BAL-001-TRE-1: Primary Frequency Response in the ERCOT Region
Purpose
To maintain Interconnection steady-state frequency within defined limits.
Applicability
- Balancing Authority
- Generator Owners
- Generator Operators
Exemptions
4.2.1 Existing generating facilities regulated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission prior to the Effective Date are exempt from Standard BAL- 001-TRE-01.
4.2.2 Generating units/generating facilities while operating in synchronous condenser mode are exempt from Standard BAL-001-TRE-01.
4.2.3 Any generators that are not required by the BA to provide primary frequency response are exempt from this standard.
Effective Date
After final regulatory approval and in accordance with the 30-month Implementation Plan to allow the BA and each generating unit/generating facility time to meet the requirements. See attached Implementation Plan (Attachment 1).
Requirements
R1. The BA shall identify Frequency Measurable Events (FMEs), and within 14 calendar days after each FME the BA shall notify the Compliance Enforcement Authority and make FME information (time of FME (t(0)), pre-perturbation average frequency, post-perturbation average frequency) publicly available.
[Violation Risk Factor = Lower] [Time Horizon = Operations Assessment]
M1. The BA shall have evidence it reported each FME to the Compliance Enforcement Authority and that it made FME information publicly available within 14 calendar days after the FME as required in Requirement R1.
R2. The BA shall calculate the Primary Frequency Response of each generating unit/generating facility in accordance with this standard and the Primary Frequency Response Reference Document. This calculation shall provide a 12-month rolling average of initial and sustained Primary Frequency Response performance. This calculation shall be completed each month for the preceding 12 calendar months.
2.1. The performance of a combined cycle facility will be determined using an expected performance droop of 5.78%.
2.2. The calculation results shall be submitted to the Compliance Enforcement Authority and made available to the GO by the end of the month in which they were completed.
2.3. If a generating unit/generating facility has not participated in a minimum of (8) eight FMEs in a 12-month period, its performance shall be based on a rolling eight FME average response.
[Violation Risk Factor = Lower] [Time Horizon = Operations Assessment]
M2. The BA shall have evidence it calculated and reported the rolling average initial and sustained Primary Frequency Response performance of each generating unit/generating facility monthly as required in Requirement R2.
R3. The BA shall determine the Interconnection minimum Frequency Response (IMFR) in December of each year for the following year, and make the IMFR, the methodology for calculation and the criteria for determination of the IMFR publicly available.
[Violation Risk Factor = Lower] [Time Horizon = Operations Planning]
M3. The BA shall demonstrate that the IMFR was determined in December of each year per Requirement R3. The BA shall demonstrate that the IMFR, the methodology for calculation and the criteria for determination of the IMFR are publicly available.
R4. After each calendar month in which one or more FMEs occurs, the BA shall determine and make publicly available the Interconnection’s combined Frequency Response performance for a rolling average of the last six (6) FMEs by the end of the following calendar month.
[Violation Risk Factor = Medium] [Time Horizon = Operations Planning]
M4. The BA shall provide evidence that the rolling average of the Interconnection’s combined Frequency Response performance for the last six(6) FMEs was calculated and made public per Requirement R4.
R5. Following any FME that causes the Interconnection’s six-FME rolling average combined Frequency Response performance to be less than the IMFR, the BA shall direct any necessary actions to improve Frequency Response, which may include, but are not limited to, directing adjustment of Governor deadband and/or droop settings.
[Violation Risk Factor = Medium] [Time Horizon = Operations Planning]
M5. The BA shall provide evidence that actions were taken to improve the Interconnection’s Frequency Response if the Interconnection’s six-FME rolling average combined Frequency Response performance was less than the IMFR, per Requirement R5.
R6. Each GO shall set its Governor parameters as follows:
6.1. Limit Governor deadbands within those listed in Table 6.1, unless directed otherwise by the BA.
6.2. Limit Governor droop settings such that they do not exceed those listed in Table 6.2, unless directed otherwise by the BA.
6.3 For digital and electronic Governors, once frequency deviation has exceeded the Governor deadband from 60.000 Hz, the Governor setting shall follow the slope derived from the formula below.
M6. Each GO shall have evidence that it set its Governor parameters in accordance with Requirement R6. Examples of evidence include but are not limited to:
-
-
- Governor test reports
- Governor setting sheets
- Performance monitoring reports
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R7. Each GO shall operate each generating unit/generating facility that is connected to the interconnected transmission system with the Governor in service and responsive to frequency when the generating unit/generating facility is online and released for dispatch, unless the GO has a valid reason for operating with the Governor not in service and the GOP has been notified that the Governor is not in service.
[Violation Risk Factor = Medium] [Time Horizon = Real-time Operations]
M7. Each GO shall have evidence that it notified the GOP as soon as practical each time it discovered a Governor not in service when the generating unit/generating facility was online and released for dispatch. Evidence may include but not be limited to: operator logs, voice logs, or electronic communications.
R8. Each GOP shall notify the BA as soon as practical but within 30 minutes of the discovery of a status change (in service, out of service) of a Governor.
