The National Electricity Market’s (NEM) Reliability Panel is presently reviewing the NEM’s Frequency Operating Standards. One part of that review considers the maximum governor deadband generators must operate when providing mandatory primary frequency response. The AEC engaged expert consultants Provecta, to advise on the impacts of the present very narrow deadband of plus or minus 15 millihertz, which the Panel propose retaining. Provecta find this tight deadband is causing wear on thermal machines and may be causing some observed instability in the system frequency. Provecta suspect a widening of the deadband would benefit both plants and the system.
