Regional Organization for Western Energy

The Regional Organization for Western Energy (ROWE) is a newly formed 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization created to provide independent governance over voluntary energy markets and services across the Western United States, including but not limited to the Western Energy Day-Ahead Market and the Western Energy Imbalance Market.  Representing Step 2 of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative’s (Pathways Initiative) three-step process, ROWE is designed to be “a new entity with independent governance capable of offering an expansive suite of West-wide, voluntary wholesale electricity market functions across the largest possible footprint.” Work is underway to seat an initial board and establish the legal and organizational structures, ensuring the ROWE is prepared to govern energy markets and services in the West.

Regional Organization for Western Energy

The Regional Organization for Western Energy (ROWE) is a newly formed 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization created to provide independent governance over voluntary energy markets and services across the Western United States, including but not limited to the Western Energy Day-Ahead Market and the Western Energy Imbalance Market.  Representing Step 2 of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative’s (Pathways Initiative) three-step process, ROWE is designed to be “a new entity with independent governance capable of offering an expansive suite of West-wide, voluntary wholesale electricity market functions across the largest possible footprint.” Work is underway to seat an initial board and establish the legal and organizational structures, ensuring the ROWE is prepared to govern energy markets and services in the West.

Meetings and Materials

Upcoming Formation Board Meetings: TBD

Past Formation Board Meetings

March 19, 2026: Materials, Draft Meeting Minutes

February 12, 2026: Materials, Recording

The Pathways Initiative

The Pathways Initiative is a stakeholder-driven effort to create a new independently governed entity capable of offering an expansive suite of West-wide wholesale electricity market functions across the largest possible footprint. The 26-member Pathways Initiative Launch Committee (LC) consists of individuals with experience in state utility commissions, state energy offices, utilities, public interest organizations, consumer advocates, labor representatives, transmission owners, transmission users, transmission service providers, independent power generators, power marketers, large commercial and industrial customers, and trade organizations.

The Pathways Initiative

The Pathways Initiative is a stakeholder-driven effort to create a new independently governed entity capable of offering an expansive suite of West-wide wholesale electricity market functions across the largest possible footprint. The 26-member Pathways Initiative Launch Committee (LC) consists of individuals with experience in state utility commissions, state energy offices, utilities, public interest organizations, consumer advocates, labor representatives, transmission owners, transmission users, transmission service providers, independent power generators, power marketers, large commercial and industrial customers, and trade organizations.

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Our Progress: A three-step evolution

Step 1 // Establishing Primary Authority for the WEM Governing Body

The initial work of the Pathways Initiative LC resulted in changing oversight of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) real-time and day-ahead markets from the current joint authority between the CAISO Board of Governors and the Western Energy Markets (WEM) Governing Body to primary authority for the WEM Governing Body over those markets. The proposal received full approvals from the CAISO Board of Governors and the WEM Governing Body as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and went into effect in July 2025. 

Step 2 // Creating Independent Governance

The LC advanced the governance evolution in the Step 2 proposal which established a new “Regional Organization” led by an independent board with sole authority to oversee the market functions. The final proposal includes dedicated staffing, an enhanced stakeholder engagement process, and the nation’s most comprehensive public interest protections. Realizing this vision required legislative action in California to enable the CAISO to transfer governance authority over the energy markets to an independent entity and allow California utilities to participate in those energy markets.

 

With the enactment of California Assembly Bill 825 in 2025, the Pathways Initiative transitioned to the implementation phase under the guidance of a Formation Committee, which is a subset of the LC.  This group, with LC oversight, is currently focused on near-term planning and implementation tasks including seating an initial independent board, hiring initial staff, developing details of the stakeholder review process, and working with the CAISO to develop the tariff amendments and CAISO-ROWE contract to transfer market oversight from the CAISO Board of Governors to the ROWE Board. This process will include a thorough stakeholder review prior to filing the tariff and contract with FERC for approval. The goal is to have a fully functional, tariff funded independent organization in place by January 1, 2028.

Step 3 // Looking Ahead and Expanded Responsibility

Beyond the initial launch, the initiative will enter Step 3, which focuses on the long-term evolution of the Regional Organization. This phase will initiate a dedicated stakeholder process and feasibility analysis to evaluate expanding the organization’s corporate responsibilities, ensuring the entity can adapt to the growing needs of the Western energy landscape.

