# CAISO Board Approves Dynamic Line Rating Deployment on Major Path 15 and Path 26 Transmission Corridors

> The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) Board of Governors has approved full commercial procurement and sensor deployment of Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) technology across Path 15 and Path 26, unlocking up to 1,200 MW of latent interzonal transmission capacity without stringing new lines.

- **Publish Date:** 2026-09-30
- **Category:** policy-standards
- **Reading Time:** 5 min
- **Original Source Citation:** [California ISO (CAISO) Board of Governors](https://www.caiso.com/about/news/press-release-caiso-board-approves-dynamic-line-rating-path-15-path-26-2026)
- **Tags:** CAISO, California Grid, Dynamic Line Rating, Transmission Capacity, Path 15, Path 26, Grid-Enhancing Technologies, FERC Order 881
- **Canonical URL:** https://voltformer.com/news/caiso-board-approves-dynamic-line-rating-deployment-path-15-path-26
- **Markdown Source:** https://voltformer.com/news/caiso-board-approves-dynamic-line-rating-deployment-path-15-path-26.md

## Unlocking Congested Corridors Between Northern and Southern California

Path 15 (San Joaquin Valley) and Path 26 (Tehachapi to Southern California) constitute the critical north-south transmission arteries of the Western Interconnection. During high renewable export periods, static seasonal thermal ratings frequently triggered costly curtailments of Central Valley solar power.

On September 30, 2026, the CAISO Board approved the immediate deployment of line-mounted autonomous sensors and real-time lidar tension monitors. By measuring ambient temperature, wind speed, solar irradiation, and conductor sag in real time, DLR algorithms dynamically increase transmission capacity by 15% to 25% under favorable atmospheric cooling conditions.

## Exceeding FERC Order 881 Compliance and Operational Integration

While FERC Order 881 mandated Ambient-Adjusted Ratings (AAR), CAISO’s proactive adoption of full sensor-based DLR represents a leap forward in grid-enhancing technology (GETs).

The real-time telemetry will feed directly into CAISO’s Day-Ahead and Real-Time Market co-optimization software, saving an estimated $65 million annually in congestion rents.

## Timeline for Full Sensor Activation

Field sensor installations across Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE) towers are scheduled for completion by summer 2027, providing immediate relief ahead of peak air-conditioning heatwaves.

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