Preparing for the future: ISO-NE staff discuss large loads, system reliability at July events

Collaboration, expertise, and innovation are three of ISO New England’s core values. Staff embody these values by presenting their work at electricity industry conferences and events around the region, the country, and the world. Here’s a selection of their July speaking engagements.

Maria Gulluni, vice president, general counsel, and chief compliance officer, participated in a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission technical conference on July 23 in Washington, where industry leaders discussed opportunities for improving governance, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making within PJM Interconnection.

Two members of the External Affairs department discussed issues around large electricity users such as data centers. Eric Johnson, executive director, External Affairs, gave a virtual presentation to the Strafford Regional Planning Commission in New Hampshire on July 17. Melissa Winne, lead state policy advisor, External Affairs, gave a virtual presentation to the Maine Data Center Advisory Council on July 9.

Johnson also gave a presentation about the New England electric grid, current market conditions, and future reliability challenges to the Associated Industries of Massachusetts Energy Committee in Boston on July 14.

Helve Saarela, principal engineer, System Planning, on July 14 gave a virtual overview of the ISO’s 2026 Long-Term Reliability Assessment, a report submitted annually to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. It highlights regional demand, generation, transmission, and reliability trends over the next decade.

Sarah Adams, senior state policy advisor, External Affairs, led two presentations at the Vermont System Planning Committee quarterly meeting in Stowe on July 15. One was an ISO-NE regional update. The other discussed transitional cluster study interim report results and next steps.