As part of MISO's Reliability Imperative - Operations of the Future, two-way messaging will transition from MISO Communications System (MCS) to Operator Interface (OI) in the second quarter of 2026.
Members should begin updating any internal procedures that reference informational messaging in MCS and plan to use Operator Interface for these messages going forward.
Two-way messaging will first be introduced in the OI CCE environment for member testing and feedback prior to production rollout.
Scope of Messages Affected
Members should update procedures that reference MCS informational messaging for items such as:
- Export/import schedule notifications
- Control center evacuations and drills
- IT or phone system issues
- System failovers (ICCP, SCADA, EMS, etc.)
- Other general operational and coordination notification
Functions Remaining in MCS
The following functions and their associated messages will remain outside of OI two-way messaging at this time:
- Firm Load Shed - function and messaging remain in MCS
- Load Management Measures (LMM) - function and messaging remain in MCS
- Load Modifying Resources (LMR) - functionality remains in DSRI; alert messaging remains in MCS
- Generator Start/Stop – function remains in MCS
Two-Way Messaging in Operator Interface
Two-way messaging in OI enables members to send and respond to operational messages directly within Operator Interface, replacing the remaining informational messaging functionality currently provided through MCS,
Members will be able to:
- Send and respond to operational messages
- Reply to MISO operator messages
- Acknowledge messages that require confirmation (such as Operating Instructions and certain high-priority messages)
- Share critical operational information with other members
What is Changing?
- Two-way messaging will no longer be available in MCS
- Informational and operational messaging will be handled through Operator Interface
- Members will use Operator Interface for message exchange, acknowledgements, and operator communications
- Standalone tools and workflows for Firm Load Shed, LMM and LMR messaging remain unchanged
Why This Matters
This transition improves how MISO and its members communicate across a wide range of scenarios, including operational events, emergency conditions, technology and communication issues, coordination activities, testing, and general system notifications. It supports faster, more consistent message delivery and response across the footprint.
Benefits
- More efficient communication between MISO and members
- Improved situational awareness across operational and event conditions
- Consolidated messaging within a single operational interface
- Better coordination during reliability, emergency, IT, and operational events