3: RC customer on-boarding

If your organization has signed a Letter of Intent and a non-disclosure agreement to potentially join the ISO RC, click here to visit a secure site for the oversight committee and working group members. Click here for instructions for accessing the site.