The Eastern Interconnection frequency governing characteristic, sometimes called Beta, has been tracked by one of the authors for a period of more than 15 years. While there are some errors inherent to the process followed, we believe that the errors do not obscure the overall trend. We have found that Beta has been declining and has reached a level of approximately 25 MW/mHz. This has important implications in system behavior, particularly in situations involving islanding. Study assumptions need to reflect this observed reduction in governing response.
Two electric utility control areas independently adapted existing system data collection software to capture the response of the units within their several utilities' generation before, during, and after the loss of large blocks of generation [ranging from 1000 MW to 2200 MW] during periods of otherwise normal operation. These measurements are essentially unannounced tests of the governing response of the units and of the system response to frequency changes. The results have been examined with knowledge of the primary frequency control systems to provide evidence of the effects of the primary frequency control systems.
The two operating areas were AEP (American Electric Power) and NYISO (New York Independent\System Operator); both are members of the US-Canadian Eastern Interconnection (EI). AEP was and is a member of the NERC (North American Reliability
Council) and of NERC's ECAR (East Central Area Reliability Council). NYISO was and is a member of NERC and of NERC's NPCC (Northeast Power Coordinating Council). At the time of the measurements AEP had approximately 24,000 MW of installed generation, and NYISO had approximately 33,000 MW of installed generation. This paper is one of several that have evolved from the work of the IEEE PES Task Force on Large Interconnected Power System Response to Generation Governing.Index Terms--Power system planning, Power system operations, Primary Frequency regulation, Measurements.
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