How does a BA maintain compliance when frequency varies significantly from 60 Hz?

The correct answer focuses on the importance of maintaining a balance between generation and load to ensure system reliability, especially when frequency deviates significantly from the standard of 60 Hz.

When the frequency varies, it indicates an imbalance between generation and load. In such situations, a balancing authority (BA) must ensure that its balancing actions maintain the overall system frequency within acceptable limits. By keeping the balancing (B) equal to or more negative than the Frequency Response Obligation (FRO), a BA effectively coordinates its resources to respond to changes in frequency. This means that in response to a frequency drop, the BA is obligated to increase generation or decrease load to bring the frequency back towards the target.

This targeting mechanism, where the BA monitors and adjusts its balancing program according to its obligations and capacity, is crucial for stabilizing the system. It helps in managing the frequency without a total dependence on external entities or drastic operational changes such as excessively decreasing generation capacity or merely increasing load.

While collaborating with neighboring BAs can be beneficial for addressing larger system stability issues, it is not a direct mechanism for compliance. Instead, internal adjustments that meet or exceed the frequency response obligations are fundamental for an effective compliance strategy.