PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

A. Introduction
1. Title: Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources
2. Number: PRC-024-3
3. Purpose: To set protection such that generating resource(s) remain connected
during defined frequency and voltage excursions in support of the Bulk Electric System
(BES).
4. Applicability:
4.1. Functional Entities:
4.1.1 Generator Owners that apply protection listed in Section 4.2.1.
4.1.2 Transmission Owners (in the Quebec Interconnection only) that own a BES
generator step-up (GSU) transformer or main power transformer (MPT)1
and apply protection listed in Section 4.2.1.
4.1.3 Planning Coordinators (in the Quebec Interconnection only)
4.2. Facilities2:
4.2.1 Frequency, voltage, and volts per hertz protection (whether provided by
relaying or functions within associated control systems) that respond to
electrical signals and: (i) directly trip the generating resource(s); or (ii)
provide signals to the generating resource(s) to either trip or cease injecting
current; and are applied to the following:
4.2.1.1 BES generating resource(s).
4.2.1.2 BES GSU transformer(s).
4.2.1.3 High side of the generator-connected unit auxiliary transformer3
(UAT) installed on BES generating resource(s).
4.2.1.4 Individual dispersed power producing resource(s) identified in the
BES Definition, Inclusion I4.
4.2.1.5 Elements that are designed primarily for the delivery of capacity
from the individual dispersed power producing resources
identified in the BES Definition, Inclusion I4, to the point where
those resources aggregate to greater than 75 MVA.

1
For the purpose of this standard, the MPT is the power transformer that steps up voltage from the collection system
voltage to the nominal transmission/interconnecting system voltage for dispersed power producing resources.
2
It is not required to install or activate the protections described in Facilities Section 4.2.
3
These transformers are variably referred to as station power UAT, or station service transformer(s) used to provide
overall auxiliary power to the generating resource(s). This UAT is the transformer connected on the generator bus
between the low side of the GSU and the generator terminal.

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

4.2.1.6 MPT4 of resource(s) identified in the BES Definition, Inclusion I4.

4.2.2 Exemptions: Protection on all auxiliary equipment within the generating
Facility.
5. Effective Date: See the Implementation Plan for PRC-024-3.

4
For the purpose of this standard, the MPT is the power transformer that steps up voltage from the collection system
voltage to the nominal transmission/interconnecting system voltage for dispersed power producing resources

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

B. Requirements and Measures

R1. Each Generator Owner shall set its applicable frequency protection5 in accordance with
PRC-024 Attachment 1 such that the applicable protection does not cause the
generating resource to trip or cease injecting current within the “no trip zone” during a
frequency excursion with the following exceptions: [Violation Risk Factor: Medium]
[Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]
 Applicable frequency protection may be set to trip or cease injecting current within
a portion of the “no trip zone” for documented and communicated regulatory or
equipment limitations in accordance with Requirement R3.
M1. Each Generator Owner shall have evidence that the applicable frequency protection has
been set in accordance with Requirement R1, such as dated setting sheets, calibration
sheets, calculations, or other documentation.
R2. Each Generator Owner shall set its applicable voltage protection5 in accordance with
PRC-024 Attachment 2, such that the applicable protection does not cause the
generating resource to trip or cease injecting current within the “no trip zone” during a
voltage excursion at the high side of the GSU or MPT, subject to the following
exceptions: [Violation Risk Factor: Medium] [Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]
 If the Transmission Planner allows less stringent voltage protection settings than
those required to meet PRC-024 Attachment 2, then the Generator Owner may set
its protection within the voltage recovery characteristics of a location-specific
Transmission Planner’s study.
 Applicable voltage protection may be set to trip or cease injecting current during a
voltage excursion within a portion of the “no trip zone” for documented and
communicated regulatory or equipment limitations in accordance with
Requirement R3.
M2. Each Generator Owner shall have evidence that applicable voltage protection has been
set in accordance with Requirement R2, such as dated setting sheets, voltage-time
boundaries, calibration sheets, coordination plots, dynamic simulation studies,
calculations, or other documentation.

5
Frequency, voltage, and volts per hertz protection (whether provided by relaying or functions within associated
control systems) that respond to electrical signals and: (i) directly trip the generating resource(s); or (ii) provide
signals to the generating resource(s) to either trip or cease injecting current.

