Essential Reliability Services and the Evolving Bulk-Power System

Order 842 required all new generators seeking to interconnect to the bulk power system to demonstrate they have the technical capability to provide primary frequency response — the automatic, immediate response that helps stabilize grid frequency following a sudden loss of generation or load. As inverter-based renewable resources replaced conventional synchronous generators, the grid lost the natural inertia and automatic frequency response that had historically stabilized frequency during disturbances. Order 842 established specific droop and deadband requirements that new generators must meet, ensuring the grid retains adequate frequency response capability as the resource mix continues to evolve toward cleaner energy sources.