Press Release RM16-6

November 17, 2016
News Media Contact
Celeste M. Miller | 202-502-8680
Docket Nos. RM16-6-000
Item No. E-3

FERC Proposes Revisions to Provision of Primary Frequency Response
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today proposed to reform its regulations for the provision of primary
frequency response, an essential service in ensuring the reliability of the North American Bulk-Power System.
Reliable operation of the grid requires maintaining system frequency within predetermined boundaries above and
below 60 Hertz. Primary frequency response involves the rapid, automatic, and autonomous actions of generating
facilities to arrest and stabilize frequency deviations, and allows the interconnected grid to maintain frequency within
acceptable boundaries following the sudden loss of generation or load. The magnitude and duration of a generating
facility’s response to frequency deviations is generally determined by the settings of its governor or equivalent controls
and other plant-level control systems.
Today’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) proposes the following:
•
•

Amend the pro forma Large Generator and Small Generator Interconnection Agreements (LGIA and SGIA) to
require that all new generating facilities install, maintain, and operate a functioning governor or equivalent
controls as a precondition of interconnection.
Amend the pro forma LGIA and pro forma SGIA to include certain operating requirements including: (1)
maximum droop and deadband parameters; and (2) sustained response provisions.

The NOPR does not propose a generic headroom requirement for new generating facilities. The NOPR does not propose
any specific compensation mechanisms for complying with the proposed requirements.
Comments on the NOPR are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
R-17-05

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