FAQs: Access MIS Reports from Secure FTP Accounts

• What are Market Information Server (MIS) reports?
• How do market participants access MIS reports?
• How can MIS reports be accessed with FileZilla FTP client software?

What are Market Information Server (MIS) reports?

ISO-NE uses Market Information Server (MIS) reports to communicate operations, settlement, and billing information to participants. Participants access these reports via secure file transfer protocol (SFTP). A complete listing of each MIS report, including descriptions, templates, and samples explaining the format and content of each MIS report can be found in the references below.

The Settlement MIS reports include summary and detailed information concerning the line items on a participant’s bill. These reports help with accounting, reviewing, and verifying billing statements. Depending on the market, the report may show the total amount receivable from or payable to the participant for each hour in the relevant operating day.

MIS reports are distributed in a .csv format that allows for automatic parsing. There is a macro available that can format the report. The add-in converts your MIS report files into an Excel .xlsx file, and formats the file, making it easier to read and analyze your data.

Participants should review the accuracy of the data on their MIS settlement reports. Identified errors may be corrected through the data reconciliation process (DRP) or, if applicable, the meter data error (MDE) request for billing adjustment (RBA) process.

Learn more about MIS reports’ role, as well as market participants’ responsibilities for retrieving reports and billing statements, and reporting any discrepancies in FAQs: Billing Process and Billing Process Summary.

Resources:

• Understanding the Bill,  
• Report Descriptions, Templates, and Samples
• Macro Installation Tutorial

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How do market participants access MIS reports?

• MIS reports are published to customers’ Secure FTP accounts. Secure FTP is an enhanced security version of the original File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
• Customers must use Secure FTP client software to process file transfers.
  • Customers using Windows scripts to connect to the MIS FTP server may require a new program that can support command-line Secure Shell FTP (SFTP). While the Windows operating system includes a native FTP client that some customers may have been using in their scripts, it does not include support for SFTP connections out of the box. A Secure Shell connection encrypts traffic, including the username and password, thereby making it more secure for ISO customers.
  • While the ISO does not endorse any particular third-party software or provide support for customer scripts, customers may find suitable software, such as OpenSSH, Tunnelier, or FileZilla to be helpful. If using FileZilla, please read “How can MIS reports be accessed with FileZilla FTP client software?” below.
• Each customer’s Secure FTP account has its own unique username and password. Usernames and passwords are available in the ISO’s Customer Asset Management System (CAMS) under the MIS Accounts tab, which can be accessed by a market participant’s CAMS Security Administrator.
• The address to access the Secure FTP server is sftp://misftp.iso-ne.com, which is also known as the “host.”
• When connecting to the Secure FTP server through the client, a specific “port” number of 22 must be entered.

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How can MIS reports be accessed with FileZilla FTP client software?

ISO New England does not recommend any specific Secure FTP client software, but has successfully tested FileZilla, a Secure FTP client available as a free download at http://filezilla-project.org/download.php.

Enter and save the following connection data from the FileZilla main screen (File → Site Manager → New Site). If multiple accounts are required, repeat the process for each.

• Host: sftp://misftp.iso-ne.com
• Username: Enter the username found in CAMS under the MIS Accounts tab (for example, 600035578).
• Password: Enter the password found in CAMS under the MIS Accounts tab (for example, ssde2tvw).
• Port: 22 (Note: Once entered and saved, the number in the port field will not be visible.)

When connecting, you may receive an Unknown Host message. This can be avoided in the future by selecting “Always trust this host” after confirming that the web address is correct.

To re-connect to the site, from the FileZilla main screen:

• Select File → Site Manager.
• Select the account (site) you wish to connect to.
• Select Connect.

When using the software, you can drag and drop files from the FTP site to your computer, or you can transfer files using a tool.

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