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

R3. Each Generator Owner shall document each known regulatory or equipment limitation6
that prevents an applicable generating resource(s) with frequency or voltage protection
from meeting the protection setting criteria in Requirements R1 or R2, including (but not
limited to) study results, experience from an actual event, or manufacturer’s advice.
[Violation Risk Factor: Lower] [Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]
3.1. The Generator Owner shall communicate the documented regulatory or equipment
limitation, or the removal of a previously documented regulatory or equipment
limitation, to its Planning Coordinator and Transmission Planner within 30 calendar
days of any of the following:
 Identification of a regulatory or equipment limitation.
 Repair of the equipment causing the limitation that removes the limitation.
 Replacement of the equipment causing the limitation with equipment that
removes the limitation.
 Creation or adjustment of an equipment limitation caused by consumption of
the cumulative turbine life-time frequency excursion allowance.
M3. Each Generator Owner shall have evidence that it has documented and communicated
any known regulatory or equipment limitations that resulted in an exception to
Requirements R1 or R2 in accordance with Requirement R3, such as a dated email or
letter that contains such documentation as study results, experience from an actual
event, or manufacturer’s advice.
R4. Each Generator Owner shall provide its applicable protection settings associated with
Requirements R1 and R2 to the Planning Coordinator or Transmission Planner that
models the associated generating resource(s) within 60 calendar days of receipt of a
written request for the data and within 60 calendar days of any change to those
previously requested settings unless directed by the requesting Planning Coordinator or
Transmission Planner that the reporting of protection setting changes is not required.
[Violation Risk Factor: Lower] [Time Horizon: Operations Planning]
M4. Each Generator Owner shall have evidence that it communicated applicable protection
settings in accordance with Requirement R4, such as dated e-mails, correspondence or
other evidence and copies of any requests it has received for that information.

6
Excludes limitations caused by the setting capability of the frequency, voltage, and volts per hertz protective relays
for the generating resource(s). This does not exclude limitations originating in the equipment protected by the relay.
This also does not exclude limitations of frequency, voltage, and volts per hertz protection embedded in control
systems.

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

C. Compliance
1. Compliance Monitoring Process
1.1. Compliance Enforcement Authority: “Compliance Enforcement Authority” means
NERC or the Regional Entity, or any entity as otherwise designated by an Applicable
Governmental Authority, in their respective roles of monitoring and/or enforcing
compliance with mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards in their
respective jurisdictions.
1.2. Evidence Retention: The following evidence retention period(s) identify the period
of time an entity is required to retain specific evidence to demonstrate compliance.
For instances where the evidence retention period specified below is shorter than
the time since the last audit, the Compliance Enforcement Authority may ask an
entity to provide other evidence to show that it was compliant for the full-time
period since the last audit.
The applicable entity shall keep data or evidence to show compliance as identified
below unless directed by its Compliance Enforcement Authority to retain specific
evidence for a longer period of time as part of an investigation.
 The Generator Owner shall keep data or evidence Requirement R1 through
R4; for 3 years or until the next audit, whichever is longer.
 If a Generator Owner is found non-compliant, the Generator Owner or
Transmission Owner shall keep information related to the non-compliance
until mitigation is complete and approved for the time period specified
above, whichever is longer.
1.3. Compliance Monitoring and Assessment Program: As defined in the NERC Rules of
Procedure, “Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program” refers to the
identification of the processes that will be used to evaluate data or information for
the purpose of assessing performance or outcomes with the associated Reliability
Standard.

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

Violation Severity Levels

Violation Severity Levels
R#
Lower VSL Moderate VSL High VSL Severe VSL
R1. N/A N/A N/A The Generator Owner failed
to set its applicable
frequency protection so
that it does not trip or
cease injecting current
according to Requirement
R1.
R2. N/A N/A N/A The Generator Owner failed
to set its applicable voltage
protection so that it does
not trip or cease injecting
current according to
Requirement R2.
R3. The Generator Owner The Generator Owner The Generator Owner The Generator Owner failed
documented the known non- documented the known documented the known to document any known
protection system equipment non-protection system non-protection system non-protection system
limitation that prevented it equipment limitation that equipment limitation equipment limitation that
from meeting the criteria in prevented it from meeting that prevented it from prevented it from meeting
Requirement R1 or R2 and the criteria in Requirement meeting the criteria in the criteria in Requirement
communicated the R1 or R2 and Requirement R1 or R2 R1 or R2.
documented limitation to its communicated the and communicated the
Planning Coordinator and documented limitation to documented limitation
Transmission Planner more its Planning Coordinator to its Planning OR
than 30 calendar days but less and Transmission Planner Coordinator and The Generator Owner failed
than or equal to 60 calendar more than 60 calendar Transmission Planner to communicate the
days but less than or equal more than 90 calendar
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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

