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Interconnected Electric System Protection Requirements

Key Dates and Materials

October 8, 2024 | Roundtable Technical Discussion 5

October 1, 2024 | Roundtable Technical Discussion 5 Presentation and Agenda posted

October 1, 2024 | Roundtable Technical Discussion 4 Meeting Minutes posted

September 17, 2024 | Roundtable Technical Discussion 5 Invitation posted

April 4, 2024 | Initial Issues List Written Consultation Stakeholder Comments posted

Purpose

The AESO is initiating a new business engagement to review Section 503.15 of the ISO rules, Interconnected Electric System Protection Requirements (“Interconnected Electric System Protection Requirements”). Desired outcomes of this engagement include:

  1. Identifying cost-reduction opportunities associated with design and application of interconnected electric system protection and control, and maintaining reliability and system resiliency in transmission facilities.
  2. Identifying protection and control requirements on new power system elements and topology such as IBRs and T-tap to ensure the efficiency, reliability and performance of the transmission system.
  3. Discussing with stakeholders the existing interconnected electric system protection technical requirements, with a goal of reducing waiver and variance requests in the future; and
  4. Exploring and discussing recent changes in technology and standards relating to protection and control philosophy and scheme.

The AESO has developed the Initial Issues List for stakeholders’ consideration and a series of Stakeholder Feedback Survey questions that will inform the AESO’s determination of the scope of the engagement. The AESO intends to host roundtable technical discussions throughout 2024 and invites interested stakeholders to participate. Given the subject matter of the engagement, the AESO envisions active participation from the following parties operating in Alberta:

  • Transmission facility owners;
  • Generating facility owners;
  • Owners of all types of industrial systems (i.e., not limited to industrial systems designated by the Alberta Utilities Commission) with transmission facilities; and
  • Other parties who, in the AESO's view, can provide valuable input during the roundtable discussions.

To promote process efficiency, participation in the roundtable technical discussions will allow for one primary representative and one delegate. If both the primary and delegate representatives are available, both representatives may attend.

If, as a result of this engagement, the AESO determines that changes to AESO authoritative documents are required, these will be addressed through the applicable processes for developing ISO rules and Alberta Reliability Standards.

Background


Further to the approval in Alberta Utilities Commission Decision 28176-D01-2023 on June 13, 2023, previous effective Section 502.3 of the ISO rules, Interconnected Electric System Protection Requirements (“Section 502.3”) was transitioned into and succeeded by Section 503.15, Interconnected Electric System Protection, effective April 1, 2024.

To ensure a consistent approach to protection systems design and to facilitate a fair, cost effective, and reliable transmission system within Alberta, Section 503.15 addresses the minimum technical requirements of protection philosophy, schemes, and applications for each system element in the Alberta Bulk Electrical System.

Section 502.3 was drafted in 2012, and the technical requirements have not changed substantively since then. In 2019, the AESO collaborated with facility owners to review completed projects and future development plans regarding digital substation technologies in Alberta. The participants' experiences and plans helped the AESO assess potential barriers in Section 502.3. In 2021, the AESO conducted another informal survey associated with Section 502.3 to help identify cost reduction opportunities.

Given the evolvement in technology and system generations being observed, the AESO believes a fresh engagement on interconnected electric system protection is needed at this time. Therefore, the AESO is initiating this new engagement in Spring 2024.



Key Dates and Materials

October 8, 2024 | Roundtable Technical Discussion 5

October 1, 2024 | Roundtable Technical Discussion 5 Presentation and Agenda posted

October 1, 2024 | Roundtable Technical Discussion 4 Meeting Minutes posted

September 17, 2024 | Roundtable Technical Discussion 5 Invitation posted

April 4, 2024 | Initial Issues List Written Consultation Stakeholder Comments posted

Purpose

The AESO is initiating a new business engagement to review Section 503.15 of the ISO rules, Interconnected Electric System Protection Requirements (“Interconnected Electric System Protection Requirements”). Desired outcomes of this engagement include:

  1. Identifying cost-reduction opportunities associated with design and application of interconnected electric system protection and control, and maintaining reliability and system resiliency in transmission facilities.
  2. Identifying protection and control requirements on new power system elements and topology such as IBRs and T-tap to ensure the efficiency, reliability and performance of the transmission system.
  3. Discussing with stakeholders the existing interconnected electric system protection technical requirements, with a goal of reducing waiver and variance requests in the future; and
  4. Exploring and discussing recent changes in technology and standards relating to protection and control philosophy and scheme.

