NEPOOL OPERATING PROCEDURE NO. 11
	BLACK START CAPABILITY TESTING

APPROVED:		July 22, 1998 by the NEPOOL Regional Market Operations Committee and the NEPOOL Regional Transmission Operations Committee to be implemented for the Second Effective Date for Market Implementation

REFERENCES:	(1)  NERC Operating Policy No. 6-B. - Emergency Operations

(2)  NERC Operating Policy No. 6-D. - System Restoration

(3)  NPCC Procedure A-3 - Emergency Operation Criteria

(4)  NPCC Procedure C-20 - Procedures During Abnormal Operating
      Conditions

(5)  NEPOOL Operating Procedure No. 6 - System Restoration

SATELLITE INSTRUCTION NUMBER:

CONVEX:			None

MAINE:			None

NEW HAMPSHIRE:		None

REMVEC:			None

I.	INTRODUCTION

An integral portion of any system restoration is the provision of units with black start capability. By definition, a black start unit is capable of being started without energy from another NEPOOL generating unit. Units claiming black start capability should strive to achieve the fastest start time possible within a two-hour time frame.  Once started, black start units begin the process of starting and synchronizing other units without black start capability and, energizing and synchronizing transmission. This procedure outlines requirements for testing black start capability.  These tests will provide training for power plant operators, and provide the ISO and the Satellites with up-to-date information concerning the black start process for system restoration.

The process of starting black start units, establishing system configurations which will allow the energizing of transmission circuits to units without black start capability, and the subsequent synchronizing of these unit(s), is the basis of NEPOOL Operating Procedure No. 6 - System Restoration (OP 6). Therefore, it is prudent to test the black start capability of each black start unit in preparation for the possibility of a system restoration. The ISO and Satellites currently test other emergency procedures, such as load shed simulation and voltage reduction tests, on a regular basis.

II.	TESTING

All generating stations equipped with black start capability will perform an actual black start of the unit without dependency on the interconnected system or other unrelated unit support.  Participants may also choose to conduct black start tests as part of their scheduled Annual Inspection outages.

Tests should include key operating aids used in black starts such as telephone communications and SCADA, if applicable.  The time required for the test should include ICU start-up, normal start-up of the unit plus station's service switching time to the actual synchronizing of the unit.  Prior to beginning the black start test, station personnel shall notify the ISO, through the appropriate Satellite, and receive approval in cases where the test will delay the planned start-up or shutdown time of the unit or other units.

III.	SCHEDULING

Recognizing that each black start unit has unique complexities involved in start-up, some scheduling flexibility must be allowed in minimum requirements of scheduling tests.  For instance, testing of some units may require interruption of firm customer load, which could be unacceptable.  Whereas, other units can black start at anytime and require little, if any, planning. All units available for black start that do not impact firm customer load must test this capability at least once every three year period at the Participant's convenience.  These tests will be coordinated with the ISO Forecast Office.  Participants who plan their tests during a scheduled Annual Inspection outage should schedule this through the ISO generator maintenance scheduler. A list of black start units that are affected by this procedure is attached as Appendix A.

IV.	REPORTING

Many Participants already have a company black start test procedure in place and would simply require filing the company report on these tests with  the ISO and their Satellite.  Those participants who do not currently test black start capability will file a letter with the ISO and their Satellite on the success or failure of the test, including any problems that were encountered and remedial actions, if any, needed to correct the problem.  The ISO will compile the results of the tests and publish an Annual Black Start report to the Regional Transmission Operations Committee, Market Operations Committee and System Restoration Working Group.

Document History

OP 11 & AppA.rtf
8/10/98

	BLACK START UNITS IN NEW ENGLAND

CONVEX							MAINE

Bridgeport Harbor Jet (1 unit)					Cape Gas Turbines (2 units)
Cabot Hydro (4 units)						Gulf Island Hydro (Units 1& 2 only)
Cobble Mountain Hydro (3 units)				Harris Hydro  (3 units
Cos Cob Jets (3 units)						Skelton Hydro (Manual both units)
Devon Jet (1 unit)						Wyman Hydro (3 units) 
Middletown Jet (1 unit)					Weston Station (4 Units)
Montville Diesels (2 units)					Williams Station (Both Units)
South Meadow Jets (4 units)					LVER-AEI Fossil (1unit)
West Springfield Jet (1 unit)
Branford Jet (1 unit)						NEW HAMPSHIRE
Doreen Fossil (1 unit)	
Franklin Drive Fossil (1 unit)					Lost Nation CT (1 unit)
HG&E 6 Fossil (1unit)					Amoskeag Hydro (3 units)
Norwalk Harbor Jet (1 unit)					Garvins Hydro (4 units)
South Norwalk Jet (1 unit)					Merrimack CT (2 units)
Torrington Terminal (1unit)					Schiller CT (1 unit)
Tunnel Jet (1unit)
Woodland Jet (1unit)

	REMVEC

Ascutney GT (1 unit)
Bellows Falls Hydro (3 units)
Berlin GT (1 unit)
Brayton Pt. Diesels (4 units)
Cleary 9A Jet (1 unit)
Comerford Hydro (4 units)
Commercial Diesel (1 unit)
Deerfield 4 Hydro (3 units)
Deerfield 5 Hydro (1 unit)
Edgar Jets (2 units)
Eldred Diesels
Fifebrook Hydro (1 unit)
Fitchburg 7 GT (1 unit)

Florence (2 units)
Framingham Jets (3 units)
Gloucester Diesels (11 units)
Harriman Hydro (3 units)
Hudson (6 units)
Ipswich Diesels  (11 units)
Kendall Jets (2 units)
L Street Jet (1 unit)
M Street Jet (1 unit)
McIndoes Hydro (4 units)
Moore Hydro (4 units)
Mystic Jet (1 unit)

Oak Bluff Diesels (3 units)
Potter Diesel (1 unit)
Rutland GT (1 unit)
Shrewsbury Diesels (5 units)
Somerset Jets (2 units)
Vergennes Diesels (2 units)
Vernon Hydro (3 units)
Waters River GT (2 units)
West Medway Jets (3 units)
West Tisbury Diesels (2 units)
Wilder Hydro (3 units)
Wilkins (2 units)

OP 11 & AppA.rtf
08/10/98