What net effect would a generator trip external to a BA have on that BA's operations?

When a generator trips outside a balancing authority (BA), it can affect the operations of that BA's electrical grid. The correct answer indicates that the result would be a positive Net Actual Interchange deviation.

When a generator goes offline, the immediate impact is a decrease in the overall generation capacity within that area or external to it, leading to an imbalance between supply and demand. The BA would need to respond to this trip by either reducing its load, increasing its generation, or importing power from neighboring BAs. As the BA tries to compensate for the lost generation, it may end up increasing its net imports from neighboring BAs to balance the system.

This situation creates a positive net actual interchange deviation because the BA is effectively importing more than it has been scheduled to, given the unexpected loss of generation elsewhere. The need to ensure reliability and maintain balance pushes the BA to acquire additional power, which translates into a net increase in power received relative to what was planned prior to the generator's trip.

In instances where the external generator trip occurs, the expected behavior of the BA in response reinforces the importance of interconnectedness among BAs, where cooperation and flexibility become critical in maintaining system reliability.