PJM began its first RTO-wide solicitation for black start service July 1, with proposals accepted through Sept. 30.

Respondents to the request for proposals (RFP) must be capable of: starting without an outside electrical supply; closing their output circuit breakers to a de-energized bus within three hours or less; maintaining frequency and voltage under varying load, and maintaining rated output for a specified time, typically 16 hours.

Existing black start providers do not need to submit proposals.

The RFP is one of the recommendations of the System Restoration Strategy Task Force, which also increased the pool of potential resources through revisions to the definitions for black start units and critical load to be served by them.

PJM expects to lose some existing black start capacity by 2015 as a result of the planned retirements of coal-fired generators squeezed by EPA regulations and low natural gas prices.