What should a system operator in a known weak area do first if voltage is declining?

In a scenario where voltage is declining in a known weak area, the system operator should prioritize shedding load. This action is essential because load shedding reduces the demand on the electrical system, which can help stabilize voltage levels. When voltage drops, it indicates that the reactive power support is insufficient to maintain system voltage, and simply increasing real power supply or diversifying reactive resources may not immediately solve the issue.

Shed load acts as an immediate measure to alleviate the stress on the system. By doing this, the operator allows the remaining resources to generate or provide enough reactive power to recover and stabilize the voltage. Additionally, while notifying surrounding operators and collaborating with them is important for overall grid reliability and coordination, the immediate priority in addressing a voltage drop must be aimed at reducing demand to restore balance to the system.

This approach is standard practice in power system operations, emphasizing the need to respond swiftly to prevent further deterioration of system conditions, which could lead to larger issues, including potential blackouts.