Automated Solutions and Remote Settings Changes - AEP's Approach to Implementing PRC-027-1

Proper coordination of protective relays on the Bulk Electric System (BES) is essential to ensure a robust and reliable transmission grid. NERC established the PRC-027-1 Standard effective April 1ST 2021 in order to maintain coordination of Protection Systems on the BES by detecting and isolating faults such that the Protection System operates in the intended sequence. NERC PRC-027-1 Requirement 2 is intended to ensure BES Protection Systems operate in the intended sequence and remain coordinated over time. The standard provides three options to meet this requirement. Option 1 requires entities to perform a periodic Protection System Coordination Study in a time interval not to exceed six calendar years, while option 2 only requires a Protection System Coordination Study if a 15-percent or greater deviation of fault current is identified in a time period not to exceed six calendar years. This paper discusses the pros and cons of both options for meeting PRC-027 Requirement 2 and explains why AEP selected Option 1 to meet this requirement for our network of over 2000 BES lines ranging from 765kV to 138kV. It covers the advantages to performing a coordination study on every line as well as the challenges that were encountered, including the need to mitigate past overcurrent settings practices and difficulties coordinating with interconnecting utilities, generators, and other independent power producers (IPPs). It also outlines AEP's systematic process for performing area coordination studies, including automation of new relay settings development and new tools/methods such as remote settings changes that are essential to meet the PRC-027-1 requirements deadline of April 1, 2027 in an efficient and timely manner. PRC-027-1 is helping utilities like AEP to mitigate frequent events/misoperations caused by incorrect relay settings (which is the highest cause category). To date, AEP has completed area coordination studies on all of its EHV lines (765kV to 345kV). Lessons learned from these studies along with AEP's comprehensive plan to complete studies on our approximately 1600 remaining lines utilizing automation tools will also be described.