In an effort to improve data collection, PJM will soon begin testing a new method for making interconnection applications.
Reason for Change: PJM engineers have to request additional information on half of the applications made using the current method.
Impact: The new method will use a question-and-answer process to guide applicants. PJM will be seeking a half-dozen volunteers to test the system in June and July before it is deployed. Those interested in volunteering should contact PJM through RTEP@PJM.com.
New Network Protocol for Small Generators
Small generators using public-domain Internet for access to PJM’s SCADA system will be switching to a new system intended to improve security and reliability.
The change affects load response and renewable generation assets under 100 MW not ‘sponsored’ by a generation company, aggregator or marketer.
The current system employs asymmetric “Shared Secret” encryption and uses the public-domain Internet. The new system, which uses “Public Key” encryption based on open standards, is favored by auditors and is considered close to industry best practice, PJM said.
The transition will take three to four years.
PJM contact: Ryan Nice
Dominion Adding Four New 500 kV Line Designations
Dominion’s interconnection of the Brunswick Power Station, a 1,551 MW combined cycle plant, will result in the creation of four new 500 kV line designations.
Dominion is building two new 500kV substations at Rawlings and Brunswick which will require the split of the two existing 500 kV lines: 511 Clover – Carson and 570 Wake – Carson. The two will be split into four lines: 511 Carson – Rawlings; 585 Carson – Brunswick; 591 Brunswick – Rawlings, a new 14-mile line; and 509 Brunswick – Brunswick Power Station, a new one-mile line. The work is targeted for completion in 2016.
FirstEnergy Shutting Reading Control Center
FirstEnergy will shut down its Reading, Pa., transmission control center and move operations to its Wadsworth, Ohio, center on April 29th. The phone numbers will remain the same.
The Wadsworth facility will itself be replaced by a $45 million control center planned for FirstEnergy’s West Akron campus. The new facility is expected to be complete by the end of 2013. It will oversee transmission operations for all of FirstEnergy’s utilities excluding Mon Power, Potomac Edison and West Penn Power, which will continue to be run from the company’s Fairmont, W. Va., center. The Wadsworth location will be used as a back-up and training facility.
Revised Transmission Matrix Approved
The Operating Committee last week approved revisions to the Transmission Owner/Transmission Operator matrix, an index between NERC reliability standards and PJM manuals.
Reason for change: The matrix is used as a tool during TO/TOP audits. The changes incorporate standards becoming effective this year.
Impact: The changes go next to the Transmission Owner Agreement Administrative Committee for approval.
PJM contact: Mark Kuras
Transient Security Assessment Coming to Real-Time Ops
PJM has begun testing Transient Security Assessments in real-time operations in preparation for a scheduled for June 1 deployment.
Reason for Change: The tool will monitor the transient stability of the PJM system and compute stability limits through real-time data input and network models. The system will collect data every 15 to 20 minutes, allowing PJM operators to implement controls to prevent generators from becoming unstable. PJM has been using the tool in near-term outage studies since the end of 2012.
Impact: Operators will switch from using stability limits found in Manual 3 to those coming from the TSA. PJM’s Dave Souder said the new tool should be more accurate because it is based on real-time conditions as opposed to the light load, conservative case, in Manual 3. The market impact should be “very minor,” said PJM’s Liem Hoang.
The deployment will require completion of benchmarking with ComEd and AEP, updates to Manual 3 and 3A and additional training for PJM operators. Immediately after deployment, operators will monitor only known stability concerns identified in M-03.
PJM contacts: Jianzhong Tong (tongji@pjm.com), Liem Hoang (hoangl@pjm.com)
Removal of Edison Mission Energy SPS in ComEd Zone
A Special Protection System activated to allow an Edison Mission Energy merchant interconnection in the ComEd zone (V3-052 and W2-038) will be removed on August 15. The SPS was used regularly and was still providing congestion relief after the completion of the required upgrades. Economic upgrades for the area have not passed PJM’s cost-benefit screens.
Baltimore Gas & Electric Activating SPS
Baltimore Gas & Electric will activate a Special Protection System for its Concord Street and Mount Washington 115kV lines on June 1 to allow for baseline system upgrades. The Concord Street SPS, designed to alleviate thermal overloads, will be removed with the completion of baseline upgrade b1086, expected in June 2014. The Mt. Washington SPS, intended to correct voltage drop violations, will be removed on the completion of baseline upgrades b1267 and b1267.1 in about June 2018.
