NYISO’s 2024 Transitional Cluster Phase 1: Key Milestones and How EPE Can Help Developers Mitigate Risk 

A link in our May 2025 Watt's Current edition mistakenly links to this post. Please click HERE if you are looking for Jorge Chacon's article on large load interconnections in WECC.

NYISO officially began Phase 1 of its 2024 Transitional Cluster on February 26, 2025. A total of 244 projects will undergo Phase 1 studies until early September 2025, based on the most up-to-date NYISO queue. 

Phase 1 studies assess the required Attachment Facilities and Local System Upgrade Facilities necessary to interconnect a project reliably at its requested Energy Resource Interconnection Service (ERIS) level. Upon completion of Phase 1, developers must decide whether to advance to Phase 2, which will evaluate the need for non-Local System Upgrade Facilities and assess the deliverability of projects requesting Capacity Resource Interconnection Service (CRIS). 

 
Projects entering Phase 2 will be subject to withdrawal penalties, which EPE can help developers understand and quantify. Based on NYISO’s current timeline, Phase 2 studies are expected to extend until mid-2026. This means developers will not have clarity on financial risks related to network upgrade costs until the end of Phase 2. 

NYISO is expected to finalize cluster models for the 2024 Transitional Cluster soon. EPE can support developers by: 

• Assessing network upgrade risks and early-stage cost exposure.
• Identifying potential headroom payment exposure (liabilities?) 
• Quantifying deliverable MW for CRIS eligibility

 
EPE can help by performing shadow studies that replicate NYISO’s process. With these insights, developers can make informed decisions ahead of Phase 2 results, reducing uncertainty and financial exposure. 

For more information, reach out to EPE’s interconnection experts today.