CENACE and CAISO announced an agreement to explore the benefits of having Baja California Norte join the Energy Imbalance Market (EIM).

CAISO is seeking ways to ensure that the EIM governing body and participants, havea say in ISO policies that affect the EIM.

Environmental group Western Resource Advocates was an early proponent of CAISO’s Energy Imbalance Market and is actively supporting the ISO’s effort to transform itself into an RTO serving the broader West.

CAISO last week released the third draft of a proposal outlining the principles intended to underpin the governing framework for a Western RTO.

The entry of Arizona Public Service and Puget Sound Energy into the Western Energy Imbalance Market went off without a hitch, according to CAISO.

Western energy execs discussed the growth of the EIM, a Western RTO, “Caliphopia” and how the Western Interconnection is likely to change.

Arizona Public Service and Puget Sound Energy began transacting in the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) on Oct. 1, bringing the region’s only real-time market up to five members.

FERC approved the CAISO plan to for a new market mechanism for itself and the Western EIM designed to integration of variable renewable energy resources.

FERC rejected for a second time proposed rules by Arizona Public Service on external resources can use dynamic scheduling to participate in the EIM.

Western utility leaders at the CAISO annual stakeholder event said they welcome the operational benefits and increased regional cooperation of the EIM but remain wary of organizing the wider West under a CAISO-run RTO.