Energy supplies are adequate to meet demand.

Lower energy supply 

Forecasted reserves are expected to remain below 2,620 MW for longer than 60 minutes. 

Action
NYISO suggests voluntarily conserving power, if safe to do so.

Potential to enter emergency operations due to lower reserves

Reserves are below 1,965 MW and not expected to recover for at least 30 minutes. 

Action
NYISO requests conservation of electricity during a specific appeal period, if safe to do so.

We have entered into emergency operations. Controlled outages may occur.

Reserves are below 1,310 MW and not expected to recover for at least 30 minutes. 

Action
Conservation is critical. NYISO requests New Yorkers conserve power, if safe to do so.

Normal Conditions Alert Level GREEN

Electricity supplies are adequate to meet demand. The NYISO is continuously monitoring conditions and taking actions to meet demand. If conditions are forecasted that could negatively impact reserve margins, additional communications may be issued.

What you can do during Normal Conditions

Familiarize yourself with ways you can help during electric supply shortages.

The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) provides these energy-saving tips to lower your electric use during this low operating reserves period. Simple steps, such as lowering/raising your thermostat a degree or two (depending on the season), turning off extra lights, not using large appliances, and not charging electric vehicles, can help. If you are experiencing an outage, please contact your local electricity provider for more information.

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Energy Watch Alert Level YELLOW

An Energy Watch is when operating reserves are expected to be lower than normal for longer than 60 minutes. During these conditions, the NYISO may bring on additional generation resources to serve increased demand. If you are experiencing an outage, please contact your local electricity provider for more information.

What you can do during an Energy Watch

Please voluntarily reduce electric use during an Energy Watch if it is safe to do so.

The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) provides these energy-saving tips to lower your electric use during this low operating reserves period. Simple steps, such as lowering/raising your thermostat a degree or two (depending on the season), turning off extra lights, not using large appliances, and not charging electric vehicles, can help.

Stay updated

Energy Warning Alert Level ORANGE

An Energy Warning is the first level of emergency operations issued to maintain reliability of the grid as operating reserves are continuing to decline. If you are experiencing an outage, please contact your local electricity provider for more information.

An Energy Warning is issued when NYISO’s operating reserves have dropped below 1,965 MW and are not expected to recover for at least 30 minutes. Controlled outages have not been initiated by NYISO to statewide energy supply concerns but could become necessary if demand isn’t lowered or additional supply cannot be added.

What you can do during an Energy Warning

NYISO requests New Yorkers conserve power, if it safe to do so.

The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) provides these energy-saving tips to lower your electric use during this low operating reserves period. Simple steps, such as lowering/raising your thermostat a degree or two (depending on the season), turning off extra lights, not using large appliances, and not charging electric vehicles, can help. If you are experiencing an outage, please contact your local electricity provider for more information.

Stay updated

Energy Emergency Alert Level RED

An Energy Emergency is the most critical level of emergency operations. During an Energy Emergency, NYISO may direct local utilities across the region to reduce demand on the grid through controlled customer outages in addition to other measures that may be taken. If you are experiencing an outage, please contact your local electricity provider for more information.

An Energy Emergency is issued when NYISO’s operating reserves have dropped below 1,310 MW and are not expected to recover for at least 30 minutes.

Conservation is critical in an Energy Emergency and may reduce the need for or extent of controlled customer outages. 

How controlled outages work

Controlled outages, also referred to as “load shedding,” are electric service interruptions ordered by NYISO and implemented by local utilities. They are used as a last resort to quickly reduce electric demand and preserve the reliability of the electric system. Controlled outages can impact all customer classes, including residential, commercial, and industrial.

In the event of a controlled outage, NYISO would provide an amount of load reduction to the local utilities. Each local utility company is responsible for how to decrease demand and manage the outage within their service area. In most cases, controlled outages are rotated among customers for up to 60 minutes at a time. In extreme circumstances, more prolonged outages may be required to balance supply and demand on the electric system. 

NYISO works to prevent damage and uncontrolled, cascading outages on the electric grid by closely managing supply and demand.

The use of controlled outages is the last of a series of actions implemented to maintain overall grid stability. Prior to the use of controlled outages, NYISO would bring all available generation online, use demand response, release available reserves from ancillary services, and implement voltage reduction to lower electric demand.

What you can do during an Energy Emergency

Energy conservation is critical at this time. NYISO requests New Yorkers conserve power, if safe to do so.

The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) provides these energy-saving tips to lower your electric use during this Energy Emergency. Simple steps, such as lowering/raising your thermostat a degree or two (depending on the season), turning off extra lights, not using large appliances, and not charging electric vehicles, can help. If you are experiencing an outage, please contact your local electricity provider for more information.

Stay updated

Additional definitions used in grid operations

Normal
Alert
Major Emergency

Notices

Reserve Pick-up
Thunderstorm Alert

External Capacity Called by Proxy Bus

Click here to see Transmission & Dispatching Operations Manual, Section 6.5 for Details.

Peak Load Window Override

Click here to see ICAP Manual, Section 4.1.1 for Details.

Definitions of terms used:  

System State: This provides the general state of NYISO system condition which can be Normal, Alert or Major Emergency.

Reference: Emergency Operations section 1.2.1


Normal State: The condition that the NYS Power System is in when the Transmission Facilities Under ISO Operational Control are operated within the parameters listed for Normal State in the Reliability Rules.

Reference: Tariffs


Alert State: The Alert State exists when conditions on the NYS Power System are more severe than in the Warning State.

Reference: Emergency Operations section 2.1


External Capacity Called by Proxy Bus: This addresses NYISO Supplemental Resource Evaluation (SRE) call for External Installed Capacity Suppliers to deliver Energy to the NYCA. When the NYISO selects the Suppliers at an external Proxy Bus to deliver Energy, the Proxy Bus’s name will be listed here. More information about external SRE requirements and sanctions can be found in the NYISO’s Market Services Tariff, Section 5.12.


Major Emergency State: An Emergency accompanied by abnormal frequency, abnormal voltage and/or equipment overloads that create a serious risk that the reliability of the NYS Power System could be adversely affected.

Reference: Tariffs


Thunder Storm Alert: Thunderstorm Watch (New York City) - when actual or anticipated severe weather conditions under which region-specific portions of the NYS Transmission System are operated in a more conservative manner by reducing transmission transfer limits.

Reference: Tariffs section for Storm Watch

NYSRC Reliability Rules Rule G.1


Reserve Pick-Up: The NYISO may enter this RTD-CAM mode when necessary to re-establish schedules if the ACE is greater than 100 MW.

Reference: Transmission and Dispatching Operations section 6.2.1