FERC accepts ISO-NE’s interconnection process changes

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has accepted ISO New England’s proposal to comply with FERC Order Nos. 2023 and 2023-A. These orders aim to make the way generators connect to the power grid more efficient by moving to a cluster study process. The ISO, joined by transmission owners and stakeholders, filed the proposed changes with FERC in May 2024.

Before a new power plant or other resource can connect to the New England grid, the ISO must perform a technical study to ensure the resource can do so safely and reliably. Over the past eight years, driven primarily by a growth in renewable resources, the number of proposals awaiting or undergoing study in the ISO Interconnection Request Queue has grown by around 80%. The revised process has a “first-ready, first-served” focus. It will require new generating facilities to complete studies as a group or cluster, rather than one after another, which will streamline the study process.

Changes to the process also involve penalties in certain circumstances both for generating facilities that withdraw from cluster studies as well as for the ISO or transmission owners for delays in study completion beyond established deadlines. Projects will also need to demonstrate increased financial commercial readiness, a step that is intended to improve integration of battery storage projects and other new technologies onto the transmission system.

FERC’s order also requires the ISO to submit some further compliance revisions by June 3, 2025, to update language to ensure consistency with Order No. 2023 or further justify proposed deviations.