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Iso New England Inc

EIN 04-3372500 · Holyoke, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: TO (I) MAINTAIN THE RELIABILITY OF THE BULK POWER AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN NEW ENGLAND BY, AMONG OTHER FUNCTIONS, EXERCISING OPERATIONAL AUTHORITY OVER THE BULK TRANSMISSION FACILITIES, (II) ADMINISTER AND SEEK TO ENHANCE SUSTAINABLE, COMPETITIVE AND EFFICIENT ENERGY MARKETS, AND (III) PROVIDE NON-DISCRIMINATORY, OPEN-ACCESS TRANSMISSION SERVICE.

Income
$264.6 million
Spending
$264.6 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
764
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$3.3 million, president & chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (environment, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $115.9 million spent. ISO NEW ENGLAND INC. (ISO-NE) IS THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AUTHORIZED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PERFORM THREE CRITICAL ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE THE RELIABLE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND. THROUGH ITS FIRST ACTIVITY, ENERGY ADMINISTRATION, ISO-NE ENSURES THE CONSTANT AVAILABILITY OF COMPETITIVELY PRICED ELECTRICITY FOR THE REGION'S 15.1 MILLION RESIDENTS BY DESIGNING, REFINING, AND ADMINISTERING IN A FAIR AND UNBIASED MANNER THE REGION'S WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY MARKETS. DURING 2024, ISO-NE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF APPROXIMATELY $7 BILLION OF MARKET TRANSACTIONS.
  2. $71.4 million spent. THROUGH ITS SECOND ACTIVITY, RELIABILITY ADMINISTRATION, ISO-NE ENSURES THE RELIABLE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION OF THE REGION'S HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THIS INVOLVES (I) COORDINATING THE OPERATION OF THE REGION'S NEARLY 400 DISPATCHABLE POWER PLANTS AND 9,000 MILES OF HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINES; (II) MANAGING THE MOVEMENT OF HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRICITY INTO, WITHIN, AND OUT OF NEW ENGLAND; (III) ENSURING THAT THE SIX-STATE NEW ENGLAND REGION HAS THE POWER SYSTEM RESOURCES NECESSARY TO MEET CONSUMER DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY AND FEDERALLY-MANDATED RELIABILITY REQUIREMENTS; (IV) COORDINATING HOW TRANSMISSION LINES, GENERATION, AND OTHER RESOURCES CONNECT TO AND OPERATE ON THE POWER GRID RELIABLY; AND (V), WORKING WITH THE INDUSTRY TO DEVELOP TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR MAINTAINING POWER SYSTEM RELIABILITY. DURING 2024 ISO-NE COORDINATED THE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION OF THE APPROXIMATELY 116,700 GIGAWATT-HOURS OF POWER CONSUMED IN THE REGION.
  3. $50.8 million spent. THROUGH ITS THIRD ACTIVITY, SCHEDULING SERVICES, ISO-NE FORECASTS AND SCHEDULES THE ELECTRICITY NEEDED IN THE REGION FOR EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY AND ENSURES THERE IS ENOUGH ELECTRICITY GENERATED TO MEET DEMAND AS WELL AS RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAINTAIN STRINGENT RELIABILITY CRITERIA. IN CONDUCTING THIS ACTIVITY, ISO-NE (I) MONITORS THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY INTO, OUT OF, AND OVER NEW ENGLAND'S HIGH-VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND (II) SCHEDULES HUNDREDS OF DIVERSE POWER RESOURCES AND TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS TO SUPPLY JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY TO MEET THE REGION'S DEMAND AND REQUIRED RESERVE MARGIN. ISO-NE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE GRID CAN WITHSTAND THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A POWER PLANT OR TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT CAUSED BY WEATHER, MECHANICAL FAILURE, OR OTHER TRIGGERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.