ISO Minute: A new way to measure power resource reliability

ISO Minute is a video series featuring ISO New England employees speaking about their experiences working for the region’s independent system operator and supporting the ongoing evolution of the electric system.

How much electricity can a power plant or generating resource reliably provide when it is needed most? That is the question behind resource accreditation, a key component of ISO New England’s ongoing Capacity Auction Reforms (CAR) project.

In this ISO Minute, Chris Geissler, director of Economic Analysis, explains how the ISO is updating the way resources’ contributions to grid reliability are measured.

“Historically, for most resources, it was based on what’s my maximum capability or output,” Geissler says. “We are developing accreditation reforms that more accurately account for the actual reliability contributions during the periods when they’re most important to the region.”

Since each resource has unique characteristics, these updates aim to capture how an individual resource can perform under a range of system conditions. For example, during a cold snap, when natural gas is in high demand for home heating, power plants may not have consistent access to fuel.

The Capacity Auction Reforms fact sheet has additional information on resource accreditation and other proposed changes to this market.