About the ISO/RTO Council (IRC)

In the 1990s, as states and regions within the United States established wholesale competition for electricity, utilities and their federal/state regulators began forming independent, unbiased transmission operators to ensure equal access to the power grid for new, non-utility competitors.

Today, the 10 Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations (ISO/RTOs) in North America serve two-thirds of electricity consumers in the United States and more than 50 percent of Canada's population.

The ISO/RTO Council (IRC) is an industry organization consisting of representatives of North American ISO/RTOs. The IRC works collaboratively to develop effective processes, tools, and standard methods for improving competitive electricity markets across North America. The IRC’s goal is to balance reliability considerations with market practices, resulting in efficient, robust markets that provide competitive and reliable service to electricity users.

The chair of the IRC rotates annually and serves as the primary point of contact and chief spokesperson. The IRC meets quarterly and is funded by members of the organization.

The IRC, which was chartered on April 24, 2003, includes standing and ad hoc committees to coordinate activities and information related to markets, regulatory and legislative policy, planning, standards review, information technology and communications. Committees are composed of staff members of the ISO/RTOs.