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December 2, 2024

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Manual Change: Light Load Analysis (M14B)

Changes to the following PJM manual was approved by the Markets and Reliability Committee on Feb. 28, 2013, effective March 1, 2013. For more information, contact PJM Member Relations.

Manual 14B: PJM Regional Transmission Planning Process – clarification of light load analysis, SOL/IROL definitions

Reason for Change: The light load analysis section and SOL/IROL definitions required clarification. Also responds to a FERC recommendation regarding communication of modeling information between PJM and its member companies.

Impacts:

  • Adds detailed language to Section D-2.2 Light Load Reliability Analysis Procedure to clarify the application of the criteria. The light load reliability analysis tests the ability of an electrical area to export power during light load conditions. Applied to ensure that generation, including renewable generation, is not “bottled” due to reliability concerns.
  • Amends Attachment F: Determination of System Operating Limits to align definition of System Operating Limits (SOL) and Interconnected Reliability Operating Limits (IROL) with PJM planning practices. SOL includes all Bulk Electric System (BES) facilities and “Reliability and Markets” sub-BES facilities, as listed on the PJM Transmission Facilities pages; IROL definition amended to include lower voltage facilities monitored by PJM Operations. SOL and IROL are used in the transmission planning horizon.
  • Amends Attachment H: Power System Modeling to respond to a FERC recommendation that PJM establish a procedure to communicate interim updates of Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP) analysis models. PJM will communicate major updates to the RTEP analysis models outside of the annual model update window to Transmission Owners through the Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee (TEAC). PJM also will notify neighboring entities that may be impacted and make the updated affected models available upon request.

PJM Contact: Mark Sims

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Manual Change: Internal Sources and Sinks (M28)

The following PJM manual change was approved by the Markets and Reliability Committee on Feb. 28, 2013, effective March 1, 2013. For more information, contact PJM Member Relations.

Manual 28: Operating Agreement – removal of internal sources and sinks / OASIS Regional Practices document

Reason for change: To address the removal of internal sources and sinks as an option for external Day Ahead and Real Time markets transactions on OASIS. The removal of internal sources and sinks was approved by MRC April 27, 2011 at the recommendation of the Independent Market Monitor.

Impact: Eliminates potential for uncollected congestion charges for Not Willing to Pay Congestion Transactions. Moves charges from explicit to implicit billing line item.

  • Added language in Regional Practices section 1.1 and Manual 28 (Section 2: Interface Pricing) to clarify that source and sink choices on OASIS are limited to the path border point for all products.
  • Exceptions may be granted for:
    • Existing grandfathered transmission service reservations and potential future grandfathered transmission service reservations that may be created with a new transmission owner integration.
    • Reservations for dynamic schedules. Such reservations will explicitly identify the source for a generator or the sink for a load.  OASIS administrators will update the reservation upon confirming the exception.  When ARRs are requested, the customer will indicate the source and sink in the customer comments section of the reservation.

PJM Contacts: Mike Colby; Eric Hsia

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Manual Change: Nuclear Plant Coordination (M39)

The following PJM manual change was approved by the Markets and Reliability Committee on Feb. 28, 2013, effective March 1, 2013. For more information, contact PJM Member Relations.

Manual 39:  Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination – three-year review

Reason for change: NERC Reliability Standard NUC-001 R9.1.3 requires PJM to review Manual 39 every three years, including Nuclear Plant Interface Requirements.

Impact: Changes reflect review by the System Operations Subcommittee, with support from the Nuclear Generators Owners Users Group and individual nuclear plant operators. Updates roles of NERC, FERC, NRC and PJM. Minor edits throughout.

PJM Contact: David Schweizer, manager, generation

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Manual Change: Training and Certification (M40)

The following PJM manual change was approved by the Markets and Reliability Committee on Feb. 28, 2013, effective March 1, 2013. For more information, contact PJM Member Relations.

