Grid Reliability -- Needs of Nuclear Power Plants Joe McClelland, Director Division of Reliability Joint NRC/FERC Meeting April 24, 2006

Nuclear Power Plant Requirements To ensure safety, the nuclear plant operator must know the status of the offsite power supply. To ensure safety, the nuclear plant operator must know the status of the offsite power supply. Contingencies on the Bulk Power System can affect the reliability of the offsite power supply. Contingencies on the Bulk Power System can affect the reliability of the offsite power supply.

Nuclear Power Plant Requirements (Cont.) Transmission Operators and Reliability Coordinators know the status of facilities that can affect offsite power. Transmission Operators and Reliability Coordinators know the status of facilities that can affect offsite power. The Commission permits the communication of operational parameters needed to maintain safety (Discussed under Part II – Interpretive Order). The Commission permits the communication of operational parameters needed to maintain safety (Discussed under Part II – Interpretive Order).

Resulting Issues of Nuclear Power Plants Are transmission operators aware of the requirements of the nuclear plants? Are transmission operators aware of the requirements of the nuclear plants? Are the voltage requirements of the nuclear power plants compatible with the reliability standards? Are the voltage requirements of the nuclear power plants compatible with the reliability standards? Are special procedures and reliability standards necessary to meet the nuclear power plants’ safety requirements? Are special procedures and reliability standards necessary to meet the nuclear power plants’ safety requirements?

Resulting Issues of Nuclear Plants (Cont.) Due to their specifications concerning offsite power, nuclear power plants are susceptible to voltage variations and frequency swings. Due to their specifications concerning offsite power, nuclear power plants are susceptible to voltage variations and frequency swings. Due to their generation size, the loss of nuclear power plants is usually the largest single contingency faced by the transmission operator. Due to their generation size, the loss of nuclear power plants is usually the largest single contingency faced by the transmission operator.

ERO Proceeding Industry is developing a new standard on Nuclear Plant Off-site Power Coordination. Industry is developing a new standard on Nuclear Plant Off-site Power Coordination. The standard covers coordination between the nuclear plant and transmission system. The standard covers coordination between the nuclear plant and transmission system. NRC can work directly with industry to ensure standards meet their needs. NRC can work directly with industry to ensure standards meet their needs.

Reliability Standards - Nuclear Plant Needs A cooperative effort with the NRC and the Commission is important. A cooperative effort with the NRC and the Commission is important. The NRC can most effectively engage the ERO directly through the standards process. The NRC can most effectively engage the ERO directly through the standards process. Entities should be aware of, plan to, and operate to the needs of nuclear plants. Entities should be aware of, plan to, and operate to the needs of nuclear plants. This cannot be done alone; the NRC, FERC, ERO, and industry must work together. This cannot be done alone; the NRC, FERC, ERO, and industry must work together.