Avangrid joins California ISO’s Western Energy Imbalance Market

Sustainable energy company Avangrid joined the California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) this week.

As a market participant in WEIM, the company, owned by the Iberdrola Group, will help strengthen the energy system of 11 western states with almost 2 gigawatts of installed emissions-free capacity from facilities that the company operates in the region.

“Joining the WEIM as the first generation-only entity represents a meaningful milestone for the CAISO and for us, and we’re proud of the work that our team has done to help strengthen the West’s energy system,” Pedro Azagra, CEO of Avangrid, said. “As the third largest renewable energy operator in the U.S., we are proud to contribute to the country’s energy transition with clean, affordable, and reliable power.”

The WEIM is a wholesale energy trading market that enables its participants in the western U.S. to buy and sell energy when it is needed. The market uses advanced systems to find the lowest-cost option to serve customer demand in real-time. It also serves to enhance reliability while providing environmental benefits by integrating renewable energy into the grid more efficiently.

Avangrid, based in Orange, Conn., has operations in 24 states. It owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. It also owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the country.