Black Start
Our summary of the issues scheduled for votes at the PJM MRC and MC on 08/21/14. Each item is listed by agenda number, description and projected time of discussion, followed by a summary of the issue and links to prior coverage.
A summary of measures approved by the PJM Markets and Reliability Committee on July 31, 2014.
PJM officials said they have acquired sufficient new black start capacity to replace coal-fired units that will retire over the next year due to environmental rules.
PJM will attempt to win approval for limited changes to the compensation rules for black start units and a plan for selecting “backstop” resources for regions that fail to secure service through competitive solicitations.
PJM Stakeholders are still considering revisions to black start compensation following the rejection of two proposals in March, but zones currently identified as deficient won’t be in jeopardy when generation retirements rise in spring 2015.
PJM won’t seek additional compensation for black start generators in the face of stakeholder opposition, officials told members Friday. Instead, members of the task force studying the issue will be polled to determine their next step.
Black start generators anticipating increased compensation came away empty handed Thursday as stakeholders rejected two proposals that would have boosted payments to existing units by at least 40%.
PJM‘s spending on black start generators will increase by at least $3 million — and perhaps as much as $21.6 million — under proposals outlined Thursday.
PJM's Market Monitor would like to tell stakeholders the identifies of the handful of generators that received $350 million in uplift charges last year. But PJM officials said they are prevented from disclosing the names.
No one spoke up when Market Monitor Joe Bowring opened the floor to stakeholders in the Monitor's annual Advisory Committee meeting Friday. But Bowring and his staff took the opportunity to renew their case for eliminating “sham” scheduling and changing PJM rules on opportunity costs.
Want more? Advanced Search