NYISO last week began gathering stakeholder input on its FERC Order 1920 compliance plan, which it expects to file on time without any need for delay.
The ISO gave an overview of the 1,300-page order, issued in May, to the Transmission Planning Advisory Subcommittee (TPAS). (See FERC Issues Transmission Rule Without ROFR Changes, Christie’s Vote.)
“What I am reviewing here, from NYISO’s perspective, are the highlights,” said Yachi Lin, the ISO’s director of systems planning. “But absolutely please do your own review, bring back your points, and we can start a discussion.”
The rule requires regional transmission planners to plan on a 20-year horizon with several benefits. Cost allocation plans for projects must ensure only customers who receive those benefits pay for projects.
“You’re going to hear these terms repeated over and over again throughout the order: ‘sufficiently long-term,’ ‘forward-looking,’ ‘comprehensive,’” Lin said.
The order went into effect Aug. 12. Lin said NYISO needs to submit its compliance filing with the regional planning requirements to FERC by June 12, 2025. Interregional planning requirements are due later in August.
Between October and December of this year, NYISO will be drafting a straw proposal to comply with the order, followed by tariff revisions during the first six months of 2025.
NYISO will be required to develop three long-term scenarios that project out 20 years based on seven factors prescribed by FERC. Once projects have been winnowed down to the selected projects, the reasons for the selections and rejections will be explained to stakeholders.
One TPAS member pointed out that the process looked similar to parts of NYISO’s extant three-pronged process and wondered how much this would change the ISO’s existing process.
“That is the question we are very much interested in hearing your opinion on,” Lin said. She went into detail on the NYISO planning process and then asked whether it was better to expand the existing process or build an additional tracker on top to comply with the order. “I don’t have an answer to tell you. What we really need to do is hear from you.”
One stakeholder said it was unclear to him whether NYISO was the “transmission provider” under the rule or whether that was the New York Public Service Commission.
“The transmission provider has an affirmative obligation to determine the need,” Lin said. “The relevant state entity does have a role to play in providing the input for how the scenario is developed, how the need is established. So there’s also an affirmative role for the relevant state entity to play.”
Lin also noted the four technologies that were specified as grid-enhancing technologies, which under the order must be considered for efficiency and cost-effectiveness against new facilities or upgrades that do not incorporate them. They are dynamic line ratings, advanced power control devices, advanced conductors and transmission switching.