Violation Severity Levels

R#
Lower VSL Moderate VSL High VSL Severe VSL

days of identifying the to 90 calendar days of days but less than or documented limitation to
limitation. identifying the limitation. equal to 120 calendar its Planning Coordinator
days of identifying the and Transmission Planner
limitation. within 120 calendar days of
identifying the limitation.
R4. The Generator Owner The Generator Owner The Generator Owner The Generator Owner failed
provided its protection provided its protection provided its protection to provide its protection
settings more than 60 settings more than 90 settings more than 120 settings within 150 calendar
calendar days but less than or calendar days but less than calendar days but less days of any change to those
equal to 90 calendar days of or equal to 120 calendar than or equal to 150 settings.
any change to those settings. days of any change to calendar days of any
those settings. change to those
OR settings. OR
OR
The Generator Owner OR
provided protection settings The Generator Owner The Generator Owner failed
more than 60 calendar days provided protection The Generator Owner to provide protection
but less than or equal to 90 settings more than 90 provided protection settings within 150 calendar
calendar days of a written calendar days but less than settings more than 120 days of a written request.
request. or equal to 120 calendar calendar days but less
days of a written request. than or equal to 150
calendar days of a
written request.

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

D. Regional Variances
D.A. Variance for the Quebec Interconnection
This Variance extends the applicability of Requirements R1, R3, and R4 to
Transmission Owners in the Quebec Interconnection that own a BES GSU or MPT
and apply protection listed in Section 4.2.1, Facilities. This Variance also replaces
Requirement R2 of the continent-wide standard in its entirety and adds a new
requirement, Requirement D.A.5., applicable to Planning Coordinators in the
Quebec Interconnection.

In Requirements R1, R3, and R4, all references to “Generator Owner” are replaced
with “Generator Owner and Transmission Owner.”

This Variance replaces continent-wide Requirement R2 in its entirety with the

following:
D.A.2. Each Generator Owner and Transmission Owner shall set its applicable
voltage protection5 in accordance with PRC-024 Attachment 2a, such that
the applicable protection does not cause the generating resource to trip
or cease injecting current during a voltage excursion within the “no trip
zone” at the high side of the GSU or MPT, subject to the following
exceptions: [Violation Risk Factor: Medium] [Time Horizon: Long-term
Planning]
 For newly designated strategic power plants, applicable protections
must comply with the high voltage durations for such plants within 48
calendar months of the notification made pursuant to Requirement
D.A.5. During this transition period, voltage protections must at least
comply with the high voltage durations for “all power plants”.
 The generating resource(s) are permitted to be set to trip or to cease
injecting current during a voltage excursion bounded by the “no trip
zone” of PRC-024 Attachment 2a for documented and communicated
regulatory or equipment limitations in accordance with Requirement
R3.
 If the Transmission Planner allows less stringent voltage protection
settings than those required to meet PRC-024 Attachment 2a, then
the Generator Owner or Transmission Owner may set its protection
within the voltage recovery characteristics of a location-specific
Transmission Planner’s study.
 Inverter-based resources voltage protection settings may be set to
cease injecting current momentarily during a voltage excursion at the
high side of the MPT, bounded by the “no trip zone” of PRC-024
Attachment 2a, under the following conditions:

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

o After a minimum delay of 0.022 s, when the positive-sequence

voltage exceeds 1.25 per unit (p.u.) Normal operation must
resume once the voltage drops back below 1.25 p.u at the high
side of the MPT.
o After a minimum delay of 0.022 s, when the phase-to-ground
root mean square (RMS) voltages exceeds 1.4 p.u., as measured
at generator terminals, on one or multiple phases. Normal
operation must resume once the positive-sequence voltage
drops back below the 1.25 p.u. at the high side of the MPT.
M.D.A.2. Each Generator Owner and Transmission Owner shall have evidence that
applicable voltage protection has been set in accordance with
Requirement R2, such as dated setting sheets, voltage-time boundaries,
calibration sheets, coordination plots, dynamic simulation studies,
calculations, or other documentation.

