Getting started

Learn about all the different ways to participate in our markets and transmission operations, and find the resources to do business with us.

First time interacting with the ISO?

Before diving into the pages below, we highly recommend reviewing our computer based trainings in the Training Center to better understand our markets, operations, and participation types.

 

Generation

Generator interconnection

Learn what it means to interconnect to the grid. Start here if you're a resource interconnecting at the transmission level.
New resource implementation

This is where generators connecting at the distribution level should finalize the process with the ISO. Generators connecting at the transmission level will also find guidelines and steps for final days of the process.  
Become a participating generator

Learn about the certification process and requirements to participate in the ISO market.
Distributed energy resource

Process and requirements for aggregation of distributed energy resources to participate in the ISO market.
Dynamic transfers

Learn more about dynamic transfers and the process for implementation.
Storage

Opportunities for storage technologies to participate in ancillary services and energy markets.
Metered subsystems

Learn how metered subsystems can participate in the market.

Transmission

Transmission planning

Engage in the transmission planning process.
Transmission operations

The ISO's operations reporting, coordination and maintenance efforts ensure a reliable system.
Participating transmission owner

Consider turning over operational control to the ISO and collect access charges from users.
Interregional transmission coordination

The ISO and regional entities throughout the western interconnection collaborate to ensure regional transmission stability and efficiency. These coordination efforts inform each entity’s transmission plans.

Load

Load serving entity

Learn more about procuring extra energy and using a scheduling coordinator to participate in the market.

Market and operations

Utility distribution company

Utility distribution companies play a key role in how the ISO manages energy schedules, learn more.
Ancillary services

Learn more about how ancillary services are traded in ISO markets: regulation up, regulation down, spinning reserve and non-spinning reserve.
Demand response

Demand response providers with the ability to aggregate customers can participate in the ISO day-ahead, real-time and ancillary services markets.
Congestion revenue rights

Learn more about these Financial instruments that can be used by their holders to offset congestion charges that may arise in the day-ahead market.
Convergence bidding

Learn more about this market feature allows a scheduling coordinator representing a registered convergence bidding entity to submit bids in the day-ahead market.

Other participation opportunities

Scheduling coordinator

Become a scheduling coordinator or find one to act on your behalf.
Extended Day-Ahead Market

The Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) is a voluntary day-ahead electricity market designed to deliver significant reliability, economic, and environmental benefits to balancing areas and utilities throughout the West. 
Western Energy Imbalance Market

The ISO’s Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) is a real-time energy market, the first of its kind in the western United States.
RC West

An RC oversees grid compliance with federal and regional grid standards, and can determine measures to prevent or mitigate system emergencies in day-ahead or real-time operations.
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