Capacity refers to the maximum amount of electricity that a power generation facility can produce or that a transmission system can deliver at any given time. It is usually measured in megawatts (MW) or gigawatts (GW). To ensure reliability, utilities and grid operators often participate in capacity markets, where they purchase or auction off capacity to guarantee that there will be sufficient power supply available to meet future demand, particularly during peak usage periods. Capacity markets thus help maintain grid reliability and ensure that there is enough backup power in case of sudden spikes in demand or unforeseen outages.
ESAI Power provides continuous monitoring and in-depth analysis of the capacity markets across New York, New England, PJM, and MISO. Our capacity market projections are built on comprehensive evaluations of key market drivers, such as load forecasts, demand curve parameters, new capacity additions and retirements, as well as transmission constraints affecting locational delivery and pricing. Our coverage extends to complete pre- and post-auction forecasts for NY ICAP Summer and Winter Strip auctions, PJM Base Residual Auctions, ISO-NE Forward Capacity Auctions, and MISO Planning Resource Auctions.
Capcity subscribers also have the option to expand their access to include ESAI’s Generation Asset Monitor (GAM), a resource that offers detailed assessments of both traditional and renewable projects in development, along with tracking information related to retirements. Our comprehensive approach covers all facets of capacity markets, and subscribers can stay well-informed through our Capacity WatchTM publication, where we thoroughly analyze and discuss the intricacies of these markets.
Visit our Capacity page and read our blog posts on capacity below.
The 2026/27 PJM RPM Base Residual Auction is scheduled for early December. Ethan Howland reports in today’s Utility Dive that according to Morgan Stanley and ESAI Power’s Scott Niemann, PJM capacity auction prices could plausibly clear at the price cap. Whilst clearing at the cap is a “very plausible” outcome, there are scenarios where pricing clears at “substantially” lower prices.
We will soon publish our Capacity Watch for PJM report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of market drivers and recent developments, including Market Rules Changes for Capacity Accreditation (ELCC & CIFP), Increased Demand Forecast for Data Centers & AI and Retirement Drivers: At-risk assets driven by coal ash rules.
The NYISO Summer Capability Period will begin on May 1st, with the following auction schedule:
Wednesday, March 27th – The NYISO ICAP Summer 2024 Strip Auction Bid Period Opens.
Thursday, March 28th – The Summer Strip Auction Bid Period closes.
Monday, April 1st – Results of the auction are posted.
Tuesday, April 9th – First monthly auction for Summer 2024.
April 24th – 25th – May Spot Market Auction.
April 29th – May Spot Market Auction results are posted.
ESAI’s Capacity Watch update to clients discusses the key auction parameters, changes in supply since Summer 2023/24, and ESAI’s forecast for the Summer period. ESAI’s NYISO Capacity Watch update includes predicted Summer 2024 Clearing prices for NYCA, Zone J, Zone K, and the G-J Locality.
Ethan Howland reports in Utility Dive that after receiving two key Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decisions, the PJM Interconnection plans to hold its next capacity auction in June. Our Scott Niemann, Managing Director & Principal, said the FERC-approved changes will likely put upward pressure on capacity prices in most parts of PJM. Driven by pending power plant retirements, prices in PJM’s Southwest MAAC zone could break higher than the overall regional transmission organization.
In ESAI’s latest Capacity Watch report, we analyze ISO-NE FCA18, Forward Capacity Auction. ESAI’s coverage includes auction parameters, qualified capacity, and expected auction dynamics. These are all detailed in our Capacity Watch report.
Generation owners and their investors are placing big bets (often in the hundreds of millions of dollars) in the ISO-New England Capacity Market. As Mark Christie, FERC Commissioner, put it in March 2023: “Capacity Markets are characterized by such hopeless complexity and impenetrable opacity that they represent the example of a game that only insiders can play and win.” ESAI is now offering the opportunity to request our Pre-Auction Capacity Price Forecasts for ISO New England’s Forward Capacity Auction (FCA) over the past 7 Capacity Auctions.
Power Generator owners and their investors are placing big bets (often in the hundreds of millions of dollars) in the PJM, MISO, ISO-NE and NYISO Capacity Markets. As Mark Christie, FERC Commissioner, put it in March, 2023: “Capacity Markets are characterized by such hopeless complexity and impenetrable opacity that they represent the example of a game that only insiders can play and win.”
Ethan Howland reports in Utility Dive that power plant owners have started the process of potentially retiring 3,228 MW of coal-fired generation in the PJM Interconnection’s footprint this month, according to the grid operator’s generator deactivation list. Another 1,024 MW of coal shut down last year. Looking at the explanations for the planned retirements, our Julia Criscuolo, ESAI Power’s Manager of Renewables and Emissions, said about a third are driven by environmental regulations, a quarter by unfavorable economics and roughly 20% by “end of life” plant issues.
Ethan Howland reports in Utility Dive that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Wednesday ordered the PJM Interconnection to revise its reserve market rules, which will delay the grid operator’s upcoming capacity auction. This was a reverse of an earlier decision. In a 3-1 vote, FERC reaffirmed its previous decision to direct PJM to consolidate tier one and tier two reserve products, but said it had erred by approving changes to the grid operator’s operating reserve demand curves (ORDC), which help set the price for reserves. Our Scott Niemann, Director and Principal of ESAI Power said, “This rule change seems like a small detail, but the ripple impacts may be more significant and touch a lot of aspects of the PJM market.”