This Variance adds the following Requirement:

D.A.5 Each Planning Coordinator shall designate, at least once every five
calendar years, the strategic power plants that must comply with
Attachment 2a and notify, within 30 calendar days of its designation,
each Generator Owner or Transmission Owner that owns facilities7 in the
strategic power plants. [Violation Risk Factor: Medium] [Time Horizon:
Long-term planning]
M.D.A.5 Each Planning Coordinator shall have evidence that it designated, at least
once every five calendar years, strategic power plants in accordance with
Requirement D.A.5, Part 5 and shall have dated evidence that each
Generator Owner or Transmission Owner has been notified in accordance
with Requirement D.A.5, part 5.2. Evidence may include, but is not
limited to: letters, emails, electronic files, or hard copy records
demonstrating transmittal of information.

7
Facilities in the strategic power plants include facilities from the generator up to and including the MPT or GSU.

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

Violation Severity Levels

This Variance adds a VSL for D.A.5 and modifies the VSL for R2 as follows:

Violation Severity Levels

R#
Lower
Moderate VSL High VSL Severe VSL
VSL
D.A.2. N/A N/A N/A The Generator Owner or
Transmission Owner failed to
set its applicable voltage
protection so that it does not
trip or cease injecting current in
accordance with Requirement
D.A.2.

OR

The Generator Owner or

Transmission Owner set its
applicable voltage protection in
accordance with Requirement
D.A.2 but, for strategic power
plants, failed to do so within 48
months of notification.
D.A.5. N/A The Planning Coordinator designated The Planning Coordinator designated The Planning Coordinator failed
strategic power plants at least once strategic power plants at least once to designate, at least once
every five calendar years but notified every five calendar years but notified every five years, the strategic
each Generator Owner or each Generator Owner or power plants that must comply
Transmission Owner that owns Transmission Owner that owns with Attachment 2a.

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

Violation Severity Levels

R#
Lower
Moderate VSL High VSL Severe VSL
VSL
facilities in the strategic power plants facilities in the strategic power plants
between 31 days and 45 days after its between 46 days and 60 days after its OR
designation. designation.

The Planning Coordinator failed

to notify, each Generator
Owner or Transmission Owner
that owns facilities in the
strategic power plants or
notified them more than 60
days after the its designation.

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

E. Associated Documents
Implementation Plan

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

Version History
Version Date Action Change Tracking

1 May 9, 2013 Adopted by the NERC Board of

Trustees
1 March 20, 2014 FERC Order issued approving PRC-
024-1. (Order becomes effective
on 7/1/16.)
2 February 12, 2015 Adopted by the NERC Board of Standard revised in
Trustees Project 2014-01:
Applicability revised to
clarify application of
requirements to BES
dispersed power
producing resources
2 May 29, 2015 FERC Letter Order in Docket No. Modifications to adjust
RD15-3-000 approving PRC-024-2 the applicability to
owners of dispersed
generation resources.
3 February 6, 2020 Adopted by the NERC Board of Standard revised in
Trustees Project 2018-04
3 July 9, 2020 FERC Letter Order approved PRC-
024-3. Docket No. RD20-7-000

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

Attachment 1
(Frequency No Trip Boundaries by Interconnection8)

Eastern Interconnection Boundaries

63

62
Frequency (Hz)

61

60 No Trip Zone*
59

58

57
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000
Time (Sec)
Figure 1

* The area outside the "No Trip Zone" is not a "Must Trip Zone."

Frequency Boundary Data Points - Eastern Interconnection

High Frequency Duration Low Frequency Duration

Frequency (Hz) Minimum Time (Sec) Frequency (Hz) Minimum Time (sec)
≥61.8 Instantaneous9 ≤57.8 Instantaneous9
≥60.5 10(90.935-1.45713*f) ≤59.5 10(1.7373*f-100.116)
<60.5 Continuous operation > 59.5 Continuous operation
Table 1

8
The figures do not visually represent the “no trip zone” boundaries before 0.1 seconds and after 10,000 seconds.
The Frequency Boundary Data Points Table defines the entirety of the “no trip zone” boundaries.
9
Frequency is calculated over a window of time. While the frequency boundaries include the option to trip
instantaneously for frequencies outside the specified range, this calculation should occur over a time window.
Typical window/filtering lengths are three to six cycles (50 – 100 milliseconds). Instantaneous trip settings based
on instantaneously calculated frequency measurement is not permissible.

