Power system disturbances are most likely to occur as the result of loss of generating
equipment, transmission facilities, or as the result of unexpected load changes. These
disturbances may be of, or develop into, a magnitude sufficient to affect the reliable
operation of the PJM RTO. The associated conditions under severe system disturbances
generally result in critically loaded transmission facilities, critical frequency deviations, or
high or low voltage conditions.
The policy of PJM is to maintain, at all times, the integrity of the PJM RTO transmission
systems, the Eastern Interconnection, and to prevent any unplanned separation of the
Transmission Owner’s systems. The purpose of this plan is to establish procedures with a
priority of restoring the integrity of the Interconnection. Based on system restoration lessons
learned in 2003, the PJM restoration plan should stand alone with no dependencies on
neighboring systems to help prevent separation of additional systems.
In the case of the PJM RTOs’ inter-area transmission lines, the policy of PJM is to give
maximum reasonable assistance to adjacent systems when a disturbance that is remote
from the PJM RTO occurs.
Each Transmission / Generation owner has an obligation to protect their own system’s
equipment and reliability. However, steps taken to do so are coordinated, if at all possible,
with the PJM System Operator so as to solve the problem in the best manner, realizing that
actions taken may have a far reaching effect.
PJM will provide RFC on an annual basis a copy of the Blackstart Capability Plan and
associated list of units designated as blackstart capable for Inclusion in the RFC Blackstart
Database per NERC standard EOP-009-0 and RFC standard EOP-007-RFC-01, “System
Restoration Plans.”