Section 5 Congestion Revenue Rights

Congestion Revenue Rights are a financial tool developed for the purpose of allowing load and exports to hedge against congestion charges paid when congestion occurs on a transmission line (aka congestion rents as was described in the previous section). If the congestion occurs in the same direction the CRR is held for the CRR holder is paid, but the CRR holder may have an obligation to pay if congestion occurs in the opposite direction.

Congestion revenue rights auction efficiency 1B became effective on January 1, 2019. It includes key changes related to the congestion revenue rights settlements process:

  • Targeted reduction of congestion revenue rights payouts on a constraint by constraint basis.
  • Distribute congestion revenues to the extent that CAISO collected the requisite revenue on the constraint over the month. That is, implement a pro-rata funding for CRRs.
  • Allow surpluses on one constraint in one hour to offset deficits on the same constraint in another hour over the course of the month.
  • Only distribute surpluses to congestion revenue rights if the surplus is collected on a constraint that the congestion revenue right accrued a deficit, and only up to the full target payment value of the congestion revenue right.
  • Distribute remaining surplus revenue at the end of the month, which are associated with constraints that collect more surplus over the month than deficits, to measured demand.

Monthly CRR Revenue

Figure 5.1 illustrates the daily CRR notional value in the corresponding month for the various transmission elements that experienced congestion during the month. CRR notional value is calculated as the product of CRR implied flow (MW) and constraint shadow price ($/MWh) in each hour per constraint and CRR.

Figure 5.1: Daily CRR Notional Value by Transmission Element

Daily CRR Notional Value by Transmission Element

Figure 5.2 illustrates the daily CRR offset value in the corresponding month for the transmission elements that experienced congestion during the month. CRR offset value is the difference between the revenue collected from the congestion and the CRR notional value. A positive CRR offset value represents surplus and a negative CRR offset value represents shortfall.

As shown below, table 5.1 shows the percentage of monthly CRR deficit by transmission element and Table 5.2 shows the percentage of monthly CRR surplus by transmission element.

Figure 5.2: Daily CRR Offset Value by Transmission Element

Daily CRR Offset Value by Transmission Element
Table 5.1: CRR Deficit by Transmission Element
Constraint Percent
30750_MOSSLD _230_30797_LASAGUIL_230_BR_1 _1 36.29
MIGUEL_BKs_MXFLW_NG 12.42
Other 11.54
34214_LOS BANS_70.0_30765_LOSBANOS_230_XF_3 10.74
OMS 17207024_50001_OOS_NG 7.32
OMS IV-SX OUTAGE_NG 6.14
24723_CONTROL _115_24865_TAP188 _115_BR_2 _1 4.32
30790_PANOCHE _230_30900_GATES _230_BR_2 _1 4.07
7430_KTTLM_GATES_70_1 2.88
99002_MOE-ELD _500_24042_ELDORDO _500_BR_1 _2 2.55
OMS 50004 IV-ML OUTAGE_NG 1.72
Table 5.2: CRR Surplus by Transmission Element
Constraint Percent
Other 37.00
30472_PEABODY _230_30529_BRDSLDNG_230_BR_1 _1 11.20
30060_MIDWAY _500_24156_VINCENT _500_BR_2 _3 10.79
NOB_ITC 9.38
33543_AEC_TP2 _115_33540_TESLA _115_BR_1 _1 9.20
24303_BIG CRK3_230_24235_RECTOR _230_BR_1 _1 4.96
33932_MELONES _115_33936_MELNS JB_115_BR_1 _1 4.93
32214_RIO OSO _115_32225_BRNSWKT1_115_BR_1 _1 4.09
24602_VICTOR _115_24607_ROADWAY _115_BR_1 _1 3.09
30765_LOSBANOS_230_30766_PADR FLT_230_BR_1 _1 2.79
31336_HPLND JT_60.0_31370_CLVRDLJT_60.0_BR_1 _1 2.56

The main reasons for CRR offset shortfall were

  • *The line 30750_MOSSLD_230_30797_LASAGUIL_230_BR_1 _1 was binding throughout this month, resulting in offset shortfall of $5.14 million.*
  • The line MIGUEL_BKs_MXFLW was binding on 5 days of this month, resulting in offset shortfall of $1.67 million.

The main reasons for CRR offset surplus were

  • *The line 30472_PEABODY_230_30529_BRDSLDNG_230_BR_1 _1 was binding on 15 days of this month, resulting in offset surplus of $0.63 million.*
  • *The line 30060_MIDWAY_500_24156_VINCENT_500_BR_2 _3 was binding on 24 days of this month, resulting in offset surplus of $0.61 million.*

Table 5.3 shows the percentage of monthly CRR payment by transmission element.

Table 5.3: CRR Payment by Transmission Element
Constraint Percent
30750_MOSSLD _230_30797_LASAGUIL_230_BR_1 _1 32.47
Other 30.54
31336_HPLND JT_60.0_31370_CLVRDLJT_60.0_BR_1 _1 8.65
34214_LOS BANS_70.0_30765_LOSBANOS_230_XF_3 5.41
30060_MIDWAY _500_24156_VINCENT _500_BR_2 _3 4.52
30472_PEABODY _230_30529_BRDSLDNG_230_BR_1 _1 4.08
MIGUEL_BKs_MXFLW_NG 3.64
34116_LE GRAND_115_34115_ADRA TAP_115_BR_1 _1 3.16
99002_MOE-ELD _500_24042_ELDORDO _500_BR_1 _2 2.83
30765_LOSBANOS_230_30766_PADR FLT_230_BR_1 _1 2.41
MALIN500_ISL 2.30

Table 5.4 shows the monthly CRR statistics. The Net Monthly Balancing Surplus calculates as CRR Surplus plus CRR Daily Balancing Account minus total auction revenue. The total auction revenue is the sum of Monthly Auction Revenue and Annual Auction Revenue. The Allocation to Measured demand is calculated as sum of total auction revenue and Net Monthly Balancing Surplus.

Net Monthly Balancing Surplus in April was $3.32 million. The auction revenues credited to the balancing account for April were $8.72 million. As a result, the balancing account had a surplus of approximately $12.01 million compared to $8.89 million in the previous month, which was allocated to measured demand.

Table 5.4: CRR Revenue Statistics
Description APRIL -2025 MARCH -2025
CRR Notional Value $54,071,387 $69,516,635
CRR Deficit -$13,476,410 -$23,178,018
CRR Settlement Rule -$1,535 -$534
CRR Adjusted Payment $40,593,442 $46,338,083
CRR Surplus $5,647,153 $3,347,772
Monthly Auction Revenue $4,189,525 $2,567,373
Annual Auction Revenue $4,532,567 $7,639,201
CRR Daily Balancing Account $6,402,842 $5,539,351
Net Monthly Balancing Surplus $3,327,903 -$1,319,450
Allocation to Measured Demand $12,049,995 $8,887,124