By Rich Heidorn Jr.

FERC on Thursday issued orders that seek to increase the supply of regulation service and reactive power.

Wind generators would no longer be exempt from responsibility for providing reactive power under a FERC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (RM16-1).

The commission also issued a final rule to allow generators to sell primary frequency response service at market-based rates (RM15-2).

The wind order would require that pro forma large and small generator interconnection agreements eliminate the reactive power exemption for wind. The requirement also would apply to generators making upgrades that require new interconnection requests.

Reactive power is essential for controlling system voltage.

Comments on the proposal will be due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

The frequency response order is intended to promote competition to meet increased demand for the service due to the Frequency Response and Frequency Bias Setting Reliability Standard (BAL-003-1), which will require balancing authorities to meet a minimum frequency response obligation effective April 1, 2016. (See FERC to OK 3rd Party Sales of Frequency Response.)

The reliability standard was approved by FERC in January 2014. (See FERC OKs Rules on Geomagnetic Disturbances, Frequency Response.)

The order defines primary frequency response service as a resource standing by to provide autonomous, pre-programmed changes in output to counter large changes in frequency until dispatched resources can take over to return the system to 60 hertz.

Although most balancing authorities will be able to use their own resources to meet the standard, FERC said some may choose to purchase the service.

Generators selling the service under market- or cost-based rates must report their sales in their Electric Quarterly Reports. The rule will take effect 90 days after publication in the Federal Register.