By William Opalka

The NYISO Management Committee approved a mandatory black start requirement in part of in the Consolidated Edison territory, despite opposition by generators who said the previous voluntary system had been working well.

The committee approved the new rules with 63% support at its Aug. 27 meeting, clearing the 58% threshold.

Con Ed and the New York State Reliability Council say the program is needed to provide quicker service restoration in New York City (Zone J). Con Ed said no new black start resources have been constructed in the city since the New York energy markets opened in 1999.

The NYSRC is an independent organization governed by a 13-member executive committee representing transmission operators, wholesale generators and others.

Con Ed would be able to require black start service from generators that it can show would materially improve the speed, adequacy or flexibility of its plans for resuming operations after a blackout.

The ISO could grant a requested exemption for “good cause” — meaning that inclusion of a plant would be burdensome to the plant owner for technical, financial or other reasons.

The plan heads to the NYISO Board of Directors for final approval in October.