As the only independent grid operator in the western U.S., the ISO grants equal access to 26,000 circuit miles of transmission lines and coordinates competing and diverse energy resources into the grid where it is distributed to consumers. It also operates a competitive wholesale power market designed to promote a broad range of resources at lower prices.
Every five minutes, the ISO forecasts electrical demand and dispatches the lowest cost generator to meet demand while ensuring enough transmission capacity for delivery of power.
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The role of the California ISO
The electricity industry includes traditional utilities, private power plant owners and state and federal...
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How power flows in California
The California ISO network is a long-distance, high-voltage transmission system that delivers wholesale...
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Competition brings transparency
More than 150 core transmission and generation companies participate in the ISO market, which is used to allocate...
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The ISO grid
The ISO manages the flow of electricity for about 80 percent of California and a small part of Nevada, which...
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ISO history
Before the establishment of independent transmission operators, electricity was a matter of local...
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Opening access
The California ISO is one of 9 independent system operators in North America. Collectively, they deliver...
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High-tech control centers
Grid reliability is a 24-hour-a-day job requiring California ISO operators in to assess the status of the...
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The ISO opened its two California control centers in 1998 as the state restructured its wholesale electricity industry. While utilities still own transmission assets, the ISO controls the routing of electrons, maximizing transmission system efficiency and generation resources, and supervising maintenance of the lines. As the nerve center for the power grid, the ISO matches buyers and sellers of electricity, facilitating over 28,000 market transactions every day to ensure enough power is on hand to meet demand. |
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Why ISOs/RTOs are good for America
Regional markets promote efficiency through resource sharing. These organized markets are designed...
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Grid planning
The ISO conducts an annual transmission planning process that uses engineering analysis to identify...
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Getting green on the grid
The key to reliably integrating renewable generation is to maintain a broad power mix with traditional...
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People power
With advancements in automation and smart technology, consumers are becoming sellers, not just buyers...
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What we stand for
We strive to be a world-class transmission organization built around a globally-recognized and inspired...
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Understanding electricity
One megawatt equals one million watts or 1,000 kilowatts, roughly enough electricity for the instantaneous...
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