Home Explore Markets North America CAISO
  • 260 TWh Energy Demand
  • 80.1 GW Installed Capacity
  • 44 % Renewable Share

CAISO

The California ISO provides open and non-discriminatory access to the bulk of the state’s wholesale transmission grid, supported by a competitive energy market and comprehensive infrastructure planning efforts. Power demand is primarily supplied by natural gas, with hydro and solar supplying the majority of renewable generation. Due to strong solar resources and generous incentives, PV capacity experienced an exceptional rise since 2010, increasing from ~100 MW to more than 8.5 GW in 2016.

  • Total Capacity
  • Total Generation
California Energy Commission, 2019

Total
Capacity
80 GW

NULL

Market Design

How is the market structured?

CAISO is structured as a competitive wholesale market with energy transacted on a day-ahead and real-time (15 minute and 5 minute) basis. CAISO also operates several markets for ancillary services. Capacity requirements are addressed through bilateral transactions under the California Public Utilities Commission’s Resource Adequacy program.

CAISO covers most of California and a portion of Nevada. CAISO is interconnected with Oregon to the north, and Nevada and Arizona to the west.

The main pricing hubs in CAISO are SP-15 (Southern California) and NP-15 (Northern California). Nodal pricing exists throughout CAISO with pricing varying with local supply/demand conditions as well as transmission considerations more generally. Nodal pricing is aggregated to calculate energy prices for separate energy zones, as well as the energy price at interconnection points with neighboring regions.

Buyers and sellers can hedge their exposure in the forward market within a ~5 year window via over the counter trading platforms.

Many consumers receive power from their local utility (the utility covering the geographic area in which the load is located). Consumers can also opt to buy power directly from a generator, or through a retailer (in states where competitive retail markets exist) though the utility will continue to charge certain fees (i.e. transmission/distribution/other system fees).

Retail choice, known as Direct Access, is available in investor-owned utility service territories within CAISO. Direct Access is capped to a certain percentage of annual load.

In general, a bill can be broken into three components: generation, transmission and distribution. Generation costs are broadly correlated with wholesale energy prices, transmission costs are socialized across all consumers, and distribution costs vary based on the local cost of each utility. Other system and social charges (such as to support energy efficiency programs) are generally socialized across consumers and are also reflected on the bill from the local utility.

In the US, renewable generation is certified and tracked using RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates). One REC is issued for every MWh of eligible renewable energy that is delivered to the electric grid. A REC contains unique identifying details of the energy generated, including the renewable fuel type, project name and location, the vintage of the project and the generation, and serial number.

Within CAISO, the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (WREGIS) is used to track generation ownership and attributes, including RECs.

How are RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) procured? Short-term and long-term contracts.

Are renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) available? Yes

Are Green Tariffs available? Yes. Investor Owned Utilities offer a Green Tariff Shared Renewable Program, with a capped enrollment of 600 MW statewide.

System Operator:

  • CAISO

Key Government Departments:

  • The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is responsible for clean air policies across multiple sectors and administers the Cap and Trade Program (linked with the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario)
  • The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulates and oversees the electricity industry in the state (except publicly owned utilities)

Regulators:

  • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the federal agency that regulates the transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce
  • The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is a not-for-profit international regulatory authority whose mission is to assure the reliability and security of the bulk power system in North America

Our Sites

Type:
  • solar Solar

Mount Signal

265.8 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0502

200 MW
  • solar Solar

Regulus

81.6 MW
  • solar Solar

MIDWAY

66 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-11-0152

60.48 MW
  • Hydro Hydro

Malacha

30 MW
  • wind Wind

Mesa

30 MW
  • solar Solar

AP Northlake

24.5 MW
  • solar Solar

Atwell Island

23.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0399

20 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-11-0056

20 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

NV-13-0023

14.4 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

NV-11-0010

13.2 MW
  • wind Wind

Kingman (15)

10 MW
  • solar Solar

Meridian / CalRenew

6.3 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0291

5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-11-0219

5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-F010

4.3 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S084

3 MW
  • wind Wind

Windridge

3 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-18-0004

2 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-11-0215

2 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0427

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S052

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-10-0094

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-11-0223

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-10-0400

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-10-0402

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-10-0401

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-11-0111

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0724

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0723

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0721

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0718

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0716

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0722

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0713

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0714

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0719

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0729

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0730

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S106

1.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-11-0224

1.22 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-11-0227

1.13 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-F002-1

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0359

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-08-0044

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-12-0307

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0072

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0062

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S030

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-11-0113

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0725

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0711

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0712

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0715

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0728

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0717

1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S132

0.99 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-10-0387

0.975 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0102

0.955 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S149

0.93 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0061

0.914 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0133

0.9 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S037

0.833 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-F002-2

0.8 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0038

0.8 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0008

0.788 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0429

0.78 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-10-0388

0.76 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S082

0.75 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-08-053O

0.72 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-F006

0.7 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-08-054P

0.666 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0245

0.6 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0264

0.6 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0054

0.558 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S102

0.547 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0265

0.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0720

0.5 MW
  • solar Solar

Kingman (14)

0.5 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0280

0.47656 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0275

0.448 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-18-0001

0.4436 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S144

0.406 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-F002-3

0.4 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-F002-4

0.4 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0248

0.376 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0235

0.375 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0005

0.362 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-18-0003

0.36 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-18-0002

0.35 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0262

0.35 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0276

0.349 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0246

0.3399 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S033-2

0.333 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S079-2

0.328 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-F005

0.3 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S031-3

0.285 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-12-0035

0.28 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0256

0.26 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0272

0.26 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0117

0.26 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-08-0053

0.26 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0257

0.26 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0247

0.26 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-F008

0.25 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-10-0306

0.25 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0075

0.25 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0266

0.25 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0161

0.2277 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S136

0.225 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0334

0.224 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S033-1

0.2 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-F007

0.2 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0363

0.196 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0449

0.186 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S031-5

0.185 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0413

0.1827 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-12-0040

0.18 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S141

0.175 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0837

0.163 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S031-7

0.16 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-12-0037

0.16 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0445

0.158 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0116

0.15 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S140

0.15 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0263

0.15 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0118

0.15 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-11-0598

0.148 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0444

0.148 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0441

0.148 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0460

0.148 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S138

0.145 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0446

0.138 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0455

0.138 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S031-2

0.135 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0275

0.135 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0004

0.135 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0003

0.135 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-08-054A

0.135 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S079-3

0.132 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0443

0.13 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S079-1

0.128 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S031-6

0.126 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S031-4

0.12 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0442

0.112 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0355

0.102 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S031-1

0.1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0290

0.1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0005

0.1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-10-0237

0.1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S139

0.1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0254

0.1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0133

0.1 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S137

0.085 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0259

0.077332 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0288

0.075 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0289

0.075 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0365

0.07 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0284

0.068119 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0271

0.0656 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0250

0.0645 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S033-3

0.06 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-19-S079-4

0.06 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0286

0.05 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0055

0.05 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-15-0141

0.05 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0252

0.048568 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0355

0.048 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0253

0.04681 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0262

0.04206393 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-09-0291

0.03999 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-14-0115

0.015 MW
  • dg-solar DG Solar

CA-13-0351

0.012 MW

  • solar Solar
  • dg-solar DG Solar
  • Hydro Hydro
  • wind Wind