Manual 40: Training and Certification Requirements – verification of operators performing reliability functions

Reason for Change: FERC Order 742 (issued Nov. 18, 2010) ratified NERC Reliability Standard PER 005 (System Personnel Training) to ensure the qualifications of system operators performing real-time, reliability-related tasks. Most requirements are effective April 1, 2013.

Impact: The changes require that all applicable operators be verified on the reliability-related tasks assigned to them (both common terminal tasks and company-specific functions) before the operator assumes independent shift duties. Creates a Systematic Approach to Training (SAT), as developed by the Dispatcher Training Subcommittee.

  • Operators must be re-verified on any modified tasks within six months of the modifications. Verification may include direct observation in a real-time or simulated environment or completion of relevant training and certification and verbal questioning.
  • All task verifications must be entered into a new Task Tracking Module of the PJM Learning Management System (LMS).
  • The one-year grace period for completion of Initial Training Program was eliminated for TO operators. (A similar provision for certification had already been removed to comply with NERC requirements.) A new initial training program is being created (using SAT). The course can be completed either online or in person.

PJM Contacts: Glen D. Boyle, manager, system operator training; Michael J. Sitarchyk, manager, state and member training.

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MRC OKs Changes to System Restoration Plan

On Feb. 28, the MRC endorsed changes to PJM’s system restoration procedures and methods for selecting black start units.

Reason for changes: The MRC acted in response to anticipated changes in PJM’s roster of black start units, Environmental Protection Agency regulations and a desire to increase cross-zonal coordination. Plant retirements are expected to eliminate one-third of PJM’s black start capacity by the end of 2015. The retirements are being driven by EPA mercury and air toxics (MATS) regulations and New Jersey’s High Electric Demand Day (HEDD) rules. The cost of complying with these environmental rules has undermined the economics of coal-fired generation  at a time of cheap natural gas.

PJM, the Market Monitor and stakeholders in the System Restoration Strategy Senior Task Force agreed on this unified proposal.

Impact: There are several major changes:

  • The critical load definition is changed  to include all generation that can start within four hours. The previous definition was limited to “critical steam units with a hot start time of 8 hours or less.” This will increase the capacity targeted for use of cranking power by 70,000 MW.
  • Potential black start units will be defined as those able to respond within three hours (up from the current 90 minutes), adding 64,000 MW of black start capability. About 2,000 MW of this total could act as black start units without plant modifications.
  • Black start units in one zone will be allowed to help restart generation in neighboring zones, allowing more efficient use of existing resources.
  • PJM will issue an RFP for black start generation every five years (see Manual 14D, Section 10: Black Start Generation Procurement). Minimum length of commitment will remain two years (or longer based on capital recovery time).

The proposal did not include changes in compensation for black start units or allocation of costs across zones, which will require OATT revisions and FERC approval.  A FERC filing is expected in the second quarter of 2013. The five-year request for proposals is expected to be issued in the third quarter, with contracts effective in April 2015.

The proposal was approved with no objections and three abstentions. It includes:

  • Manual 12: Balancing Operations – Section 4.6: Wording edits.  Deleted Section 4.6.8 and 4.6.9 due to elimination of 3 BS unit per plant restriction
  • Manual 14D: Generator Operational Requirements: Addition of five-year selection process
  • Manual 27: Open Access Transmission Tariff Accounting: Updated Section 7 to reflect cost allocation changes and TO Revenue requirements for cranking paths
  • Manual 36: System Restoration:
    • Minor updates to sections 6.2, Cranking Power and 8.1.1 Ascertaining System Status.
    • Created new section 9 on Cross Zonal Coordination.
    • Major edits to Attachment A to reflect changes in critical load, Black Start requirements and the reliability backstop process.
    • Minor changes to Attachment D – Drill Guide

PJM Contact: Chantal Hendrzak

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Demand Response Changes: Baseline Measurements, Information Requirements, Duplicate Registrations

On Feb. 28, the MRC endorsed demand response proposals concerning emergency measurement, information requirements for Curtailment Service Providers (CSP) and procedures for resolving duplicate registrations. The changes were proposed by the Demand Response Subcommittee.

