By William Opalka

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — ISO-NE will propose that the zonal boundaries for its 11th Forward Capacity Auction remain unchanged from those set for this year’s auction.

Transmission projects expected to be in service by 2020 are adequate to leave the boundaries of the four zones intact for the capacity commitment period of 2020/21, ISO-NE Director of Transmission Services and Strategies Al McBride told the Planning Advisory Committee last Tuesday. The zones are also unaffected by resource retirements and additions already accounted for.

The four zones are: Southeast Massachusetts/Rhode Island, which includes Greater Boston; Northern New England, which includes Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont; Connecticut; and Rest of Pool, generally central and western Massachusetts.

The zones were reconfigured last year due to transmission constraints in SEMA/RI caused by generation retirements. However, ongoing transmission projects are expected to mitigate the effects of those retirements: The Greater Boston upgrades north of the city have been accepted by ISO-NE, and several projects in Rhode Island have been either completed or will be in response to the Brayton Point retirement in southern Massachusetts. (See ISO-NE Chooses $740M Land-Based Tx Project for Boston Area.)

In addition, a “significant part” of the Greater Hartford/Central Connecticut upgrades have been certified by ISO-NE and are expected to be in service by June 2019, McBride said.

External transfer limits will not be changed. However, McBride said the Cross Sound Cable that connects ISO-NE with NYISO under Long Island Sound will be re-evaluated with results due by May.