What are PJM’s next steps for fuel security and resilience?
Stakeholders learned part of the answer Tuesday, when PJM presented a “resilience roadmap” at the Operating Committee meeting.
The presentation followed the themes of the recent paper, “PJM’s Evolving Resource Mix and System Reliability.”
Mike Bryson, vice president – Operations, stressed that the roadmap is a living document. He said his expectation is that it will change and evolve based on stakeholder feedback. He added that stakeholders may bring things to the discussion that PJM had not considered – and vice versa. While some of the items on the roadmap are internally focused, the roadmap may mirror efforts members are undertaking.
The roadmap laid out goals and plans for the short term (through the end of 2017), medium range (through 2018) and long range (beyond 2018). The plan covers operations, markets, security and planning. It emphasizes enhancing relationships and partnerships with industry and government entities, such as the Department of Defense.
PJM also updated stakeholders on the work of the special Markets Implementation Committee (MIC) on distributed energy resources, in the first of new, recurring updates. PJM will look for stakeholder feedback on options developed in future special MIC sessions that require feedback or endorsement by the Operating Committee.
The special MIC is evaluating options for DER to participate in wholesale markets when they are either reducing load or injecting power onto the distribution system. It is focusing initial efforts on ancillary services, followed by the energy and capacity markets.
PJM reviewed the results of the recent transient shortage pricing implementation (FERC Order 825); PJM has not observed any instances of transient shortages since implementation. Members asked about perceived shortages in real time, based on reserve information available in software. PJM pointed out that shortage is declared based on the results of its real-time dispatch and pricing software (RT SCED), which positions resources to meet system needs 15 minutes in the future. Because there were no instances where RT SCED could not meet the reserve requirement, the conditions to trigger shortage pricing were not met.
PJM presented upcoming changes and required stakeholder action for the new Data Miner 2 tool. This tool will replace PJM’s current flat file postings and Data Miner application and will become the platform for all publicly available data provided by PJM.
The tool is scheduled to go live in mid-August; many existing processes will migrate to Data Miner 2 (see pages 5-9). PJM encourages members to prepare for the transition now because data postings outside of Data Miner 2 will be supported only until August 2018.
Other Committee Business
PJM and stakeholders also discussed the process and potential resilience-related enhancements for the next five-year RTO-wide Request for Proposal for new black start units.
With the approval of the problem statement and issue charge for a generator primary frequency response requirement in PJM at the May Markets & Reliability Committee Meeting, PJM will send stakeholders information on the issue’s new senior task force shortly.
- Review of Operational Events
- Review of Operating Metrics
- Endorsed changes to Manual 39: Nuclear Plant Interface
- First read of proposed changes to Manual 01: Control Center and Data Exchange Requirements
- Report from System Operations Subcommittee
- Report from Data Management Subcommittee
Tool and Informational Updates
- NERC Lessons Learned
- Synchronous Reserve Performance
- NERC and Regional Coordination Update
- PJM Markets Certification Program
- Update on Regulation Performance