Emergency Measurement and Verification

Reason for change: A study by Kema Energy Consultants found that that the economic method of determining Customer Base Line (CBL) is more accurate than the emergency method. Energy settlement rules were unclear for overlaps between economic and emergency events for the same DR resource. Economic CBL rule included emergency event days in CBL day selection process.

Impact:

  • If a CSP is listed as an economic registration, economic CBL will be used to determine load reduction; otherwise the existing hour before method will be used. (OATT, OA: Emergency Load Response Program changes; Manual 11, section 10.4 changes)
  • Clarify that demand resource dispatched for both economics and emergency conditions will be settled based on emergency energy settlement rules. (OATT, OA: Emergency Load Response Program changes; Manual 11, section 10.4 changes)
  • Selection of Economic CBL days will exclude emergency event days. (OATT, OA: 10.3A.2 changes)

Increased Information Requirements for Curtailment Service Providers

Expands and clarifies information reporting requirements for Curtailment Service Providers on the source of DR capability, business segment and on-site generation attributes.

Reason for change: PJM said reporting requirements were not adequately documented and information was sometimes incomplete.

Impact:

  • Clarify requirements in Manual 11, section 10.2.2
  • Eliminate use of “Other” category to ensure reasonable information is provided
  • Expand on-site generation attributes to include: Generator vintage, retrofit nameplate rating, permit status and permit type.

Most CSPs have already provided updated data.

Resolving Duplicate Registrations

Changes the resolution process used when different Curtailment Service Providers register the same end use customer.

Reason for change: Two CSPs sometimes attempt to register the same end-use customer, potentially creating double payment for the same service.

Impact: When two CSPs claim an end-use customer, both will be given five business days to contact the customer to affirm the customer’s selection and notify PJM that they have a valid contract. If only one CSP affirms they have a valid contract that registration will proceed. The registration will be terminated if neither CSP affirms they have a valid contract or both CSPs continue to claim the customer. Changes to Manual 11, section 10.2.

PJM Contact: Pete Langbein

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Capacity Market: Three-year Price Guarantee for New Capacity

The Members Committee and MRC approved changes on Feb. 28 to provide new capacity resources with a mechanism to avoid clearing the capacity auction for one year if they require multi-year price assurance to be a viable project.

Reason for change: New capacity resources currently are guaranteed only one year’s price guarantee – known as New Entry Price Adjustment (NEPA).

Impact: The Members Committee and MRC approved changing two sentences in the Tariff.

New capacity resources seeking the three-year price guarantee must declare their intentions when bidding in the first year and specify whether their offers are contingent upon qualifying for the price adjustment.  Such sell offers will not clear the auction if they don’t qualify for NEPA treatment.

Part of a bigger package of changes being developed by the Capacity Senior Task Force, this change will take effect in time for the May capacity auction. The task force will consider whether additional changes are needed after reviewing results of the May auction.

PJM Contact: Sarah Burlew

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Reliability: Lost Opportunity Costs for Generators

Reason for change: The Market Implementation Committee (MIC) created the Reliability Limited Generator Compensation Task Force (RLGCTF) on Feb. 17, 2012 to determine compensation for generating resources operating outside of their defined reliability limits. The task force focused on what level of Lost Opportunity Cost (LOC) should be compensated.

Impact: The MIC determined that generators will be paid LOC at the lesser of the Economic Maximum or Maximum Facility Output (MFO) of the generator. Schedule 1 of the Operating Agreement is amended, including clarifications of definitions:

  • “Economic Minimum” shall mean the lowest incremental MW output level, submitted to PJM market systems by a Market Participant, that a unit can achieve while following economic dispatch.
  • “Economic Maximum” shall mean the highest incremental MW output level, submitted to PJM market systems by a Market Participant, that a unit can achieve while following economic dispatch.

PJM Contact: Heather Reiter

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Tariff Cleanup

On Feb. 28, the Markets and Reliability Committee endorsed changes to the Open Access Transmission Tariff regarding interconnection procedures. The changes addressed misspellings, typos, incorrect references, and omissions of previously approved changes and clarifications. Also addressed was a discrepancy in the existing interconnection service agreement (ISA) language that references a “Merchant Network Upgrade,” which can only be performed under an Upgrade Construction Service Agreement.

