Sponsored by OATI
Grid operators are finding themselves playing a more complex role in efforts to balance reliability and innovation as the energy sector continues to transform.
At the OATI Energy Conference in Las Vegas, Hani Alarian, executive director of power system technology operations at California ISO (CAISO), shared his perspective on the tools, challenges, and strategies shaping the future of grid management.
“The tools are very critical, especially with the latest FERC Order 881, which requires a lot of information for all the flow gates that come every hour for the next ten days. That’s a lot of volume,” Alarian said.
Meeting regulatory demands with technology
FERC’s Order 881 is causing some grid operators like CAISO to rethink their data management and operational systems. The rule requires utilities to implement ambient-adjusted ratings, or dynamic line ratings, meant to help ensure that transmission line capacities are accurately reflected in real-time operations. Through this rule, FERC wants to enhance grid efficiency, reduce congestion costs, and help support the integration of new renewable energy sources.
Alarian believes the industry needs tightly coupled applications designed to handle significant data volumes.
“It was more efficient and better to have tightly coupled systems. All applications must have high availability, redundancy, and reliability because we’re on the grid. They have to be reliable,” he detailed.
Bridging stakeholder silos through communication
In addition to the technical considerations, Alarian argued the importance of fostering collaboration between stakeholders in the energy ecosystem. Historic silos among distribution, transmission, and market operations are becoming less defined over time, which Alarian said has necessitated a more unified approach to grid management.
“Our goal at CAISO is to listen to everybody and make sure that we are coming out with solutions that are a win-win for everyone,” Alarian shared.
Delivering reliable solutions for operators
As the energy transition rumbles on, Alarian continues to focus on supporting the operators who oversee grid functionality in real time.
“My customer is the operator. The biggest challenge is trying to figure out how to present information in a way that makes sense to them,” Alarian said. “It’s not like the old days where you could say, ‘I can run it without software.’ Now, all applications must be there,” he remarked.
The path forward
In Alarian’s eyes, the path through the energy transition lies in balancing new, advanced technology with a collaborative and people-centric approach.
“It’s all about alignment, communication, and creating systems that are reliable and effective for everyone involved,” he predicted.
