Information Exchange Infrastructures for Independent System Operators and Transmission System Operators: Characteristics and Functionalities

In the world of power system operation, many new systems are rapidly becoming part of our vocabulary seemingly almost overnight. Many of us talk about OASIS, ISN, and powerful control-center technologies such as the CCAPI. Out West, there’s much progress to report and much discussion of the great possibilities that remain for something called WAMS (Wide Area Monitoring System). While some of these systems were born out of the necessity of accommodating open access and competition, others originated from our advancing understanding of how complex, interconnected power systems work. But how do these and other emerging system operation technologies and systems fit together? Is anything integrating them in any way? What is the current role of each, and what are the possibilities for the future? This paper aims to answer these and other questions, while clarifying the puzzle that is today’s, and is evolving into tomorrow’s, North American power system.