The capacity network import capability (CNIC) value applies exclusively to import capacity resources associated with an external elective transmission upgrade (ETU). Other types of import and generating capacity resources should see Capacity Network Resource Capability (CNRC) Outcomes.
For an import capacity resource associated with an ETU, the CNIC value defines the following:
The CNIC is determined by the capacity supply obligation (CSO) obtained in a Forward Capacity Auction (FCA) or through a subsequent reconfiguration auction or CSO bilateral period. Because new import capacity resources have not yet obtained a CSO, in lieu of a CNIC for these resources, the ISO uses a temporary value called the potential capacity network import capability (PCNIC—details below). This temporary PCNIC converts to a CNIC as described below once a CSO is obtained, except for imports with multiyear contracts, which will keep their CNIC value through the length of the contract, unless the contract is delisted or the resource is retired.
In lieu of a CNIC, a temporary PCNIC is used for the qualification of new import capacity resources associated with an external ETU in reconfiguration auctions and bilateral periods for a prior commitment period. For these reconfiguration auctions and bilateral periods, new resources that clear the FCA—and those that don’t clear, but choose to elect critical path schedule (CPS) monitoring—are awarded a summer/winter PCNIC equal to their summer/winter CNIC under the following conditions:
You can view the CNIC or PCNIC for your resource in the Forward Capacity Tracking System (FCTS) under the Basic Info tab.
