If a Balancing Authority has an ACE reading of -100 MWs and a frequency of 60.12 Hz, is it exceeding its BAAL?

To understand whether the Balancing Authority (BA) is exceeding its Balancing Authority Area Limit (BAAL) with an ACE reading of -100 MWs and a frequency of 60.12 Hz, it is important to consider what these values indicate.

The ACE, or Area Control Error, reflects the difference between actual and scheduled interchanges, adjusted for frequency bias. A negative ACE reading suggests that the BA's actual generation is less than what is scheduled, which could lead to a frequency drop, depending on system conditions.

In the context of system operation, BAAL represents the allowable limit within which the Balancing Authority must maintain its operations to ensure reliability. When the ACE reading is at -100 MWs, it means the Balancing Authority is operating below its scheduled interchange level. For a BA to be within BAAL limits, it must keep its operations stable despite disturbances or changes in load.

Furthermore, at a frequency of 60.12 Hz, it indicates that the system frequency is relatively high, suggesting that there is potentially more generation than load, which can also be a reason why the ACE might read negative if more electricity is being accepted than supplied by the Balancing Authority.

Given these factors, the correct conclusion is that the Bal