Balancing Authority Services

A control area is a portion of a power grid, which regulates its generation in order to continuously balance its actual and scheduled power flow. It also regulates and stabilizes the amount of power on the grid to support the bulk interconnection system. By contracting The Energy Group’s services, Power Producers including Distributed Energy Resources (DER’s) will ensure increased flexibility and authority in managing their power supplies, resulting in substantial cost savings.The Energy Group’s services provide control area support for generation facilities and electrical transmission for load only centers, like municipalities or cooperatives.

Scope of Services
Schedule of Services

Physically establish generators and/or loads as metered control areas

NERC – National Balancing Authority Certification
The Balancing Authority certification program requires that entities seeking to operate as a control area must be certified to ensure that they possess the capability to meet the criteria and policies set forth by NERC and the Regions. This procedure is implemented through the Regions with the support of our staff.

Phase I-Initial System (Information and Technical Facilities Infrastructure)

The primary steps in the New Balancing Authority Certification Procedure, and entity responsible for each step, is as follows:

Initiation of Process – Entity seeking certification (the “Applicant”)
Provision of criteria, process, documentation, etc. – Region
Formation of Certification Review Team – Region
Data collection – Region
Data review – Region (Review Team)
Site visit – Region (Review Team)
Recommendation – Region (Review Team)
Certification – Region
Notifications and Operations Authorization

NERC Balancing Authority Certification Process Summary
NERC requires all Balancing Authorities to be certified as a NERC Balancing Authorities by the Region in which it is located. This section describes the processes that NERC uses to certify Balancing Authorities and explains the requirements that must be met for continued certification. The NERC Balancing Authorities Criteria establishes the requirements an entity must meet for consideration as a NERC certified Balancing Authorities. The Balancing Authorities certification process is based on compliance with NERC’s Operating Policies and Standards with the Regions responsible for the certification of the Balancing Authorities.The certification process uses questionnaires completed by the candidate/applicant Balancing Authorities, adjacent Balancing Authorities, Security Coordinators, and Region, with a site visit by the certification evaluation team. The evaluation team may be made up of peers or independent members.

Phase II -Design Implementation

Summary

This section describes and defines the process that will be used for the one time initial certification of existing Balancing Authorities. The Certification Procedure is designed around NERC’s established operating criteria, measurements, documentation forms and review protocols, and around the NERC Regions overseeing and implementing data collection,a peer review process, and determining and awarding certification status.

The primary steps in the Balancing Authorities Certification Procedure, and entity responsible for each step, is as follows:

Schedule of initial Certification for existing Balancing Authority – Region
Provision of criteria, process, documentation, etc. – Region
Formation of Certification Review Team – Region
Data collection – Region
Data review – Region (Review Team)
Recommendation – Region (Review Team)
Certification – Region
For this initial certification, a Region may assemble a single team to review the questionnaires and self-assessment responses for all Balancing Authorities.

While not specifically referenced in this document, as with all NERC Standards, Regions may adopt specific requirements and guidelines that can be used in conjunction with (but not in place of) the NERC Balancing Authorities Certification Procedure. However, in doing so, the Region cannot compromise the NERC-established certification Procedure and requirements without formal approval from NERC. It is expected that all Regionally adopted Balancing Authorities certification procedures and process documentation will be filed with NERC and approved by the NERC Operating Committee prior to being implemented. Finally, the Procedure establishes a maximum allowable time of six months to complete the certification process. Obviously, the time it takes to certify an entity depends on several factors (availability of certification personnel and resources, equipment modifications, etc.) and in some cases, the process will be completed in less than six months.

Phase III-Retrofit Design Implementation

The intention of this questionnaire is to expose the Applicant to the standards and requirements in the NERC Operating Policies that apply to Balancing Authorities. It also becomes the foundational document that the review team will use in evaluating the Applicants preparedness to become a Balancing Authorities. Space is provided after each of the following Requirements and Standards for a description of how the proposed Balancing Authorities meets or plans to meet the Requirement or Standard. Please provide a response in each space. The preferred method is to enter the response directly on an electronic copy of the checklist. If the Requirement does not apply to the proposed CONTROL AREA (e.g., no jointly owned generation or not a reserve sharing group member), simply state that fact. Where appropriate, references are listed immediately following a major heading. Further information on each of these topics may be found in the NERC Operating Manual.

Phase IV-Applicant Questionnaire-System Data Pointand Meter Testing

Testing activities to include up to the last minute dry run execution prior to real time execution on transition date.

Questions?
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