New blackstart standards needed for competitive markets

Restructuring the electric-power industry may present new challenges for bulk-power reliability. The incentives to maintain and properly deploy system blackstart services that worked for vertically integrated utilities may not work when the system operator, the transmission system, and individual generators are in separate commercial organizations. The four North American power system interconnections are designed to be in continuous synchronized operation. Individual pieces of equipment are taken out of service for maintenance, but each interconnection as a whole is designed to run without interruption. Nevertheless, the power system must be prepared for the rare occasions when all or a major portion of the system is forced out of service. The author reviews the existing standards for blackstart capability, standards for the restructured industry, and system blackstart under restructuring.