July 20, 2026

Vamsi Chadalavada engages with groups across region in first 6 months leading ISO-NE

ISO New England President and CEO Vamsi Chadalavada speaks at the NECPUC Symposium in Rockport, Maine, on May 19.

During his first six months as president and CEO of ISO New England, Vamsi Chadalavada has spoken at several forums across the region, engaging with federal and state officials and a wide range of stakeholders.

The events focused on a variety of issues facing New England’s bulk electric system, including cold weather operations, potential large load integration, energy affordability, and resource adequacy. Chadalavada also used the forums to provide stakeholders with updates on several ongoing ISO-NE initiatives. Summaries of each event are provided below.

Winter operations

Chadalavada joined a New England Council panel in Boston on June 29 focused on operations during Winter Storm Fern. The storm brought heavy snow that diminished production from solar resources for many days afterward. It came near the beginning of a 19-day period of below-average temperatures that drove high electricity demand and posed challenges for the power system.

Moderated by Sarah Bresolin of ENGIE North America, the panel discussion included representatives from the New England Power Generators Association, Eversource, and JERA Americas. Panelists addressed winter storm preparations, real-time operational challenges, and lessons for future grid operations during severe weather.

Chadalavada described the ISO’s preparations, including regular reporting through the 21-Day Energy Assessment Forecast and Report. He emphasized coordination with federal partners, generators, and other stakeholders to maintain reliability under difficult conditions. He also noted the need for regional resource adequacy solutions, particularly as drought conditions and widespread storms can limit availability of hydro imports from Québec or power from other neighboring regions.

The panel followed keynote remarks by US Department of Energy Deputy Secretary James Danly, who underscored the importance of government-industry coordination in maintaining reliability.

Regional collaboration

Chadalavada was a featured speaker at the 78th annual New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners (NECPUC) Symposium in Rockport, Maine, on May 19. His conversation with Phil Bartlett, chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission and president of NECPUC, drew commissioners, policymakers, New England Power Pool members, and other stakeholders from across the region.

Emphasizing the ISO’s role as a trusted technical resource and the importance of continued regional collaboration, Chadalavada described his leadership approach. He also highlighted the ISO’s ongoing Capacity Auction Reforms (CAR) key project and expanded analytical capabilities, including the Probabilistic Energy Adequacy Tool. Other discussion topics included flexible load, cybersecurity, interregional planning, and resource adequacy.

New leadership

A May 5 panel at the ClimaTech conference in Boston featured state and regional energy leaders discussing their new roles.

Chadalavada joined Weezie Nuara, deputy secretary for regional and federal affairs at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Jeremy McDiarmid, chair of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, and moderator Jason Marshall of Womble Bond Dickinson.

Outlining his priorities for the ISO, Chadalavada emphasized collaboration, consensus-building, and maintaining the organization’s role as a trusted regional service provider amid rising expectations. He also addressed reliability, risk management, technological innovation, and artificial intelligence.

Key initiatives

The New England Council also hosted Chadalavada in Boston on April 1. His discussion, moderated by Lisa Wieland, president of National Grid New England, was attended by members of the council’s board of directors and its Energy and Environment Committee.

Chadalavada outlined his goals for the ISO and provided updates on key initiatives, including CAR, Longer-Term Transmission Planning, and development of the asset condition reviewer role. He also discussed Winter Storm Fern operations, the ISO’s role in conversations about energy affordability, the region’s evolving resource mix and offshore wind challenges, and the potential impact of new large loads such as data centers.

Roundtable discussion

Chadalavada was the keynote speaker at the New England Energy Roundtable in Boston on March 20. In conversation with moderator Matt Nelson, Chadalavada outlined his early priorities, including helping the organization meet growing expectations, strengthening collaboration and consensus-building, and balancing risk with affordability. He reviewed system operations during January’s cold weather and credited coordination among the ISO, asset owners, and federal and state partners for maintaining reliability. He closed by highlighting CAR and the asset condition reviewer role.