Turlock Irrigation District Joins California Independent System Operator's Extended Day-Ahead Market
Turlock Irrigation District (TID) recently approved a significant move, voting to join the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) set to launch next spring by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). This expansion builds upon TID's existing success within the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM), which the district joined in 2021. Participation in the WEIM has already yielded substantial savings, totaling $28 million to date.
EDAM represents an evolution of CAISO’s day-ahead trading, extending its reach beyond California and enabling greater collaboration among western states. PCI Energy Solutions anticipates the market's launch in May 2026, aiming to optimize electricity trading and grid coordination across a broader geographical area. Several other utilities are already on board, including PacifiCorp, Portland General Electric, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the Balancing Authority of Northern California. BHEMontana, PNM, and NV Energy have expressed intentions to join, while Idaho Power is leaning towards EDAM and Arizona G&T Cooperatives is evaluating its potential benefits.
The structure of EDAM is based on the successful model of the WEIM, which since 2014 has delivered approximately $7 billion in cost savings for its 22 participants across 11 Western states. This market has also contributed to avoiding over one million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and is expected to grow further with additional participants joining in 2026. According to TID General Manager Brad Koehn, joining EDAM is a logical progression, promising increased economic, reliability, and environmental advantages for the district and its customers.
