Do Not Exceed Dispatch (DNE) Project

Last Update: November 1, 2023

Below, affected ISO customers can learn more about changes to existing systems or procedures related to the DNE Project. This project was one of several that ISO New England has undertaken, in collaboration with stakeholders, for the continued development of the region’s wholesale electricity markets.

See Participant Readiness Project Outlook for more detail on specifically affected customers and systems for this and other major projects.

• Project Overview
• Required Participant Actions
• Participant Training Opportunities
• Technical Documentation, Rules, and Procedures
• Project Development Materials

Project Overview

Project implemented for wind resources, and functionality available for intermittent hydro resources: May 25, 2016.

Project implemented for intermittent hydro resource participation: April 30, 2017.

Deadline for Day-Ahead Market participation for wind and intermittent hydro: May 31, 2019 deadline for operating day June 1, 2019.

Data requirements for solar generator assets required under OP 14 Appendix H effective: July 20, 2021.

Solar day-ahead market participation will be required for solar with a capacity supply obligation (CSO): December 4, 2023.

Solar do not exceed dispatch will be required: December 5, 2023 operating day.

On July 20, 2021, under FERC order ER21-1974-000, OP14 Appendix H became effective for solar generator assets in ISO-NE markets. The following information became a requirement at that time:

• Solar Plant Static Data Form (OP14H Section 4 and Attachment A)
• Web Services submittals of Solar Plant Future Availability (OP14H Section 5.1.4 and Table 6.1)
• Additional SCADA parameters via telemetry (OP14H Sections 5.1.1 – 5.1.3, and Table 6.1)

The proposal to incorporate solar generator assets into do-not-exceed dispatch was approved at the NEPOOL Participants Committee on September 1, 2022 and filed with FERC on November 30, 2022 under Docket No. ER23-517-000, Revisions to ISO New England Transmission, Markets and Services Tariff to Incorporate Solar Resources into DNE Dispatch Rules. FERC approval of the proposed Tariff revisions was received under Docket No. ER23-517-000 Letter Order Accepting Solar Resources into DNE.

Most modeled solar generator assets will become dispatchable and need to exchange certain data with ISO New England using a directly connected remote terminal unit (RTU) by the requested effective date of December 5, 2023. Additionally, solar with a CSO will be required to offer into the Day-Ahead Energy Market beginning on December 4, 2023.

In previous phases, ISO New England addressed the need for an automated, economic solution for dispatch of wind and intermittent hydro resources. As part of the wind and intermittent hydro phases of the project:

• A new dispatch methodology set an upper limit of how much generation the system can accommodate from an intermittent power resource. The resource may operate freely between 0 MW and this limit, but must not exceed it. This helps maximize the amount of intermittent generation on the system by accommodating the variable nature of these resources’ fuel.
• All DNE dispatchable wind and intermittent hydro generators (DDGs) were required to offer into the Day-Ahead Energy Market beginning on May 31, 2019 for the June 1, 2019, operating day to address curtailment prioritization issues.
• DDGs must install remote terminal units (RTUs) necessary to automate the determination and communication of real-time telemetered DNE dispatch instructions. The planned implementation for intermittent hydro resources was one year later than that for wind resources to allow for RTU installation.

Required Participant Actions

Affected solar market participants are required to take specific steps or adapt to changes in ISO Systems, as described below and should be mindful of additional time-bound items, some of which may require customers to take specific steps or adapt to changes in ISO systems both before and after the project implementation date.

Please consider subscribing to Participant Readiness, Market Notices, Information Technology (IT) Notices, and MIS Report Issues to receive notices posted to the ISO calendar for future projects.

Participant Training Opportunities

The ISO conducted online training and conference call information sessions for affected customers to learn about changes and ask questions in advance of project implementation. Please consider subscribing to ISO Training to receive notices posted to the ISO calendar for future projects.

Conference call invitations for this project were sent directly to the designated contacts for wind and intermittent hydro generation assets.

Technical Documentation, Rules, and Procedures

Wind, Intermittent Hydro, and solar market participants affected by the project were provided the following documents for specific instructions on completing related tasks or processes and helpful answers to frequently asked questions.

Technical Specifications and Documentation

Rules and Procedures

Project Development Materials

• Find related presentations and other materials on the Variable Resource Working Group page for the wind and intermittent hydro phases of this project.
• Find related presentations and other materials on the Emerging Technologies Working Group page for the solar phase of this project.
• April 15, 2015, FERC filing to request DNE dispatch changes.
• May 21, 2021, FERC filing to establish operational and meteorological data requirements for solar facilities and relocate data requirements for wind facilities.
• July 16, 2021, FERC order response to May 21, 2021 filing.
• September 1, 2022, NEPOOL Participants Committee proposal to incorporate solar in DNE dispatch.
• November 30, 2022, FERC filing for solar DNE, Docket No. ER23-517-000.
• January 19, 2023, FERC acceptance for solar DNE, Docket No. ER23-517-000.