ISO-NE announces changes in System Operations and Market Administration leadership

ISO New England today announced the retirement of Peter Brandien, vice president of System Operations and Market Administration. Stephen George will succeed Brandien on Nov. 11.

During his 20-year career with ISO New England, Brandien has led the ISO’s efforts to ensure the reliable and efficient day-to-day operation of the region’s power system. In recent years, he has taken on the additional responsibility of ensuring the fair administration of the region’s wholesale electricity markets.

“Peter has always been someone who leads by example and puts his people first,” said Gordon van Welie, ISO New England’s president and CEO. “Throughout his tenure, he has embraced our mission and vision, while modeling the core values of respect, innovation, dependability, expertise, and collaboration.”

“Through steadfast focus on professional development and improvement, he has created a team of top-notch system operators and market administrators who have consistently and flexibly served the region through cold snaps, heat waves, and everything in between,” van Welie added.

Brandien’s lengthy list of accomplishments include enhanced regional coordination between the gas and electric sectors, collaboration across the ISO to prepare for growing amounts of wind and solar power on the grid, and the development of innovative operational and planning tools to enhance reliability, including the 21-day energy adequacy forecasting tool and the Probabilistic Energy Adequacy Tool.

George has held several positions of increasing responsibility since joining the ISO in 2004 as a system operator. Most recently, he has served as director, Operational Performance, Training, and Integration, where he has been responsible for the department’s strategic planning initiatives, project integration, operational analysis, operator training, human performance improvement, and procedure administration.

He has played a leading role in a number of key initiatives, including the integration of distributed energy resource aggregations and ongoing initiatives aimed at addressing the region’s energy adequacy concerns through operational and/or market-related enhancements.

Prior to joining the ISO, George served six years in the U.S. Navy, including four years as a nuclear power plant operator onboard the USS Augusta. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology, Nuclear Engineering Technology from Thomas Edison State University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. “The pace of change on New England’s power system will only increase in the coming years, and Stephen’s wealth of experience, steady hand, and positive attitude make him more than qualified to take on this critical role in the region,” van Welie said.