FERC tells ISO-NE to spell out how it will supply large loads
The order is one of six FERC issued to all RTOs and ISOs over reliability concerns tied to large-load growth. ISO-NE and its transmission owners have 60 days to respond, with a Section 205 filing due November 16.
The Commission's June 18, 2026 Order Instituting Proceeding Under Section 206 of the Federal Power Act directed ISO-NE to outline its plans to ensure that adequate generation will be available to serve existing and new large loads.1
The Commission noted the reliability concerns created by the addition of large loads without concomitant additions of supply or demand-side resources.2
The Show Cause Order was one of six show cause orders that the Commission simultaneously issued to all six Regional Transmission Organizations/Independent System Operators to address large and co-located load issues.3
In the Show Cause Order, the Commission directed ISO-NE and the PTOs to respond within 60 days of the order.4
ISO-NE and the PTOs will submit the FPA Section 205 filing to the Commission on or before November 16, 2026.5
ISO-NE and the PTO-AC asked the Commission to shorten the comment period on this motion to five days and act on it within 10 days of submission, by August 13, 2026.6
The NEPOOL Participants Committee is expected to vote on the Section 205 proposal at its November 12, 2026 meeting.7
ISO-NE has filed a proposal, docketed as ER26-3047-000, to change the Capacity Performance Payment Rate to $3,500 per MWh.8
Coverage notes
Gridlight’s notes on what we looked for and did not find; these statements are Gridlight’s own and are not claim-checked against archived sources.
- Does not describe the substance of ISO-NE's forthcoming Section 205 filing, which has not been submitted as of this writing.
- Does not state whether FERC granted the shortened comment period ISO-NE and the PTO-AC requested.
- The Capacity Performance Payment Rate filing (ER26-3047-000) is a separate proceeding; the record provided does not connect it to the large-loads show cause proceeding.