35.5Interconnected Operation

35.5.1Obligation to Remain Interconnected.

The Parties shall at all times during the term of this Agreement operate or direct the operation of their respective Transmission Systems so that they remain interconnected except:

35.5.1.1During the occurrence of an event of Force Majeure which renders a Party unable to remain interconnected;

35.5.1.2When an Interconnection is opened in accordance with the terms of an Operating Instruction or, if the Operating Instruction does not anticipate a particular circumstance where there is an imminent risk of equipment failure, or of danger to personnel or the public, or a risk to the environment, or a risk to system Security or reliability of a Transmission System, which cannot be avoided through Good Utility Practice; or

35.5.1.3During planned maintenance where notice has been given in accordance with outage procedures as implemented by the Coordination Committee.

35.5.2Adherence to Standards Authority Standards, Policies and Procedures. 

The Parties are participants in multiple NERC Regional Councils (RFC, NPCC, SERC, etc.), and are required to comply with specified standards, criteria, guides and procedures (“Standards Authority Standards”).  Such Standards Authority Standards detail the many coordinating functions carried out by the parties, and this Agreement is intended to enhance those arrangements.  Such Standards Authority Standards include, and the Parties agree to, the provision of “maximum reasonable assistance” to a neighboring Balancing Authority Area.  Such maximum reasonable assistance will not normally require the shedding of firm load.

35.5.3Notification of Circumstances. 

In the event that an Interconnection Facility is opened or if the Interconnection Facility transfer capability is changed, or if a Party plans to initiate the opening of an Interconnection Facility, or to change the transfer capability of the Interconnection Facilities, such Party shall immediately provide the other Party with notification indicating the circumstances of the opening or transfer capability change and expected restoration time, in accordance with procedures implemented by the Coordination Committee.

35.5.4Compliance with Decisions of the Coordination Committee Direction. 

PJM shall direct the operation of the PJM Transmission System and the NYISO shall direct the operation of the NYISO Transmission System in accordance with the obligations of their respective tariffs, rules and standards and applicable directions of the Coordination Committee that conform with their respective tariffs, rules and standards, except where prevented by Force Majeure.  The Coordination Committee’s scope includes making decisions and jointly developing and approving Operating Instructions for many expected circumstances within the provisions of the Parties’ respective tariffs, rules and standards.  If decisions of the Coordination Committee do not anticipate a particular circumstance, the Parties shall act in accordance with Good Utility Practice.

35.5.5Control and Monitoring. 

Each Party shall provide or arrange for 24-hour control and monitoring of their portion of the Interconnection Facilities.

35.5.6Reactive Transfer and Voltage Control. 

The Parties agree to determine reactive transfers and control voltages in accordance with the provisions of their respective Standards Authority Standards.  Real and reactive power will be transferred over the Interconnection Facilities as described in Section 35.11.

35.5.7Inadvertent Exchanges. 

Inadvertent power transfers on all Interconnection Facilities shall be controlled and accounted for in accordance with the standards and procedures developed by NERC and its Regional Councils and implemented by the Coordination Committee and the system operators of each Party to this Agreement.

35.5.8Adoption of Standards. 

The Parties hereby agree to adopt, enforce and comply with all applicable requirements and standards that will safeguard the reliability of the interconnected Transmission Systems.  Such reliability requirements and Reliability Standards shall be:

35.5.8.1Adopted and enforced for the purpose of providing reliable service;

35.5.8.2Not unduly discriminatory in substance or application;

35.5.8.3Applied consistently to both Parties with the exception of subsection 35.5.8.5 below;

35.5.8.4Consistent with the Parties’ respective obligations to applicable Standards Authorities including, without limitation, any relevant requirements or guidelines from each of NERC, or its Regional Councils’ or any other Standards Authority or regional transmission group to which either of the Parties is required to adhere; and

35.5.8.5With respect to the NYISO, consistent with the NYSRC Reliability Rules.

35.5.9New York - PJM IROL Interface. 

The Parties share a joint IROL related to transfers related to the interconnecting transmission lines between their respective Reliability Coordinator Areas and Balancing Authority Areas.  This IROL is adhered to in order to maintain acceptable steady-state and transient performance of the NYISO and PJM Transmission Systems.  Both Parties will monitor this limit in accordance with this Agreement and independently determine the applicable import and export transfer limits.  Both Parties agree to operate the interface to the most conservative limits developed in real-time and the day-ahead planning process.  These operating limits shall be determined in accordance with Standards Authority Standards.  Both Parties will take coordinated corrective actions to avoid a violation of the IROL.  If a violation occurs, actions will be taken to clear the violation as soon as possible, and in accordance with Standards Authority Standards.

35.5.10Coordination and Exchange of Information Regarding System Planning. 

The Parties shall exchange information and coordinate regarding system planning and inter-regional planning activities in a manner consistent with Standards Authority Standards and consistent with the requirements of confidentiality agreements or rules binding upon either of the Parties.