Department of Market Monitoring 2026 Q2 Report on Market Issues and Performance

The California ISO Department of Market Monitoring has published the 2026 Second Quarter Report on Market Issues and Performance to the Annual and quarterly reports webpage, and has scheduled a stakeholder meeting on Oct. 8, 2026, to discuss reported analysis and findings.

The report covers market results for the period from April to June 2026. Overall 15-minute market prices across the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) averaged $14/MWh, down 49 percent compared to the second quarter of 2025, due to lower natural gas prices and increased renewable energy production. 

The extended day-ahead market (EDAM) launched May 1, 2026. The report includes analysis of new market design elements related to EDAM. EDAM prices averaged $16/MWh across May and June, about equal to the average 15-minute market prices of the three balancing areas participating in EDAM. The impact of transfer congestion on PacifiCorp East and PacifiCorp West prices was substantially different in the day-ahead market compared to the real-time markets due to less transfer capacity with neighboring areas in the day-ahead market.

Black Hills Energy and Power Watch joined the WEIM on May 6, 2026, adding about 510 MW of combined average dynamic transfer capacity with neighboring balancing areas.

Information related to market monitoring is available on the Market Monitoring webpage.

For questions, please contact Ryan Kurlinski at rkurlinski@caiso.com, and the Department of Market Monitoring at DMM@caiso.com.