The AESO has developed the Initial Issues List for stakeholders’ consideration and a series of Stakeholder Feedback Survey questions that will inform the AESO’s determination of the scope of the engagement. The AESO intends to host roundtable technical discussions throughout 2024 and invites interested stakeholders to participate. Given the subject matter of the engagement, the AESO envisions active participation from the following parties operating in Alberta:

  • Transmission facility owners;
  • Generating facility owners;
  • Owners of all types of industrial systems (i.e., not limited to industrial systems designated by the Alberta Utilities Commission) with transmission facilities; and
  • Other parties who, in the AESO's view, can provide valuable input during the roundtable discussions.

To promote process efficiency, participation in the roundtable technical discussions will allow for one primary representative and one delegate. If both the primary and delegate representatives are available, both representatives may attend.

If, as a result of this engagement, the AESO determines that changes to AESO authoritative documents are required, these will be addressed through the applicable processes for developing ISO rules and Alberta Reliability Standards.

Background


Further to the approval in Alberta Utilities Commission Decision 28176-D01-2023 on June 13, 2023, previous effective Section 502.3 of the ISO rules, Interconnected Electric System Protection Requirements (“Section 502.3”) was transitioned into and succeeded by Section 503.15, Interconnected Electric System Protection, effective April 1, 2024.

To ensure a consistent approach to protection systems design and to facilitate a fair, cost effective, and reliable transmission system within Alberta, Section 503.15 addresses the minimum technical requirements of protection philosophy, schemes, and applications for each system element in the Alberta Bulk Electrical System.

Section 502.3 was drafted in 2012, and the technical requirements have not changed substantively since then. In 2019, the AESO collaborated with facility owners to review completed projects and future development plans regarding digital substation technologies in Alberta. The participants' experiences and plans helped the AESO assess potential barriers in Section 502.3. In 2021, the AESO conducted another informal survey associated with Section 502.3 to help identify cost reduction opportunities.

Given the evolvement in technology and system generations being observed, the AESO believes a fresh engagement on interconnected electric system protection is needed at this time. Therefore, the AESO is initiating this new engagement in Spring 2024.



  • Roundtable Technical Discussion 5 | October 8, 2024

    Purpose

    The purpose of the session is to discuss next steps, review, and summarize the roundtable technical discussions relating to interconnected electric system protection technical requirements, which are primarily addressed in Section 503.15 of the ISO rules, Interconnected Electric System Protection Technical Requirements. This is the fifth session of planned roundtable technical discussions during Q4 of 2024. It will be the last session and will recap topics discussed in the previous session. Additional information is provided in the invitation.

    Session Details

    Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024

    Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

    In-person option:

    240Fourth

    Meeting Room 6006

    6th floor, 240 – 4th Avenue SW

    Calgary, AB T2P 4H4

    Note that the glass doors on the 6th floor are locked. Please knock to attract the receptionist’s attention to have them released for you.

    Virtual option: Teams webinar

    Registration: You must pre-register to participate and can do so by clicking the secure link here. Please select whether you will attend in person or virtually.


    September 10 Roundtable Discussion Materials

    Can be found in the AESO Materials Section.

  • Roundtable Technical Discussion 4 | September 10, 2024

    Purpose

    The purpose of the session is to continue reviewing interconnected electric system protection technical requirements, which are primarily addressed in Section 503.15 of the ISO rules, Interconnected Electric System Protection Technical Requirements. This is the fourth session of planned roundtable technical discussions during Q3 of 2024. While time may not permit all topics to be covered, the AESO asks that attendees come prepared for an active discussion from the updated Issues List. Additional information is provided in the invitation.

    Session Details

    Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2024

    Time: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    In-person option:

    240Fourth

    Meeting Room 6006

    6th floor, 240 – 4th Avenue SW

    Calgary, AB T2P 4H4

    Note that the glass doors on the 6th floor are locked. Please knock to attract the receptionist’s attention to have them released for you.

    Virtual option: Teams webinar

    Registration: You must pre-register to participate and can do so by clicking the secure link here. Please select whether you will attend in person or virtually.

