NEWS: ISO-NE proposes capacity market overhaul with shift to ‘prompt’ auction

ISO-NE wants to scrap its three-year "crystal ball" in favor of buying power just one month in advance. (Utility Dive)

  • The grid operator asked FERC to approve "prompt" auctions starting in 2028, effectively admitting that the volatility of AI data centers and EV adoption has made long-term forecasting impossible.

  • By purchasing capacity closer to delivery, ISO-NE hopes to avoid the costly inefficiencies of the current system, where locking in contracts years out leaves the grid vulnerable to rapid shifts in policy and demand.

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