ISO-NE hosts FEMA, City of Boston officials

ISO New England recently hosted officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the City of Boston for a meeting and tour at its headquarters in Holyoke, Mass.

ISO staff discussed the ISO’s three critical roles in the region: operating the grid, administering the wholesale markets, and planning the bulk power system. In addition, members of the ISO’s System Operations and External Affairs teams discussed the ISO’s seasonal energy outlooks, and emergency operating procedures and communications.

Each year, the ISO prepares short-term forecasts for the summer and winter seasons, taking into account estimated contributions from all resources. These estimates help inform the ISO’s planning on how to operate the grid during the upcoming season. The ISO conducted a pre-summer briefing with its emergency communication contacts on May 19.

The ISO’s External Affairs department is in regular contact with state regulators, policymakers, and other government stakeholders in the six New England states on how the ISO will communicate throughout the season if challenging conditions materialize.