What are 'Reliability Events'?

Reliability Events refer to incidents that disrupt the normal functioning of the electric grid and threaten reliability. These events can manifest in various forms, such as equipment failures, unforeseen outages, or significant fluctuations in demand that the grid is not equipped to handle. The primary focus of recognizing and responding to reliability events is to maintain the stability and reliability of the power system, ensuring that supply consistently meets demand and preventing potential blackouts or other severe disturbances.

Scheduled outages for maintenance, while important for ensuring the long-term reliability and safety of the grid, do not qualify as reliability events since they are planned and communicated in advance, allowing operators to manage the grid's stability. Voluntary power reductions by consumers are typically measures taken to support grid reliability during peak times, but they do not signify disruptions themselves. Lastly, benchmarking exercises are strategic initiatives used to assess and improve operational efficiency, rather than events that directly impact the reliability of the grid. Hence, the focus on disruptive incidents clearly aligns with the definition of Reliability Events.