Essential reliability services

A combination of automated and manual controls grid operators adjust to maintain grid reliability by ensuring a balance between supply (generation) and demand (load). They generally consist of three main aspects:

  • frequency response – short-term adjustments to maintain the grid’s oscillations at 60 hz)
  • balancing – related to frequency response but on longer time frames, to, for e.g., plan for energy resource outages due to maintenance, and 
  • voltage control – involves magnetic waves to allow for the movement of watts of energy