Balancing authority

A balancing authority (BA) is an entity in the US electric system (as well as in parts of Canada and Mexico) that is responsible for grid balancing: resource planning and unit commitment ahead of time, maintenance of the load-interchange-generation balance within a balancing authority area (also known as a control area) and support for real-time load-frequency control.^[1] The balancing authorities are connected by metered high-voltage tie lines^[2]^[3] and grouped into interconnections:^[4]^[5]

Eastern Interconnection consists of 31 balancing authorities in the US and 5 in Canada;
Western Interconnection consists of 34 balancing authorities in the US, 2 in Canada, and 1 in Mexico;
Electric Reliability Council of Texas includes a single balancing authority;
Quebec Interconnection also with a single authority.

^ Glossary of Terms Used in Reliability Standards. North American Electric Reliability Corporation, p. 2. February 8, 2005.
^ PJM. "Tie Lines". PJM Interconnection. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
^ NERC 2011, p. 6.
^ U.S. electric system is made up of interconnections and balancing authorities. Energy Information Administration (EIA.gov), July 20.2016.
^ NERC 2021, pp. 1–2.

[NERC-1] Glossary of Terms Used in Reliability Standards. North American Electric Reliability Corporation, p. 2. February 8, 2005.

[2] PJM. "Tie Lines". PJM Interconnection. Retrieved 22 August 2022.

[FOOTNOTENERC20116-3] NERC 2011, p. 6.

[EIA-4] U.S. electric system is made up of interconnections and balancing authorities. Energy Information Administration (EIA.gov), July 20.2016.

[FOOTNOTENERC20211–2-5] NERC 2021, pp. 1–2.

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