IRC Committees

The ISO/RTO Council is made up of the Chief Executive Officers of the 10 member ISO/RTOs. Within the council are committees that work to further the IRC's goals and purposes. Committees include Communications, Information Technology, Markets, Planning, Regulatory and Legislative, Standards Review, and Training.

Communications Committee
The Communications Committee seeks opportunities to speak in a consistent, international ISO/RTO voice while accommodating regional needs and differences. Members of the Communications Committee share best practices for internal and external communications efforts; support and counsel one another during power system disturbances or other times of need; educate one another about the operation of respective ISO/RTO Council control areas and energy markets; and work together to heighten awareness of the general populace regarding ISO/RTO operations and their benefits.

Information Technology Committee
The Information Technology Committee shares expertise and advice on existing information technology functions and current activities within the wholesale electric industry in North America; identifies viable recommendations for technology standardization within the wholesale electric industry in North America; participates in the design and development of information technology standardization to ensure continuity and feasibility of implementation; coordinates and builds consensus positions on information technology recommendations; and engages in standards-setting activities with other organizations such as NAESB.

Markets Committee
The Markets Committee collaborates and identifies areas of potential electric market standardization for the ISO/RTO entities, and, as appropriate, submits recommendations to the IRC for review and approval. The Markets Committee communicates design ideas to the Standards Review Committee, which works with NAESB and NERC to produce standards and rule changes.

Planning Committee
The Planning Committee shares expertise and advice on system planning functions, practices, and activities within the wholesale electric industry in North America; develops consensus positions on significant regulatory policy proposals to effectively integrate regulatory policy direction into ISO/RTO planning activities; identifies viable recommendations concerning the relationship between market rules and policies and system planning practices, along with the standardization of system planning practices within the electric industry in North America; and coordinates and builds consensus positions on system planning recommendations and standards setting activities in standards making organizations such as NERC.

Regulatory and Legislative Committee
The Regulatory and Legislative Committee shares information on regulatory and legislative issues of common interest; coordinates individual ISO and RTO responses to regulatory and legislative initiatives of mutual interest; leads the development of consensus positions on significant regulatory policy proposals and prepares joint comments on behalf of the ISO/RTO Council with input from the other Council committees; and serves as a “quick response team” to coordinate regulatory and legislative activities/positions of ISOs/RTOs. 

Standards Review Committee
The Standards Review Committee participates in the design and development of methods, standards, and procedures for the wholesale electric market to ensure continuity and feasibility of implementation, through cooperative efforts between FERC, NAESB, NERC, and ISOs/RTOs; coordinates and builds consensus positions on reliability policy and standards in North America, interfacing with NERC; and coordinates and builds consensus positions on business standards in North America, interfacing with NAESB. 

Training Committee
The Training Committee shares regional best practices and procedures; reviews training issues of common interest; monitors, reviews, and discusses training initiatives and standards; coordinates and builds consensus positions on training issues; and provides input to other ISO/RTO groups as requested.