NYISO's Third Compliance Order Is In: Cluster Enhancements and a Blackout Period on the Horizon

On May 6, 2026, FERC issued its decision on NYISO’s third compliance filing for Order Nos. 2023 and 2023-A. The ruling brings meaningful updates to the technological change process — and one notable rejection that developers should watch closely heading into the 2026 Cluster.

What NYISO Proposed in 2023/2023-A

• Revised cut-off timing for technological change requests: This would allow submissions up to 10 business days prior to the close of the customer engagement window. 
• Reversion of out-of-scope revisions: This would revert additional revisions to NYISO’s technological change procedure in sections 40.6.3.7.2, 40.6.3.7.3, and 40.6.3.7.4. It would also revise NYISO’s definition of "permissible technological advancement" to restore language around the 2 MW or less de minimis exception, as previously ordered by the Commission. 
• New analytical requirements: NYISO proposed requiring developers to provide short circuit, power flow, and stability analyses demonstrating that a requested modification does not have a material adverse impact. 

What FERC Approved — and What It Rejected

FERC approved the first two proposals. Both align with the Commission's direction in the second compliance filing and with Order No. 845. 

FERC denied the third proposal — the analytical requirements — finding it outside the scope of Order Nos. 2023/2023-A and the Second Compliance Order directions. As of this article’s publication, it is unclear if NYISO will file anything to keep these requirements. This is worth keeping an eye on prospective projects planning to enter the upcoming 2026 Cluster. 

2026 Cluster Enhancements Recap and Pre-Application Blackout Period: What to Watch

Whether NYISO will pursue a separate filing to preserve the analytical requirements remains an open question. What we do know: NYISO plans to file its interconnection process changes this month, with an expectation that those changes take effect for the 2026 Cluster. How that unfolds, particularly around the pain points many developers faced in the last cluster, will be worth watching closely. Physical infeasibility determinations, transmission owner data requests, and application deficiencies were among the most common friction points, and it remains to be seen whether the upcoming filing addresses any of them directly. 

Act Now: The Pre-Application Window is Closing

Developers should take advantage of Pre-Applications before it's too late. At $5,000, a Pre-Application can save significantly on application development and study fees (~10x Pre Application fee)— especially for projects at risk of a physical infeasibility determination. Many projects deemed physically infeasible in the 2024 Cluster never submitted a Pre-Application. 

Pre-Applications can be submitted year-round, but NYISO enforces a blackout period starting 45 days before the application window and lasting through the end of the Customer Engagement Window. That blackout period begins in mid-June. If you're considering a Pre-Application, now is the time to act. 

EPE’s interconnection team is tracking these changes closely. To discuss how these developments may affect your interconnection strategy ahead of the 2026 Cluster, contact our team using the form below.