Economic Studies

In accordance with Attachment K, Section 17 of the ISO’s Open-Access Transmission Tariff (OATT), the ISO performs Economic Study analyses to inform stakeholders about different future systems. These hypothetical, alternative systems should not be regarded as physically realizable plans or the ISO’s vision of realistic future development, projections, and preferences, but rather can assist stakeholders by identifying key regional issues.

The Economic Studies are composed of four Reference Scenarios:

• Benchmark Scenario: Model previous calendar year and compare it to historical system performance. This scenario’s purpose is to test the fidelity of models against historical performance and improve the models for future scenarios
• Policy Scenario: Model future years (>10-year planning horizon) based on satisfying New England region and other energy policies and goals
• Market Efficiency Needs Scenario (MENS): Model future year (10-year planning horizon) based on the ISO’s existing planning criteria to identify market efficiency issues that could meet the threshold of a market efficiency Needs Assessment and move on to the competitive solution process for Market Efficiency Transmission upgrades needs
• Stakeholder Requested Scenario: Scenario with a region-wide scope that is requested by stakeholders and not covered by the other three scenarios or potential sensitivities on these three scenarios

A stakeholder may request a Stakeholder Requested Sensitivity or Scenario to the ISO via the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC). The scope of work, assumptions, and results of an Economic study reflect input from the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC). Economic studies can be complex and require months of analyses, but at the end of each study the ISO prepares a report describing the results of the study. Below you will find the following documentation:

• Economic Studies Technical Guide
• Economic Study related meeting materials discussed at the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC)
• Supporting documentation for the studies
• Draft and final Economic Study reports

Materials

Economic Study-related information is accessible below. Use the Key Topic filter to sort materials by Economic Study Planning Year. Use the Document Type filter to find specific types of materials.