[Violation Risk Factor = Medium][Time Horizon = Real-time Operations]
M8. Each GOP shall have evidence that it notified the BA within 30 minutes of each discovery of a status change (in service, out of service) of a Governor.
R9. Each GO shall meet a minimum 12-month rolling average initial Primary Frequency Response performance of 0.75 on each generating unit/generating facility, based on participation in at least eight FMEs.
9.1. The initial Primary Frequency Response performance shall be the ratio of the Actual Primary Frequency Response to the Expected Primary Frequency Response during the initial measurement period following
the FME.
9.2. If a generating unit/generating facility has not participated in a minimum of eight FMEs in a 12-month period, performance shall be based on a rolling eight-FME average.
9.3. A generating unit/generating facility’s initial Primary Frequency Response performance during an FME may be excluded from the rolling average calculation due to a legitimate operating condition that
prevented normal Primary Frequency Response performance. Examples of legitimate operating conditions that may support exclusion of FMEs include:
-
-
- Operation at or near auxiliary equipment operating limits (such as boiler feed pumps, condensate pumps, pulverizers, and forced draft fans);
- Data telemetry failure. The Compliance Enforcement Authority may request raw data from the GO as a substitute.
-
[Violation Risk Factor = Medium] [Time Horizon = Operations Assessment]
M9. Each GO shall have evidence that each of its generating units/generating facilities achieved a minimum rolling average of initial Primary Frequency Response performance level of at least 0.75 as described in Requirement R9. Each GO shall have documented evidence of any FMEs where the generating unit performance should be excluded from the rolling average calculation.
R10. Each GO shall meet a minimum 12-month rolling average sustained Primary Frequency Response performance of 0.75 on each generating unit/generating facility, based on participation in at least eight FMEs.
10.1. The sustained Primary Frequency Response performance shall be the ratio of the Actual Primary Frequency Response to the Expected Primary Frequency Response during the sustained measurement period following the FME.
10.2. If a generating unit/generating facility has not participated in a minimum of eight FMEs in a 12-month period, performance shall be based on a rolling eight- FME average.
10.3. A generating unit/generating facility’s sustained Primary Frequency Response performance during an FME may be excluded from the rolling average calculation due to a legitimate operating condition that prevented normal Primary Frequency Response performance. Examples of legitimate operating conditions that may support exclusion of FMEs include:
-
-
- Operation at or near auxiliary equipment operating limits (such as boiler feed pumps, condensate pumps, pulverizers, and forced draft fans);
- Data telemetry failure. The Compliance Enforcement Authority may request raw data from the GO as a substitute.
-
[Violation Risk Factor = Medium] [Time Horizon = Operations Assessment]
M10. Each GO shall have evidence that each of its generating units/generating facilities achieved a minimum rolling average of sustained Primary Frequency Response performance of at least 0.75 as described in Requirement R10. Each GO shall have documented evidence of any Frequency Measurable Events where generating unit performance should be excluded from the rolling average calculation.
Attachment 1
Implementation Plan for Regional Standard BAL-001-TRE-1, Primary Frequency Response in the ERCOT Region
Prerequisite Approvals:
None
Revisions to Approved Standards and Definitions:
None
New Definitions:
- Frequency Measurable Event (FME)
- Governor
- Primary Frequency Response (PFR)
Compliance with the Standard
The following entities are responsible for being compliant with requirements of BAL-001-TRE-1:
- Balancing Authority (BA)
- Generator Owners (GO)
- Generator Operators (GOP)
- Exemptions:
- Existing generating facilities regulated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission prior to the Effective Date are exempt from Standard BAL-001-TRE-01.
- Generating units/generating facilities while operating in synchronous condenser mode are exempt from Standard BAL-001-TRE-01.
- Any generators that are not required by the BA to provide primary frequency response are exempt from this standard.
Effective Date
The Effective Date of this standard shall be the first day of the first calendar quarter after final regulatory approval. Registered Entities must be compliant with the Requirements in accordance with the 30-month Implementation Plan set forth below.
12 months after Effective Date
- The BA must be compliant with Requirement R1
- At least 50% of the GO’s generating units/generating facilities must be compliant with Requirement R6 (if >1 unit/facility)
- At least 50% of the GO’s generating units/generating facilities must be compliant with Requirement R7 (if >1 unit/facility)
- The GOP must be compliant with Requirement R8
18 months after Effective Date
- The BA must be compliant with Requirements R2, R3, R4, and R5
- 100% of the GO’s generating units/generating facilities must be compliant with Requirement R6
- 100% of the GO’s generating units/generating facilities must be compliant with Requirement R7
24 months after Effective Date
- At least 50% of the GO’s generating units/generating facilities must be compliant with Requirement R9 (if >1 unit/facility)
- At least 50% of the GO’s generating units/generating facilities must be compliant with Requirement R10 (if >1 unit/facility)
30 months after Effective Date
- 100% of the GO’s generating units/generating facilities must be compliant with Requirement R9
- 100% of the GO’s generating units/generating facilities must be compliant with Requirement R10
Attachment 2