Each Balancing Authority is required to ensure that interconnection points are equipped with what type of meters?

The requirement for each Balancing Authority to ensure that interconnection points are equipped with common megawatt-hour meters is rooted in the need for accurate and consistent monitoring of energy flows across interconnected systems. These meters are critical for providing reliable data on the amount of energy being transmitted and received at interconnection points between different Balancing Authorities.

Using common megawatt-hour meters helps maintain coordination and transparency, allowing adjacent control centers to monitor and exchange data effectively. This consistency in data collection is essential for the reliability of the grid, enabling prompt decision-making and operational efficiency among interconnecting entities.

Other types of meters may offer specific functionalities, such as advanced smart meters with remote capabilities or digital meters with customer usage analytics, but they do not serve the fundamental purpose required for interconnection monitoring in the same standardized way as megawatt-hour meters. Analog meters that require manual readings are not suitable for the fast-paced and highly intricate operations at interconnection points, where real-time data is necessary for maintaining system reliability and stability.