Our Progress: A three-step evolution

Step 1 // Establishing Primary Authority for the WEM Governing Body

The initial work of the Pathways Initiative LC resulted in changing oversight of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) real-time and day-ahead markets from the current joint authority between the CAISO Board of Governors and the Western Energy Markets (WEM) Governing Body to primary authority for the WEM Governing Body over those markets. The proposal received full approvals from the CAISO Board of Governors and the WEM Governing Body as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and went into effect in July 2025. 

Step 2 // Creating Independent Governance

The LC advanced the governance evolution in the Step 2 proposal which established a new “Regional Organization” led by an independent board with sole authority to oversee the market functions. The final proposal includes dedicated staffing, an enhanced stakeholder engagement process, and the nation’s most comprehensive public interest protections. Realizing this vision required legislative action in California to enable the CAISO to transfer governance authority over the energy markets to an independent entity and allow California utilities to participate in those energy markets.

 

With the enactment of California Assembly Bill 825 in 2025, the Pathways Initiative transitioned to the implementation phase under the guidance of a Formation Committee, which is a subset of the LC.  This group, with LC oversight, is currently focused on near-term planning and implementation tasks including seating an initial independent board, hiring initial staff, developing details of the stakeholder review process, and working with the CAISO to develop the tariff amendments and CAISO-ROWE contract to transfer market oversight from the CAISO Board of Governors to the ROWE Board. This process will include a thorough stakeholder review prior to filing the tariff and contract with FERC for approval. The goal is to have a fully functional, tariff funded independent organization in place by January 1, 2028.

Step 3 // Looking Ahead and Expanded Responsibility

Beyond the initial launch, the initiative will enter Step 3, which focuses on the long-term evolution of the Regional Organization. This phase will initiate a dedicated stakeholder process and feasibility analysis to evaluate expanding the organization’s corporate responsibilities, ensuring the entity can adapt to the growing needs of the Western energy landscape.

Working with the ROWE

The ROWE invites all Western states and associated stakeholders to join the effort and help shape the organization and its processes. Stakeholder meetings and Formation Board meeting information along with relevant documents will be posted here.  The Launch Committee has begun the Board Selection Process that includes a Nominating Committee that is overseeing the selection of the initial five member Board to be seated in summer 2026. In the interim, a Formation Board has been seated to meet the foundational requirements for formation.   

 

For a comprehensive list of past West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative (WWGPI) documents, please visit the Western Interstate Energy Board site.

Contact Us

For questions, including press inquiries, please reach out to: info@ROWesternEnergy.org

 

For Pathways Initiative information including monthly stakeholder meetings, visit https://www.westernenergyboard.org/wwgpi/.

 

For information about the CAISO and the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) and Extended Day Ahead Market (EDAM), visit https://www.caiso.com/. 

Our Progress: A three-step evolution

Step 1: Establishing Primary Authority for the WEM Governing Body

The initial work of the Pathways Initiative LC resulted in changing oversight of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) real-time and day-ahead markets from the current joint authority between the CAISO Board of Governors and the Western Energy Markets (WEM) Governing Body to primary authority for the WEM Governing Body over those markets. The proposal received full approvals from the CAISO Board of Governors and the WEM Governing Body as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and went into effect in July 2025. 

Step 2: Creating Independent Governance

The LC advanced the governance evolution in the Step 2 proposal which established a new “Regional Organization” led by an independent board with sole authority to oversee the market functions. The final proposal includes dedicated staffing, an enhanced stakeholder engagement process, and the nation’s most comprehensive public interest protections. Realizing this vision required legislative action in California to enable the CAISO to transfer governance authority over the energy markets to an independent entity and allow California utilities to participate in those energy markets.

 

With the enactment of California Assembly Bill 825 in 2025, the Pathways Initiative transitioned to the implementation phase under the guidance of a Formation Committee, which is a subset of the LC.  This group, with LC oversight, is currently focused on near-term planning and implementation tasks including seating an initial independent board, hiring initial staff, developing details of the stakeholder review process, and working with the CAISO to develop the tariff amendments and CAISO-ROWE contract to transfer market oversight from the CAISO Board of Governors to the ROWE Board. This process will include a thorough stakeholder review prior to filing the tariff and contract with FERC for approval. The goal is to have a fully functional, tariff funded independent organization in place by January 1, 2028.

Step 3: Looking Ahead and Expanded Responsibility

Beyond the initial launch, the initiative will enter Step 3, which focuses on the long-term evolution of the Regional Organization. This phase will initiate a dedicated stakeholder process and feasibility analysis to evaluate expanding the organization’s corporate responsibilities, ensuring the entity can adapt to the growing needs of the Western energy landscape.