2024 CALIFORNIA ISO Stakeholder Symposium

On October 30, I had the opportunity to attend the 2024 CAISO Stakeholder Symposium in Sacramento, California alongside industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the future of energy management and grid reliability in the CAISO region. The symposium focused on several critical areas, reflecting the energy landscape’s ongoing transformation in California. Some of the key topics discussed during the event included:

Evolution of Western energy markets

The Pathways Initiative, a collaborative effort involving stakeholders from eleven states in the Western Interconnection was a key topic. The initiative’s primary goal is to create a new entity with independent governance, capable of offering a wide range of voluntary wholesale electricity market functions across the largest possible footprint. The symposium highlighted the Pathways Initiative’s success and how it has benefitted the evolution of Western Energy Markets. Some of the main benefits include market expansion, grid reliability and efficiency improvements, and better, stronger regulatory and policy support.

Transmission network expansion, upgrades

• A significant part of the symposium was dedicated to describing planned transmission network expansion and upgrades. The following key points were highlighted:
• Infrastructure investments: Plans for substantial transmission infrastructure investments to support the growing electricity demand and integration of renewable energy sources.
• Grid modernization: Strategies for modernizing the grid to handle increased capacity and improve resilience against natural disasters and cyber threats.
• Regional collaboration: Emphasis on regional collaboration to optimize transmission networks and share resources across state lines.

Load flexibility and virtual power plants (VPPs)

Load flexibility and VPPs were key topics of discussion, particularly in the context of enhancing grid reliability and integrating renewable energy sources. A panel moderated by Bryan Hannegan, President and CEO of Holy Cross Energy, featured forward-looking insights from industry leaders, including the critical role of load flexibility and VPPs in achieving a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy grid.

Market expansion and integration

Discussion of the Western marketplace focused on evolving and expanding energy markets in the Western United States. Energy market expansion is important to encourage competition and efficiency. Key points included:

• Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM): The symposium highlighted the success and ongoing WEIM expansion, which allows for real-time energy trading across multiple states.
• Market design improvements: Enhancements to market design facilitate better price signals and more efficient resource allocation.
• Cross-border trading: Opportunities for cross-border electricity trading to enhance grid reliability and economic efficiency.
• Demand response programs: Expansion of demand response programs to better manage peak demand and integrate distributed energy resources.