Load serving entities

A load serving entity owns a distribution system for the delivery of energy to and from the ISO Balancing Authority.

Reliable grid operation is dependent on adequate supply and flexible resources. Load serving entities procure supply in advance to meet their demand.

The ISO reliability requirements program requires that load-serving entities procure additional energy (reserve margin) above their demand, and is intended to compliment the state's resource adequacy programs.

The Participation Comparison - Proxy Demand, Distributed Energy Resource Provider, Storage, and Load Forecast Adjustment is a reference document used to help distinguish between the ISO’s Distributed Energy Resources (DER), Demand Response (DR) and Non-Generator Resource (NGR) market participation model.

New resource implementation process

Load serving entities must successfully complete the new resource implementation process prior to participating in the ISO market. Participation requires a scheduling coordinator and ISO-certified revenue-quality meters. Bidding in ancillary services requires special certification and installation of direct telemetry. There are also different requirements for proxy demand resources and participating load.

Sub-load aggregation point maps

For Load Aggregation Point mapping, go to OASIS under Atlas Reference > Mapping > Full Network Model Mapping, then choose the mapping type "LAP".

Participating load

Curtailable demand, including pumping load or aggregated participating load, can bid into the ISO market through a scheduling coordinator who also acts as the load serving entity for the underlying load. These participants can provide non-spinning reserve and provide demand reduction in the real time market.