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

Western Interconnection Boundaries

63
62
Frequency (Hz)

61
60
No Trip Zone*
59
58
57
56
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000
Time (Sec)

Figure 2

* The area outside the "No Trip Zone" is not a "Must Trip Zone."

Frequency Boundary Data Points –Western Interconnection

High Frequency Duration Low Frequency Duration

Frequency (Hz) Minimum Time (Sec) Frequency (Hz) Minimum Time (sec)
≥61.7 Instantaneous9 ≤57.0 Instantaneous9
≥61.6 30 ≤57.3 0.75
≥60.6 180 ≤57.8 7.5
<60.6 Continuous operation ≤58.4 30
≤59.4 180
>59.4 Continuous operation
Table 2

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

Quebec Interconnection Boundaries

67
66
65
Frequency (Hz)

64
63
62
61
60 No Trip Zone*
59
58
57
56
55
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000
Time (Sec)
Figure 3

* The area outside the "No Trip Zone" is not a "Must Trip Zone."

Frequency Boundary Data Points – Quebec Interconnection

High Frequency Duration Low Frequency Duration

Frequency (Hz) Minimum Time (Sec) Frequency (Hz) Minimum Time (Sec)
>66.0 Instantaneous9 <55.5 Instantaneous9
≥63.0 5 ≤56.5 0.35
≥61.5 90 ≤57.0 2
≥60.6 660 ≤57.5 10
<60.6 Continuous operation ≤58.5 90
≤59.4 660

>59.4 Continuous operation

Table 3

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

ERCOT Interconnection Boundaries

63

62
Frequency (Hz)

61

60
No Trip Zone*
59

58

57
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000
Time (Sec)

Figure 4

* The area outside the "No Trip Zone" is not a "Must Trip Zone."

Frequency Boundary Data Points – ERCOT Interconnection

High Frequency Duration Low Frequency Duration

Frequency (Hz) Minimum Time (Sec) Frequency (Hz) Minimum Time (sec)

≥61.8 Instantaneous9 ≤57.5 Instantaneous9

≥61.6 30 ≤58.0 2
≥60.6 540 ≤58.4 30
Continuous
<60.6 ≤59.4 540
operation

>59.4 Continuous operation

Table 4

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

PRC-024 — Attachment 2
(Voltage No-Trip Boundaries – Eastern, Western, and ERCOT Interconnections)

The Voltage No Trip Zone ends at 4

1.30
1.25 seconds for applicability to PRC-024
1.20
1.15
1.10
1.05
1.00
0.95
Voltage (per unit)10

0.90
0.85 No Trip Zone*
0.80
0.75
0.70
0.65
0.60
0.55
0.50
0.45
0.40
0.35
0.30
0.25
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.00
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Time (sec)
High Voltage Duration Low Voltage Duration
10
Figure 1

* The area outside the "No Trip Zone" is not a "Must Trip Zone."

Voltage Boundary Data Points

High Voltage Duration Low Voltage Duration

Voltage (pu) Minimum Time (sec) Voltage (pu) Minimum Time (sec)
≥1.200 0.00 <0.45 0.15
≥1.175 0.20 <0.65 0.30
≥1.15 0.50 <0.75 2.00
≥1.10 1.00 <0.90 3.00
<1.10 4.00 ≥ 0.90 4.00
Table 1

10
Voltage at the high-side of the GSU or MPT.

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

Attachment 2: Voltage Boundary Clarifications – Eastern,

Western, and ERCOT Interconnections
Boundary Details:
1. Unless otherwise specified by the Transmission Planner, the per unit voltage base for
these boundaries is the nominal transmission system voltage (e.g., 100 kV, 115 kV, 138
kV, 161 kV, 230 kV, 345 kV, 400 kV, 500 kV, 765 kV, etc.).
2. The values in the table represent the minimum time durations allowed for specified
voltage excursion thresholds.
3. When evaluating volts per hertz protection, either assume a system frequency of 60
Hertz or the magnitude of the high voltage boundary can be adjusted in proportion to
deviations of frequency below 60 Hertz.
4. Voltages in the boundaries assume RMS fundamental frequency phase-to-ground or
phase-to-phase per unit voltage.
5. For applicability to PRC-024, the “no trip zone” ends at 4 seconds.

