The code behind the connection: ISO-NE’s IT experts pave way for electricity imports
This story is the third in a series spotlighting ISO New England employees who helped complete a major, multi-year project that required expertise from across the organization.
In 2021, a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute alumnus made the leap from Verizon to ISO New England, bringing new meaning to his information technology career. He joined the regional grid operator’s IT team, taking on a role supporting software needed for efficient system operations and market administration.
“I feel passionately about making sure the lights stay on,” said Sacha Levwith, now a senior computer scientist at the ISO. “There’s good purpose in maintaining our grid and making sure everyone has good capacity and electricity. It’s meaningful work to me.”
Levwith’s journey at the ISO started with becoming an expert on the External Energy Scheduling system, a critical tool that tracks how electricity moves across New England and through connections with New York and Canada.
In 2024, Levwith joined a team led by Mark Bucciarelli, manager of Participant & External Transaction Applications. This team is responsible for developing applications used by stakeholders, as well as supporting users of those applications should any issues arise, including after business hours and on weekends.
Recently, Participant & External Transaction Applications assisted a company-wide effort in preparing for the region’s first new tie line in years — New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC). The 145-mile transmission line stretches from the Canadian border to a substation in Lewiston, Maine, where the electricity it carries is injected into the New England grid. The project required updates and work on various software, including the External Energy Scheduling system.
“We have neighboring control areas, and power flows between them,” said Bucciarelli. “We’re not isolated. We’re adding a new tie line to our neighbor, so this is an important application for that.”
Levwith was the primary expert working on the software updates needed for NECEC, a task that required troubleshooting and creative thinking.
“This project was interesting because I needed to replicate the workings of the tie lines that already exist, but there was no documentation to outline all the different parts,” said Levwith, who was able to navigate through the process and document his steps for future use. “I searched for things, then tested and performed troubleshooting on errors, and then did more testing.”
The project was crucial for reliable grid operations. In addition to its tracking capabilities, the External Energy Scheduling system contains algorithms that help manage external energy flows during capacity deficiency events, helping to ensure reliability. In short, it provides automated tools that support control room operators during periods of system stress.
According to Bucciarelli, completing the software changes was a team effort in IT. Numerous experts were tapped to assist on the project. Bucciarelli said Bin Li, principal computer scientist and Levwith’s mentor, has been involved with the External Energy Scheduling system for a long time and provided support throughout the project.
“I think it’s a testament to his mentorship that Sacha was able to handle this project by himself,” said Bucciarelli.
With the NECEC effort behind them, the Participant & External Transaction Services team is hard at work with numerous other projects, including implementing recent orders from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
FERC Order Nos. 881 and 881-A require more accurate and transparent methods for determining how much electricity transmission lines can safely carry. This helps ensure competitive wholesale rates and keeps the grid operating in line with real-world conditions.
“There are capacity limits on different lines that are very important, because if you overcharge it, you could damage the line,” said Levwith. “The control room sees these limits on an hourly basis. We’re trying to add more visibility and granularity in the form of taking these limits from places and finding what the true limit is so that we can boost our efficient use of these lines.”
It’s one of many initiatives the ISO is involved in, all of which require time and effort from the grid operator’s experts. It’s hard work, but it’s work with a purpose.
“It’s a big deal,” said Bucciarelli. “When it’s all up and running, that feels great.”
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