DOE/SEA-06: Operation of California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) Generating Units under Limited Circumstances Due to Extreme Heat (2021)

On September 10, 2021, the Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity issued a 60-day emergency order under the Federal Power Act Section 202(c) to the California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO). The order authorized six specific electric generating resources to operate at their maximum generation output levels as directed by CAISO, due to ongoing wildfires, extreme heat, and droughts causing higher than usual electricity demand and a diminished ability to generate hydropower. DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response prepared a special environmental analysis that evaluated whether any emissions during operation outside of permit limits led to exceedance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards, whether any of the generating units were in commercial operation during the order period, and the robustness of community engagement plans.

For more information, see Federal Power Act Section 202(c): CAISO, September 2021.