Evolving Stakeholder Processes for Greater Collaboration

At the ISO, stakeholder input is at the heart of everything we do. From shaping policy initiatives to refining business practice manuals and engaging technical user groups, our stakeholders provide invaluable insights that guide market design, infrastructure planning, and operational excellence. We convene a broad spectrum of stakeholders to collaborate and ensure decisions are shaped by diverse input. We strive to continually enhance the stakeholder experience and are excited to share recent developments and plans for this year.

Building an inclusive and transparent experience

We are committed to delivering exceptional outcomes and outstanding stakeholder experience. By working closely with our stakeholders, we will continually evolve our processes to foster inclusivity, transparency, and trust – principles that guide every improvement we make.

New resources to support engagement

We recently published the Stakeholder Process Guide, a comprehensive resource designed to help stakeholders understand and navigate ISO processes. The guide walks through the lifecycle of an initiative – from inception to implementation – and includes:

• Best practices for productive and collaborative participation
• Insights into recent process changes
• Opportunities for stakeholder influence throughout the initiative
• An overview of engagement for infrastructure and financial processes

Whether you’re new to the ISO’s work or a seasoned participant, this guide is a valuable tool for staying informed and engaged.

Enhanced tools and visuals

To make our processes clearer, we have also updated the Policy initiatives and stakeholder process website with new graphics, and launched tools to support stakeholders during implementation of the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) including a continuously updated EDAM FAQ based on real-time inquiries. We also recently published the that will guide our work on policy initiatives.

Listening and acting on feedback

In 2025, we surveyed stakeholders through the Regional Issues Forum (RIF) sector liaisons to assess enhancements made to working groups. Feedback was encouraging – many improvements were effective – and stakeholders identified opportunities for further progress that included:

• Defining an appropriate length for the working group stage
• Defining a clear and structured handoff from working group discussions to policy development
• Incorporating technology and implementation considerations earlier in the process

Plans for 2026

In 2026, we will focus on enhancements to address these areas, as well as continued collaboration with the RIF on proposed enhancements to the RIF’s role. We’ll do this while staying closely aligned with the work underway to establish the new Regional Organization for Western Energy Markets and its independent governance structure.

Our commitment is clear: stakeholder voices shape our future. Building on a strong foundation of transparency and collaboration, we will continue to refine our processes to ensure policy outcomes that reflect shared priorities. Visit our calendar for upcoming policy initiatives and other forums. We look forward to your active participation.