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Ancillary service markets across different ISOs/RTOs in North America vary in terms of the types of services offered, procurement methods, and specific market rules. This blog post will provide a detailed comparison of how these markets differ across some of the major ISOs/RTOs, including CAISO, ERCOT, ISO-NE, MISO, NYISO, PJM, SPP, and IESO. Additionally, we will explore the differences in clearing times for these services in both day-ahead and real-time markets.
To learn more about ancillary services, read our blog post, “What Are Ancillary Services in Energy?”
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Overview of ancillary services in major ISOs/RTOs
CAISO (California Independent System Operator)
- Types of Ancillary Services: Regulation, Spinning Reserve, Non-Spinning Reserve, and Voltage Support
- Procurement: Competitive bidding processes in the day-ahead and real-time markets
- Market Rules: Governed by the CAISO Tariff and Business Practice Manuals
ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas)
- Types of Ancillary Services: Regulation Up, Regulation Down, Responsive Reserve, Non-Spinning Reserve, and Voltage Support
- Procurement: Day-ahead and real-time markets, with some services also procured through long-term contracts
- Market Rules: Detailed in the ERCOT Protocols
ISO-NE (ISO New England)
- Types of Ancillary Services: Regulation, Ten-Minute Spinning Reserve, Ten-Minute Non-Spinning Reserve, Thirty-Minute Operating Reserve, and Voltage Support
- Procurement: Competitive markets, with some services available through bilateral contracts
- Market Rules: Governed by the ISO-NE Market Rules and Manuals
MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator)
- Types of Ancillary Services: Regulation, Spinning Reserve, Supplemental Reserve, and Voltage Support
- Procurement: Day-ahead and real-time markets, with additional procurement through long-term contracts
- Market Rules: Detailed in the MISO Tariff and Business Practice Manuals
NYISO (New York Independent System Operator)
- Types of Ancillary Services: Regulation, Spinning Reserve, Non-Spinning Reserve, and Voltage Support
- Procurement: Competitive bidding in the day-ahead and real-time markets
- Market Rules: Governed by the NYISO Tariff and Manuals
PJM (PJM Interconnection)
- Types of Ancillary Services: Regulation, Synchronized Reserve, Non-Synchronized Reserve, and Voltage Support
Procurement: Day-ahead and real-time markets, with some services also procured through long-term contracts
Market Rules: Detailed in the PJM Operating Agreement and Manuals
SPP (Southwest Power Pool)
- Types of Ancillary Services: Regulation, Spinning Reserve, Supplemental Reserve, and Voltage Support
- Procurement: Competitive markets, with additional procurement through bilateral contracts
- Market Rules: Governed by the SPP Tariff and Business Practice Manuals
IESO (Independent Electricity System Operator – Ontario)
- Types of Ancillary Services: Regulation, Voltage Control and Reactive Support, and Black-Start Capability
Procurement: Contracts with registered market participants who meet specific performance standards
Market Rules: Detailed in the IESO Market Rules
Differences in clearing times for ancillary services
CAISO (California Independent System Operator)
- Day-Ahead Market: Procured for the entire next operating day
- Real-Time Market: Procured in 15-minute intervals through the Fifteen Minute Market (FMM) and for the entire next operating hour for Non-Dynamic System Resources
ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas)
- Day-Ahead Market: Procured for the entire next operating day
- Real-Time Market: Procured in real-time as needed, with Regulation services adjusted on a 4-second basis through the Automatic Generation Control (AGC) system
ISO-NE (ISO New England)
- Day-Ahead Market: Procured for the entire next operating day
- Real-Time Market: Procured in real-time, with Regulation services adjusted on a 4-second basis through the AGC system
MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator)
- Day-Ahead Market: Procured for the entire next operating day
Real-Time Market: Procured in real-time, with Regulation services adjusted on a 4-second basis through the AGC system
NYISO (New York Independent System Operator)
- Day-Ahead Market: Procured for the entire next operating day
- Real-Time Market: Procured in real-time, with Regulation services adjusted on a 6-second basis through the AGC system
PJM (PJM Interconnection)
- Day-Ahead Market: Procured for the entire next operating day
- Real-Time Market: Procured in real-time, with Regulation services adjusted on a 2-second basis through the AGC system
SPP (Southwest Power Pool)
- Day-Ahead Market: Procured for the entire next operating day
- Real-Time Market: Procured in real-time, with Regulation services adjusted on a 4-second basis through the AGC system
IESO (Independent Electricity System Operator – Ontario)
- Day-Ahead Market: Procured for the entire next operating day
- Real-Time Market: Procured in real-time, with Regulation services adjusted on a 2-second basis through the AGC system
Conclusion
Each ISO/RTO has its own set of rules and procedures for ancillary services, reflecting regional reliability needs and market structures. For more detailed information, you can refer to the specific market rules and business practice manuals of each ISO/RTO.
For further reading, check out these related blog posts:
- U.S. Energy Market Comparison: Differences & Similarities Among Major ISOs
- What’s the Difference Between ISO and RTO?
- Day Ahead vs. Real-Time Market: What’s the Difference?
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Understanding the variations in ancillary service markets across different ISOs is crucial for navigating the complex landscape of electricity generation and distribution. The ISO/RTO documentation chatbot is a reliable partner in this journey, offering insights and answers to your most pressing questions.
