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Virtual Control Area

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The goal of the Virtual Control Area Work Group (VCAWG) is to investigate methods and technology available for coordinating certain Balancing Area Authority (BAA) operations to allow participating BAAs to function as a Virtual Control Area for those certain operations.  The Work Group’s efforts are focused on three areas:

ACE Diversity Interchange:  7 WestConnect BAAs are participating in the Area Control Error (ACE) Diversity Interchange (ADI) process along with other BAAs in the Western Interconnection.  ADI operates to minimize generation swings on participating units by  netting ACEs over a larger number of  BAAs.  ADI is scheduled to be implemented for the WestConnect participants in early 2009.

NREL Wind and Solar Integration Study:  The WestConnect transmission owners are supporting NREL’s efforts by providing data.  The final NREL report will identify potential operating cost savings of consolidated balancing authority operations under various renewable resource operating levels as part of its study.

Contingency Reserves Sharing:  The effort to study potential enhancements to the existing reserve sharing pools in the WestConnect footprint is on hold pending finalization of NERC standards affecting contingency reserves.

Work Group Chairman

• Mark Avery, SRP
  602-236-3960

Key Documents

• ADI Presentation Materials
• NERC Standards (external website)
• WestConnect Guidelines on Intra-Hour Reservations and Scheduling (.pdf)

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