Four Steps to Meeting SQMD Audit Requirements
Dec 22, 2025
Trimark has successfully completed 2025 SQMD Plan Audits for its Scheduling Coordinator Metered Entity (SCME) clients in the CAISO and…
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Five Questions with Jennifer Strand
Navigating CAISO’s New Resource Implementation (NRI) process takes more than completing a few forms. It requires a mix of competencies including technical knowledge, practical know-how, mastery of regulations, hands-on experience, and disciplined project management. Knowing who to call doesn’t hurt either.
Meet Jennifer Strand.
Jennifer is a 13-year industry veteran who’s helped more than 900 resources navigate the maze of requirements to join California’s energy market. She applies her experience in MISO and other ISO markets too. And she understands the different compliance requirements for PV, wind, battery, hybrid, and thermal resources.
As Trimark’s Consulting Services Manager, Jennifer leads a team of Regulatory Project Managers (RPMs) who guide resource owners and EPCs through CAISO’s NRI process. We asked Jennifer (JS) to answer five questions about her experience:
1: What’s the most common mistake Resource Owners make in following the NRI process?
JS: Misunderstanding timing of start and finish dates in their PPA, aligning those dates with the NRI schedule, and appropriately planning out the steps required to meet their target dates for Initial Sync and Commercial Operation Date (COD).
2: What’s one piece of advice you think every resource owner should follow?
JS: Earlier is better when it comes to submitting documentation to any ISO. The best practice is to submit documents at least 15 business days prior to CAISO’s due date. If you miss your submission deadlines, you will likely jeopardize the ability to meet your planned COD.
3: What’s your greatest success story in the energy industry?
JS: Every NRI project we complete represents a unique achievement for our client. I’ve been fortunate to support many such successes. One notable story occurred a few years ago when we replaced 26 RIGs in about six weeks. That required tight coordination with clients; Trimark’s System Integration, Field Engineering and Metering teams; and with the EDAS group at CAISO.
4: Help us understand the meaning of the following terms and steps in the interconnection process: Energization, Backfeed, Sync, Test Energy, PTO, and COD.
JS: Those are all important terms to understand because they are key milestones in the interconnection process. Here’s how we explain them:
- Energization/Backfeed – Energization is the step of the interconnection process when a new resource is ready to accept power from the utility grid. Backfeed is when the power starts to flow from the grid to serve the site’s “aux” load. At this point the construction project becomes an active component of the grid. This allows the resource to turn on their energy equipment as well as communications, compute, security, and more.
- Sync – Initial Sync is the point in the project when the site is electrically connected to the grid and prepared to deliver power in a controlled way. At this point, voltage, frequency, phase angle and phase sequence must be precisely synchronized with the AC power characteristics of the transmission grid. Before Sync can occur, each resource must have its revenue meter(s) and RIG installed and pass CAISO’s point-to-point test.
- Test Energy – After Sync, the resource can begin limited operation – and get paid – for delivering Test Energy. The resource uses this power to demonstrate control and response.
During commissioning, new resources must prove that all aspects of their electric power connection are performing as required. This may include responding to set points and ramp rates, as well as demonstrating ride-through of disturbances.
Between Initial Sync and COD, the Scheduling Coordinator must submit a Test Energy schedule outlining when tests will occur and describing the general increase or decrease in all power attributes. - PTO – Permission to Operate occurs after the resource passes all control, synchronization and ride through tests required by the utility.
- COD – Commercial Operation Date is the official date that the resource successfully completes the NRI process and can declare full operation. That means they are a full participant in the energy market.
5: What do you do for fun?
JS: I love camping and hiking with my husband, daughter and two dogs. I also run marathons and half marathons. I typically log 16-20 miles a week but when I’m training for a big run my weekly mileage is easily double that. (Editor: Jennifer is too modest. She has completed eight full marathons and clocked an impressive PR of 3:13, back in the day.)
Trimark specializes in managing the NRI process for our clients who are developing and constructing utility-scale power generation resources and joining the energy market. Trimark has direct, inside-CAISO experience at every level of our organization including our CEO, Principal System Integration Engineer, Senior Director of Consulting Services, and members of our Data Services team. We draw on that knowledge to help clients achieve and maintain CAISO, WEIM and EDAM market participation. This includes creating metering schemes, certifying meters, designing and integrating SCADA and Telemetry systems, and providing ongoing support.
Whether you are connecting to the distribution system, the CAISO grid, or a WEIM Entity, our team can guide your project through all the regulatory milestones with clarity and confidence.
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Market Expands Into 12 Western States Two new entities joined the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) on May 6, 2026…
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Feb 01, 2024
Trimark now supports third-party Remote Intelligent Gateways (RIGs) including the SEL RTAC and NovaTech Orion through the Trimark Operations Center….
Learn MoreTrimark’s Expert Voices
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Vince Brashear, P.E., Director of Design and Engineering “The systems we design are a small, but critical, part of power…
Projects
Example Projects
Take a minute to see how Trimark has helped resource owners, EPCs, and ISOs change the electric grid.View All ProjectsLearn MoreSunshine Valley Substation
Jan 24, 2020
Project Type: PV generating facility rated at 100 MW Location: Amargosa Valley, NV Client/EPC: Electrical Consultants, Inc. Products/Services: Trimark provided…
Learn MoreMulligan
Jun 26, 2023
Project Type: 70 MW Solar AC Coupled Location: Logan County, Illinois Client/EPC: APEX Clean Energy Products/Services: Trimark SCADA including Vantage,…
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