Become a participating generator
Generator participation
Generators must enter into a participating generator agreement (PGA) and meter service agreement (MSA) with the ISO. After a resource has completed the study phases of the interconnection process, the interconnection customer must sign contracts that are part of the New Resource Implementation bucket 2 process.
Documents required for participation
Establish the contractual agreements during the NRI process.
Please review the pro forma agreement types listed at this link: https://www.caiso.com/legal-regulatory/contracts-agreements#pro-forma-agreements
Resource data submission
The Generator Resource Data Template and the Intertie Resource Data Template are used to submit requests to add or change specific operating parameters that reside in the Master File. For updates to existing data, scheduling coordinators must make any changes on the templates downloaded from the Master File user interface or application programming interface. Scheduling coordinators then submit updated templates using the user interface UPLOAD function or the programming interface SUBMIT services. Requests for new system resources should be sent to RDT@caiso.com in the New Intertie Resource Request template. For templates and more information, visit the Master File (MFRD) page.
Regulatory must-take generation
ISO market participants
The below lists contain our market participants, including scheduling coordinators, congestion revenue rights (CRR) holders, convergence bidding entities, generators and transmission owners.
- List of Scheduling Coordinators CRR Holders and Convergence Bidding Entities01/14/2025, 1:02 AM
- List of Large Generator Interconnection Agreements and Small Generator Interconnection Agreements01/13/2025, 8:37 AM
- List of Participating Transmission Owners01/13/2025, 8:37 AM
Options for participating generators
The ISO provides opportunities for a range of resource types.
Multi-stage generation
Multi-stage generator modeling optimizes the commitment and dispatch of generating units that have multiple operating configurations.
- Multi-Stage Generating Resource Reference Document01/14/2013, 1:40 PM
- Multi-stage Generation Model Overview08/14/2012, 9:53 AM
Participating intermittent resources
This program allows wind and solar resources to schedule energy into the real-time energy market without incurring imbalance charges when the delivered energy deviates from the scheduled amount. For more information, refer to the Business Practice Manual for Market Operations. Contact RegulatoryContracts@caiso.com for assistance with contract type selection and execution.
PIRP resources must complete the Letter of Intent (LOI) to become a Participating Intermittent Resource, in addition to the standard Participating Generator certification agreements.
- Meter Service Agreement for ISO Metered Entities Information Request Sheet11/09/2022, 11:59 AM
- Participating Generator Agreement Information Request Sheet04/09/2021, 1:11 PM
- Participating Load Agreement Information Request Sheet04/09/2021, 1:10 PM
- ISO Tariff, Appendix B.4 - Participating Load Agreement03/21/2018, 7:42 PM
Use-limited resources
Resources that have operational or environmental restrictions that limit production hours but can operate for a minimum set of consecutive trading hours may be considered use-limited.
- Use Limit Plan Data Template V2.008/15/2017, 1:59 PM
Distributed generation
Generation developers seeking interconnection to a local distribution system must arrange for interconnection with the local utility and with ISO if they wish to participate in the wholesale market.
Ancillary services
Metering and telemetry
Qualified reporting entity
The role of the Qualified Reporting Entity (QRE) is to submit meter data associated with renewable energy on behalf of ISO Metered Entities (ISO polled) using the WREGIS application. Generator Owner/Agent needs to complete, sign, and submit original hard copies of the Service Request Form and Service Agreement to begin the QRE process with the California ISO. For more information visit the Metering and Telemetry page.
Station power program
Station power — the energy used to operate auxiliary equipment and other load that is directly related to the production of energy — can be converted from retail service to wholesale service. For more information visit the Metering and Telemetry page.
Automated Dispatch System (ADS) and access
Generators and their scheduling coordinators use a variety of ISO applications to manage resource outages, dispatches, meter data and resource operating characteristics.
ISO Tariff and Business Practice Manuals
Please refer to Tariff Appendix B for all pro forma agreements.
- ISO Tariff05/18/2024, 7:42 PM
- Business Practice Manual for Generator Interconnection and Deliverability Allocation Procedures05/16/2024, 3:29 AM