What RTOs and ISOs Really Need: Platform Intelligence for a Reliable Grid

The role of Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs) has never been more complex—or more critical. These entities sit at the heart of grid operations and interconnection management. They’re tasked with keeping the system reliable amid growing demand, evolving policy, rapid resource turnover, and a stubbornly large queue of proposed projects.

Many interconnection reforms aim to speed up queue processing. But the real challenge for RTOs and ISOs isn’t just speed—it’s strategic alignment.

The RTO/ISO Pain Point: A Queue Without a Portfolio

From the operator’s perspective, today’s interconnection queue rarely functions as a set of build-ready projects. A 2024 report by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that only 19% of projects (and just 14% of proposed capacity) in interconnection queues from 2000 to 2018 had been built as of the end of 2023—illustrating the speculative nature of most queue entries (LBNL, 2024). To address this, FERC Order No. 2023 introduced a "first-ready, first-served" cluster study process requiring developers to demonstrate site control and commercial readiness, specifically to reduce the volume of non-viable applications and improve queue quality. Despite these reforms, many proposals still lack locational viability or alignment with regional planning needs.

More applications don’t create more reliability. What RTOs and ISOs need are:

• High-quality proposals with clear modeling inputs
• Resource mixes that support dispatchability, reliability, and policy goals
• Early visibility into project readiness, bottlenecks, and withdrawal risk
• Tools to evaluate geographic and system-wide impacts before studies begin

Without those signals, operators are left juggling queue triage, study delays, and escalating stakeholder tension—with limited tools to prioritize the projects that matter most.

Reframing the Future: From Queue Management to Grid Intelligence

Imagine a system where interconnection platforms do more than route paperwork—they act as intelligence engines. A modern platform could:

• Show queue managers how a project aligns (or conflicts) with long-term plans
• Surface dependencies and pause points transparently across roles
• Provide planners with real-time scenario modeling based on queue status, retirements, and load forecasts
• Embed visibility requirements aligned with FERC Order No. 2023 and Order No. 881 from the start—two landmark reforms that shape the future of interconnection and transmission transparency. FERC Order No. 2023 restructures the interconnection process by shifting from a 'first-come, first-served' model to a 'first-ready, first-served' cluster study framework, requiring developers to demonstrate site control and project maturity. FERC Order No. 881 enhances the accuracy and transparency of transmission line ratings by mandating ambient-adjusted ratings and improved access to capacity data for all market participants (FERC Order 2023, FERC Order 881)

Use Case: A system planner evaluates three solar+storage projects for the same load zone and sees, pre-study, which one reduces congestion and supports regional adequacy targets.

This planning enablement is the kind of intelligence RTOs and ISOs need to make faster, more defensible, and more coordinated decisions.

The Coordination Imperative

RTOs and ISOs also depend on coordinated input from Transmission Providers (TPs), Transmission Owners (TOs), and local utilities. Yet interconnection remains fragmented. Inputs arrive in inconsistent formats, on disconnected timelines, with limited traceability.

A smarter platform approach could create shared context across these roles. That means:

• Clearer expectations for TO/TP contributions to the study process
• Faster identification of missing data or unresolved constraints
• A more traceable record of how decisions are made and why delays occur

Why This Matters

The ability to manage interconnection queues more intelligently isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about system reliability, infrastructure investment, and planning certainty. When RTOs and ISOs can assess the quality and timing of incoming projects in context, they’re better equipped to balance near-term operational pressures with long-term grid readiness.

Prioritizing data-driven coordination means operators can:

• Accelerate high-value projects that match known system needs
• Avoid stranded assets and duplication by identifying overlaps early
• Address reliability gaps in ways that are both faster and more durable
• Improve transparency and accountability across stakeholder roles

Ultimately, the interconnection process becomes a tool for strategic capacity shaping—not just backlog reduction. That’s what moves the grid forward.

What’s Next

In Part 4 of the series, we’ll explore the unique challenges facing Vertically Integrated Utilities—entities that must balance interconnection responsibilities with load-serving obligations, capital planning, and increasingly complex DER integration.
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By Tom Coons, VP of Customer Experience, GridUnity
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