When coordinating a scheduled outage for a tie-line substation, which parties must communicate?

When coordinating a scheduled outage for a tie-line substation, effective communication among the affected Balancing Authorities (BAs) and Transmission Operators (TOPs) is critical. These entities are responsible for ensuring that the reliability of the electric grid is maintained during any outages and that appropriate measures are taken to manage the impact on the overall system.

The affected BAs must be informed because they are responsible for maintaining the balance of supply and demand within their areas and any outage might affect their operations significantly. Similarly, the TOPs must be informed since they oversee the transmission of electric power through the grid and must manage the flow of electricity to prevent system disturbances.

By ensuring that these parties communicate effectively, they can collaborate on outage scheduling, coordinate load management, and develop contingency plans to mitigate any potential impacts on service reliability. This communication also enables a smoother transition and minimizes the risk of unexpected disruptions, which is essential in maintaining the stability of the electric grid during such events.