How often should BA provide MW-hour meter readings to adjacent BAs?

The requirement for balancing authorities (BAs) to provide megawatt-hour (MW-hour) meter readings on an hourly basis is important for maintaining effective communication and coordination in grid operations. This practice is essential for ensuring that all BAs have up-to-date and consistent information regarding energy flow between them. By providing readings every hour, adjacent BAs can better manage their system operations, aid in balancing the load effectively, and enhance reliability across the interconnected grid.

Maintaining such timely communications helps in the detection of discrepancies and allows for prompt corrective actions, which are crucial in preventing potential reliability issues. The hourly interval strikes a balance between the need for timely information and the operational feasibility for BAs to collect and report data accurately.

Moreover, the shorter intervals of 30 minutes or longer intervals like 120 and 160 minutes do not align with the standard operational practices set by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which emphasizes the need for consistent data sharing to ensure system reliability. The specified hourly reporting frequency is thus a critical requirement in the context of regional grid operations and collaboration among BAs.