| Table 15. Summary Information on Approved and Planned Independent System Operators as of March 31, 1998 |
| California ISO |
ERCOT Texas ISO |
ISO New England |
MidWest ISO (MISO) |
New York ISO | Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland (PJM)-ISO |
DesertStar | Independent Grid Operator (IndeGO) |
Midcontinent Area Power Pool (MAPP) |
Southwest Power Pool (SPP) |
Alliance ISO | |
| Status | Conditionally approved by FERC. Start date March 31, 1998. | Approved by the Texas PUC and operating. | Conditionally approved by FERC. Partially operating. | Submitted FERC filing January 1998. Currently under review. | Submitted FERC filing December 1997. Currently under review. | Conditional approval by FERC. Start date April 1998. | FERC application under development. Expected filing date unknown. | In March 1998, IndeGO officially suspended further development. Its future is uncertain. | FERC application under development. FERC filing in late May 1998. | Under discussion. | Under discussion. |
| States Covered | California | Texas | Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont | Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin | New York, New Jersey | Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, Virginia | Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas | Northwest Region | Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin | Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri | Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia |
| Number of Transmission Owners | 3 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 7 | Undecided | 19 | 11 | 3 |
| Type of Organization | Nonprofit | Nonprofit | Nonprofit | Nonprofit | Nonprofit | Nonprofit | Nonprofit | Nonprofit | Under development | Under development | Under development |
| Board of Directors | 24 members representing 13 stakeholder classes | 18 members representing 6 stakeholder classes | 10 independent members | 8 independent members | 10 independent members | 8 independent members | Undecided | 7 independent members | Under development | Under development | Under development |
| Control Areas | Single | Multiple | Single | Multiple | Single | Single | Multiple | Multiple | Multiple | Multiple | Multiple |
| Transmission Facilities Controlled by the ISO | Facilities still undefined. TOs will physically operate. | Not controlled by the ISO. | 69 kV and above. TOs physically operate. | 60 kV and above. TOs physically operate. | 115 kV and above. TOs physically operate. | 230 kV and above. | 230 kV and above; TOs physically operate. | 230 kV and above; TOs physically operate. | Under development. | Under development. | Under development. |
| Transmission Rights Program | Under development (due 6/30/98) | None | Under development | Undecided | Transmission congestion contracts | Fixed transmission rights | Undecided | Under development | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Transmission Congestion Charges | Two active congestion zones. Charges based on adjustment bids submitted by power suppliers. | Under development | Charges based on costs of redispatch, will be paid by all loads on a load ratio share. | Charges based on cost of redispatch, will be spread among all loads. | Based on the difference in locational marginal prices of energy (LMP). Zones represent locations. Customers at the location pay the charges. | Based on the difference in locational marginal prices of energy (LMP). 1600 nodes represent locations. Customers at the location pay the charges. | Under development. | 26 congestion zones. Charges based on adjustment bids submitted by power suppliers. | Unknown. | Unknown. | Unknown. |
| Transmission Access Charges (Method to Meet Revenue Requirements) | Based on area where customer withdraws power from the grid (similar to zone pricing). | ISO does not have a regional transmission tariff. | A five-year phase-in of a regional postage stamp charge. | One charge based on the zone where the customer withdraws power from the grid. Each control area is a zone. | One charge based on the zone where the customer withdraws power from the grid. Seven zones defined. | One charge based on the zone where the customer withdraws power from the grid. Ten zones defined. | Under development. | Based on the zone where the customer withdraws power. 26 zones defined. | Based on megawattmile for coordination transactions. | Based on megawattmile for short-term point-to-point services. | Under development. |
| Ancillary Services | ISO procures if not provided | ISO coordinates | ISO can provide | ISO will arrange for services | ISO can provide. | ISO provides or coordinates | ISO will provide after phase-in | ISO will provide or coordinate as necessary | Under development | Under development | Under development |
| Transmission Planning | ISO leads coordinated process | ISO coordinates | NEPOOL has lead role | ISO develops plan with transmission owners | ISO is an active participant | ISO prepares plan | Under discussion | ISO has primary planning responsibility. | Under discussion | Under discussion | Under discussion |
| Power Exchange | Separate PX | No PX | ISO and PX combined | No PX | Separate PX | ISO and PX combined | No PX | No PX | Plan to establish power and energy market | Unknown | Unknown |
|
TO = Transmission Owner. |