NERC's new control performance standards

For several decades, control area performance in normal interconnected power system operation has been assessed by Criteria A(1) and A(2). On February 1, 1997, the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) replaced A(1) and A(2) with control performance standards CPS1 and CPS2. These criteria, or standards, assess characteristics of an area's "area control error". Their purpose is to indicate whether an area's generation is adequately controlled to make interchange meet its schedule and interconnection frequency support obligation. After January 1998, control areas are expected to be at least 100% in compliance with CPS1 and 90% with CPS2. There will be sanctions for areas failing to meet these standards. This paper briefly describes the new control performance standards, their technical foundations and the research leading to them.