Evaluating Protection Settings:

The voltage values in the Attachment 2 voltage boundaries are voltages at the high side of the
GSU/MPT. For generating resources with multiple stages of step up to reach interconnecting
voltage, this is the high side of the transformer with a low side below 100kV and a high side
100kV or above. When evaluating protection settings, consider the voltage differences between
where the protection is measuring voltage and the high side of the GSU/MPT. A steady state
calculation or dynamic simulation may be used.

If using a steady state calculation or dynamic simulation, use the following conditions when
evaluating protection settings:
a. The most probable real and reactive loading conditions for the unit under study.
b. All installed generating plant reactive support (e.g., static VAR compensators,
synchronous condensers, capacitors) equipment is available and operating normally.
c. Account for the actual tap settings of transformers between the generator terminals
and the high side of the GSU/MPT.
d. For dynamic simulations, the automatic voltage regulator is in automatic voltage control
mode with associated limiters in service.

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

PRC-024— Attachment 2a
(Voltage No-Trip Boundaries – Quebec Interconnection)

May cease current injection momentarily

1.5 under specified conditions

1.4
Positive-sequence Voltage (per unit)

1.25
1.20
1.15
1.10

1.0
"No Trip Zone" *
0.90
0.85

0.75

0.25

0
2.5
0 0.1 0.5 1 2 3 4 5 30 300
0.15
0.033 Time (sec)
Low Voltage/High Voltage Duration - All Power Plants
Low Voltage Duration – Inverter-Based Resources
High Voltage Duration - Strategic Power Plants

Figure 1

* The area outside the "No Trip Zone" is not a "Must Trip Zone."

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

Voltage Boundary Data Points – Quebec Interconnection

High Voltage Duration for all Power High Voltage Duration for strategic
Plants Power Plants

Voltage (pu) Minimum Time (sec) Voltage (pu) Minimum Time (sec)
--- --- >1.50 0.033
>1.40 0.033 >1.40 0.10
>1.25 0.10 >1.25 2.50
>1.20 2.00 >1.20 5.00
>1.15 30 >1.15 30
>1.10 300 >1.10 300
≤1.10 continuous ≤1.10 continuous
Table 1

Voltage Boundary Data Points – Quebec Interconnection

Low Voltage Duration for all Power Low Voltage Duration for Inverter-
Plants Based Resources

Voltage (pu) Minimum Time (sec) Voltage (pu) Minimum Time (sec)
<0.25 0.15 <0.25 3.4*V(pu)+0.15
<0.75 1.00 <0.75 1.00
<0.85 2.00 <0.85 2.00
<0.90 30 <0.90 30
≥0.90 continuous ≥0.90 continuous
Table 2

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PRC-024-3 —Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources

Attachment 2a: Voltage Boundary Clarifications – Quebec

Interconnection
Boundary Details:
1. The per unit voltage base for these boundaries is the nominal operating voltage (e.g., 120
kV, 161 kV, 230 kV, 315 kV, 735 kV, etc.).
2. The values in the table represent the minimum time durations allowed for specified
voltage excursion thresholds.
3. When evaluating volts per hertz protection, either assume a system frequency of 60 Hertz
or the magnitude of the high voltage boundary can be adjusted in proportion to deviations
of frequency below 60 Hertz.
4. Voltages in the Quebec Interconnection boundaries assume positive-sequence values.

Evaluating Protection Settings:

The voltage values in the Attachment 2a voltage boundaries are voltages at the high side of the
GSU/MPT. For generating resources with multiple stages of step up to reach interconnecting
voltage, this is the high side of the transformer that connects to the interconnecting voltage.
When evaluating protection settings, consider the voltage differences between where the
protection is measuring voltage and the high side of the GSU/MPT. A steady state calculation or
dynamic simulation may be used.

If using a steady state calculation or dynamic simulation, use the following conditions when
evaluating protection settings:
a. The most probable real and reactive loading conditions for the unit under study.
b. All installed generating plant reactive support (e.g., static VAR compensators, synchronous
condensers, capacitors) equipment is available and operating normally.
c. Account for the actual tap settings of transformers between the generator terminals and
the high side of the GSU/MPT.
d. For dynamic simulations, the automatic voltage regulator is in automatic voltage control
mode with associated limiters in service.

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