ATLANTA – ERO Enterprise staff, in collaboration with FERC, will conduct a joint review of the availability and readiness of the blackstart generators during cold weather conditions in the U.S. portions of the Eastern and Western Interconnections. This review is an outcome of the October 2023 Inquiry into Bulk Power System Operations During December 2022 Winter Storm Elliott report and follows the release of the Blackstart and Next-Start Resource Availability in the Texas Interconnection study, which similarly assessed blackstart capabilities as recommended by the February 2021 report on Winter Storm Uri.
Blackstart generators can be used to help restore the electricity grid in the event of a blackout; however, Winter Storms Uri and Elliott highlighted that blackstart unit operation is particularly challenged during cold weather events. The study will evaluate a representative sample of Transmission and Generator Operators’ blackstart and grid restoration plans, procedures, and resources. Entities with representative characteristics will be contacted by their respective Regional Entities.
This effort represents an important step in protecting reliability by gauging the level of preparation and the ability to restore the bulk power system quickly and efficiently. The study team aims to gather and analyze the results for this joint review by the end of 2024 and issue a report in the first quarter of 2025 with recommendations to improve reliability.