PJM Contacts: David Egan, Jen Tribulski

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East Kentucky Coop to Join PJM

By Rich Heidorn Jr.
PJM Insider

PJM’s footprint is about to grow again with the addition of the 16-member East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC). The Members Committee was briefed Feb. 28 on PJM’s takeover of reliability coordination and transmission operations for the generation and transmission cooperative effective June 1.

East Kentucky, which joined PJM as an Other Supplier in 2005, estimates it will save almost $132 million over the next decade by taking advantage of PJM’s economies of scale and generation diversity.

“Uneventful” Integration Expected

A winter-peaking system (2,500 MW), East Kentucky will increase PJM’s generation capacity by 2.5% and transmission network by 4%. Frank Koza, PJM’s executive director of operations support, told members on a conference call yesterday he expects the integration to be
“uneventful.”

The coop’s move to PJM was approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission in December and still requires OKs from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, according to coop spokesman Nick Comer.

East Kentucky has filed requests with FERC to participate in the PJM Reliability Pricing Model Base Residual Auction for 2016-17 (ER13-414-000) and to submit an out-of-time Fixed Resource Requirement Plan (ER13-478-000).

The Members Committee will be asked Thursday to ratify the coop’s entry with changes to the PJM OATT, Operating Agreement, Reliability Assurance Agreement and Transmission Owners Agreement. PJM expects to file the revisions with FERC in March.

Benefits to Coop

East Kentucky said its move was prompted by increasing transmission constraints with potential counterparties and federal environmental regulations, which made it expensive to continue operating as an independent control area and balancing authority. The coop has interconnections with TVA, Duke Energy, American Electric Power and Louisville Gas and Electric Co./Kentucky Utilities Co. (LG&E/KU).

It gets more than 80% of its power from coal-fired generation and has invested nearly $1.75 billion over the past decade in modern coal generators and environmental retrofits of older units.

A study by Charles River Associates estimated East Kentucky will gain almost $132 million (net present value) in the first 10 years after joining PJM.

The biggest savings will come from reduced reserve requirements. East Kentucky maintains a 12% reserve margin (360 MW). By joining the summer-peaking PJM, it will be able to reduce its reserve to 2.8% (70 MW), allowing it to sell the difference in the capacity market.

The integration also will result in more economical generation dispatch, as the coop replaces its higher cost generation with cheaper PJM power.

Potential Retirements

East Kentucky has 1,882 MW of coal-fired capacity at the H.L. Spurlock Station located near Maysville, John Sherman Cooper Station near Somerset and William C. Dale Station near Winchester.

Comer said all four units at Spurlock (two built in the last eight years, two with scrubbers) are well positioned to meet Environmental Protection Agency regulations while 300 MW of capacity — 1950s and 1960s vintage units at Cooper and Dale — may be vulnerable to retirement when EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards take effect in 2015.

The coop is currently reviewing responses to a request for proposal issued last year to replace the 300 MW.

Impact on KU

Kentucky regulators approved the move after the coop and PJM agreed to a stipulation intended to hold KU harmless from cost increases.

KU serves more than 100 MW of its native load using East Kentucky transmission at cost-based rates. KU feared that the coop’s full membership in PJM would increase its transmission rates.

Under the stipulation, PJM agreed to create a pseudo-tie with KU/LG&E and charge the utility transmission rates applicable to the East Kentucky pricing zone; PJM agreed not to bill KU for any other charges assessed on load in the PJM markets.

Kentucky regulators also expressed concern that the coop’s move to PJM created a risk it will face higher prices for energy due to transmission congestion. The commission required the coop to file an annual report detailing its strategies for hedging congestion risk and for competing in the markets for capacity and energy.

A pdf of this article is available for printing: PJM Insider Members Committee Preview – E KY Power Coop joins PJM – 2013-02-26