FERC Approves Reliability Standard On Geomagnetic Disturbances

FERC has approved a new Reliability Standard to address Geomagnetic Disturbances (GMDs). EOP-010-1 (Geomagnetic Disturbance Operations) is the first in a set of Reliability Standards addressing the threat of GMDs to bulk-power system reliability. FERC's concern with GMDs has been that they can create geomagnetically induced currents in transformers, which can, in turn, increase the absorption of reactive power, create harmonics, and cause transformer spot-heating. Ultimately, the loss of reactive power this causes could result in voltage instability, relay misoperations, and equipment damage.

As written, the new standard applies to (a) Transmission Operators whose Transmission Operator Area includes a power transformer with a high side, wye-grounded winding with terminal voltage greater than 200 kV and (b) Reliability Coordinators.