ISO-NE exploring role in reviewing transmission asset condition projects  

ISO New England is exploring requests from the New England states and several stakeholders to take on an advisory role in reviewing asset condition projects proposed by regional transmission owners to repair or replace aging equipment.

Anne George, vice president, chief external affairs and communications officer, outlined the ISO’s perspective on taking on this new role during the “Asset Condition and Right-Sizing Policies” panel at this year’s New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners Symposium.

The discussions center on the potential for the ISO to act as the region’s Asset Condition Reviewer, providing additional independent oversight of asset condition projects through a new review process.

The ISO would not make decisions about whether specific projects should move forward, and it would not participate as a petitioning party in local, state, or federal regulatory proceedings about siting. Moreover, the ISO would not make legal findings or issue opinions on whether the costs of a given asset condition project are prudent. Transmission owners, meanwhile, would indemnify the ISO for any liability related to the reviewer role.

The ISO currently has limited involvement in asset condition projects, which are a separate category of infrastructure investment from reliability transmission upgrades and other types of projects the ISO manages through its regional system planning process.

Next steps

Establishing the ISO as the region’s Asset Condition Reviewer would involve further stakeholder engagement. The ISO is considering how steps to create the role—which would include defining its scope, responsibilities, and required resources—could fit into its 2026 Annual Work Plan.

After assessing and developing a preliminary framework, the ISO plans to bring a proposal to the stakeholder community for discussion and feedback.