Rules brought in to improve grid reliability
Revisions to reliability audit policies for the USA’s power sector – prompted by blackouts that struck North America back in August 2003 – have been approved in draft form. The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) is expected to give final approval early next month.
The revised rules aim to eliminate ambiguity for the provision of reactive power to maintain voltage stability and more clearly define the roles of parties responsible for the provision of adequate supplies of reactive power in each local area. However, despite the revision, without national enabling legislation, the rules remain voluntary outside of California and New York.