    September 10 Roundtable Discussion Materials

    Can be found in the AESO Materials Section.

  • Roundtable Technical Discussion 3 | June 26, 2024

    Purpose

    The purpose of the session is to continue reviewing interconnected electric system protection technical requirements, which are primarily addressed in Section 503.15 of the ISO rules, Interconnected Electric System Protection Technical Requirements. This is the third session of planned roundtable technical discussions during Q2 of 2024. While time may not permit all topics to be covered, the AESO asks that attendees come prepared for an active discussion from the updated Issues List. Additional information is provided in the invitation.

    Session Details

    Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2024

    Time: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    In-person option:

    240Fourth
    Meeting Room 6006
    6th floor, 240 – 4th Avenue SW
    Calgary, AB T2P 4H4

    Note that the glass doors on the 6th floor are locked. Please knock to attract the receptionist’s attention to have them released for you.

    Virtual option: Teams webinar

    Registration: You must pre-register to participate and can do so by clicking the secure link here. Please select whether you will attend in person or virtually.


    June 26 Roundtable Technical Discussion Materials

    Can be found in the AESO Materials section.

  • Roundtable Technical Discussion 2 | May 28, 2024

    Purpose

    The purpose of the session is to continue reviewing interconnected electric system protection technical requirements, which are primarily addressed in Section 503.15 of the ISO rules, Interconnected Electric System Protection Technical Requirements. This is the second session of planned roundtable technical discussions during Q2 of 2024. While time may not permit all topics to be covered, the AESO asks that attendees come prepared for an active discussion from the updated Issues List. Additional information is provided in the invitation.

    Session Details

    Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2024

    Time: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    Virtual option: Teams webinar

    Registration: You must pre-register to participate and can do so by clicking the secure link here.


    May 28 Roundtable Technical Discussion Materials

    Can be found in the AESO Materials section.

  • Roundtable Technical Discussion 1 | April 30, 2024

    Purpose

    The purpose of the session is to review interconnected electric system protection requirements, which are primarily addressed in Section 503.15 of the ISO rules, Interconnected Electric System Protection Requirements. The session kicks off a series of planned roundtable technical discussions during Q2-Q4 of 2024. Objectives for the session include discussing participants’ perspectives and interests in the Interconnected Electric System Protection Requirements engagement. Additional information is provided in the Invitation.

    Session Details

    Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2024

    Time: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    In-person option:

    240Fourth
    Meeting Room 6006
    6th floor, 240 – 4th Avenue SW
    Calgary, AB T2P 4H4

    Note that the glass doors on the 6th floor are locked. Please knock to attract the receptionist’s attention to have them released for you.

    Virtual option: Teams webinar

    Registration: You must pre-register to participate and can do so by clicking the secure link here. Please select whether you will attend in person or virtually.

    Roundtable Technical Discussion 1 Materials

    Can be found in the AESO Materials section.

  • Issues List Written Consultation | March 6-April 2, 2024

    Purpose

    The AESO has developed the Initial Issues List for stakeholders’ consideration and a series of Stakeholder Feedback Survey questions that will inform the AESO’s determination of the scope of the engagement. The AESO proposes to host roundtable technical discussions in Spring 2024 to review interconnected electric system protection requirements. The AESO prefers to host the discussions in the form of in-person stakeholder sessions, with the possibility of a hybrid format (i.e., combined virtual and in-person), if necessary, to accommodate stakeholders who cannot attend in person.

    The AESO will determine further consultation steps pending the outcome of the roundtable technical discussions. The AESO expects that future consultation steps could include additional sessions, webinars, or written stakeholder feedback on specific issues. The AESO intends to produce a paper towards the conclusion of the engagement process summarizing its findings and recommendations based on input and feedback received during the stakeholder engagement process, with an opportunity for stakeholders to review and comment on the paper.

    If, as a result of this engagement, the AESO determines that changes to AESO authoritative documents are required, these will be addressed through the applicable processes for developing ISO rules and Alberta reliability standards.

    Stakeholder Comments

    Written comments received from Stakeholders in response to the AESO's March 6, 2024 Initial Issues List Survey have been posted. Thank you to all Stakeholders who participated in this consultation.

    Issues List Written Consultation Materials

    Can be found in the AESO Materials section.

Page last updated: 01 Oct 2024, 05:20 PM