If a Balancing Area's ACE is initially -40 MW and loses 800 MW generation but stabilizes at -42 MW, what is the required action if it meets DCS?

• A. The BA must over-generate for the hour
• B. The BA must recover 80% of its loss within 15 minutes
• C. No further action is needed
• D. The BA must notify the RC of an Energy Emergency Alert

Answer: (C)

In this scenario, the Balancing Area (BA) experiences a drop in generation while its Area Control Error (ACE) stabilizes at -42 MW after an initial ACE of -40 MW and a loss of 800 MW of generation. The situation indicates that the BA's ACE is remaining steady and, importantly, appears to not exceed the acceptable limits set by the Disturbance Control Standard (DCS).

When a BA stabilizes with an ACE that is still within the parameters set by DCS, it signifies that the balance between generation and load has been achieved, even if that balance reflects a negative ACE. If the BA is in compliance with DCS after the loss of generation, indicating that the actions taken have been adequate, then indeed, no immediate corrective actions need to be undertaken.

This means the BA can maintain its current operation as long as the conditions do not worsen, and it can effectively manage any future generation deficits or fluctuations without breaching reliability standards. Therefore, concluding that no further action is needed is consistent with DCS requirements and the stability of the system post-event.