Who We Are
We believe better tools and frameworks are needed to align the variable supply and demands and constraints of reliability and sustainability.
There are no market-ready solutions nor frameworks to optimally manage the exponential increase in supply-demand variability and associated risks holistically across generation, transmission, distribution, & behind the meter (BTM), especially in real-time (day-of, day-ahead) and near-time (week-ahead) horizons. The siloed approach to defining problems and deploying solutions based upon the current grid architecture and operating model is putting the grid at higher risk of failure.
These challenges are being exacerbated by spot load growth, customer adoption of behind-the-meter technologies and programs, and decarbonization and decentralization of grid assets. A new planning and operating philosophy are needed, along with advanced tools and capabilities to maintain grid reliability, resiliency, and security. A holistic approach is essential to optimize investments and ensure reliable grid operations, incorporating new business processes and innovative thinking across the entire grid.
In the summer of 2024, thought leaders convened to form a utility-driven alliance focused on advancing technology solutions and frameworks for total grid orchestration.
To support recognition of this problem, we have been working to develop the concept of Total Grid Orchestration (TGO). Total Grid Orchestration is an approach and framework to system-wide coordination, situational awareness, and risk management across the entire grid. This approach may be utilized by grid planning, engineering, and operation stakeholders to inform near-term operational decisions and long-term planning.
The utility-driven alliance provides a forum for utility members to drive technology development for TGO solutions by defining the business needs, requirements, architecture, and capability models. We strive to inform and improve situational awareness and integrated planning and operational capabilities across Generation, Transmission, Distribution, and BTM assets, maximizing distributed and variable energy supply and demand optimization.
TGO Alliance members have a shared commitment to promoting faster, integrated, and more dynamic grid orchestration.
Our working groups are busy advancing TGO concepts with supporting frameworks, use cases, maturity models, and requirements.
It is our hope that these tools can be leveraged to advance TGO-enabling technology and accelerate grid modernization/orchestration initiatives.
2026 Working Groups
TGO Enablement Working Group is focused on defining what TGO is and how utilities operationalize it. They have built the foundational framework, capabilities, and use cases for TGO to ensure a common understanding and language for TGO.
This working group is actively developing a TGO maturity model and utility self-assessment tool which can be leveraged to prioritize and guide TGO/Grid Modernization investments. Ultimately, this working group aims to develop a TGO playbook for deploying TGO in real-world environments and share at the 2026 TGO Summit.
Grid Flexibility Working Group is focused on how flexibility is orchestrated in practice. Key focus areas include:
- Localized grid flexibility: coordinating DER, storage, and demand response to manage local constraints
- Large load flexibility: enabling flexible interconnection and operation of large loads
This working group has defined flexibility concepts, objectives, use cases, and requirements. They are working on a scalable flexibility framework and deployment approach that allows utilities to integrate DERs effectively, accelerate large-load connections, and reduce both capital and operational costs through coordinated flexibility. Progress from this group will be shared at the 2026 TGO Summit.
