NERC Exam Study Material+Questions and
Answers Latest Version 2025
Actual Net Interchange - ANSWER The sum of actual MW transfer across all lines to and
from adjacent BA areas within the same Interconnection
Adverse Reliability Impact - ANSWER The impact of an event that results in frequency
related instability
Ancillary Service - ANSWER Services that are necessary to support the transmission of
capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the
transmission system
Anti-Aliasing Filter - ANSWER An analog filter installed at a metering point to remove the
high frequency components of the signal over the AGC sample period.
Area Control Error - ANSWER The instantaneous difference between a Balancing
Authority's net actual and scheduled interchange, taking into account the effects of
Frequency Bias, correction for meter error, and Automatic Time Error Correction (ATEC),
if operating in the ATEC mode. ATEC is only applicable to Balancing Authorities in the
Western Interconnection.
Arranged Interchange - ANSWER The state where a Request for Interchange (initial or
revised) has been submitted for approval.
Automatic Generation Control - ANSWER Equipment that automatically adjusts
generation in a Balancing Authority Area from a central location to maintain the
Balancing Authority's interchange schedule plus Frequency Bias. AGC may also
accommodate automatic inadvertent payback and time error correction.
, Available Flowgate Capability - ANSWER A measure of the flow capability remaining on a
Flowgate for further commercial activity over and above already committed uses. It is
defined as TFC less Existing Transmission Commitments (ETC), less a Capacity Benefit
Margin, less a Transmission Reliability Margin, plus Postbacks, and plus counterflows.
Available Transfer Capability - ANSWER A measure of the transfer capability remaining
in the physical transmission network for further commercial activity over and above
already committed uses. It is defined as Total Transfer Capability less Existing
Transmission Commitments (including retail customer service), less a Capacity Benefit
Margin, less a Transmission Reliability Margin, plus Postbacks, plus counterflows.
Balancing Authority - ANSWER The responsible entity that integrates resource plans
ahead of time, maintains load-interchange-generation balance within a Balancing
Authority Area, and supports Interconnection frequency in real time.
Balancing Authority Area - ANSWER The collection of generation, transmission, and
loads within the metered boundaries of the Balancing Authority. The Balancing
Authority maintains load-resource balance within this area.
Base Load - ANSWER The minimum amount of electric power delivered or required over
a given period at a constant rate.
Blackstart Resource - ANSWER A generating unit(s) and its associated set of equipment
which has the ability to be started without support from the System or is designed to
remain energized without connection to the remainder of the System, with the ability to
energize a bus, meeting the Transmission Operator's restoration plan needs for real and
reactive power capability, frequency and voltage control, and that has been included in
the Transmission Operator's restoration plan.
Block Dispatch - ANSWER A set of dispatch rules such that given a specific amount of
load to serve, an approximate generation dispatch can be determined. To accomplish
this, the capacity of a given generator is segmented into loadable "blocks," each of
Answers Latest Version 2025
Actual Net Interchange - ANSWER The sum of actual MW transfer across all lines to and
from adjacent BA areas within the same Interconnection
Adverse Reliability Impact - ANSWER The impact of an event that results in frequency
related instability
Ancillary Service - ANSWER Services that are necessary to support the transmission of
capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the
transmission system
Anti-Aliasing Filter - ANSWER An analog filter installed at a metering point to remove the
high frequency components of the signal over the AGC sample period.
Area Control Error - ANSWER The instantaneous difference between a Balancing
Authority's net actual and scheduled interchange, taking into account the effects of
Frequency Bias, correction for meter error, and Automatic Time Error Correction (ATEC),
if operating in the ATEC mode. ATEC is only applicable to Balancing Authorities in the
Western Interconnection.
Arranged Interchange - ANSWER The state where a Request for Interchange (initial or
revised) has been submitted for approval.
Automatic Generation Control - ANSWER Equipment that automatically adjusts
generation in a Balancing Authority Area from a central location to maintain the
Balancing Authority's interchange schedule plus Frequency Bias. AGC may also
accommodate automatic inadvertent payback and time error correction.
, Available Flowgate Capability - ANSWER A measure of the flow capability remaining on a
Flowgate for further commercial activity over and above already committed uses. It is
defined as TFC less Existing Transmission Commitments (ETC), less a Capacity Benefit
Margin, less a Transmission Reliability Margin, plus Postbacks, and plus counterflows.
Available Transfer Capability - ANSWER A measure of the transfer capability remaining
in the physical transmission network for further commercial activity over and above
already committed uses. It is defined as Total Transfer Capability less Existing
Transmission Commitments (including retail customer service), less a Capacity Benefit
Margin, less a Transmission Reliability Margin, plus Postbacks, plus counterflows.
Balancing Authority - ANSWER The responsible entity that integrates resource plans
ahead of time, maintains load-interchange-generation balance within a Balancing
Authority Area, and supports Interconnection frequency in real time.
Balancing Authority Area - ANSWER The collection of generation, transmission, and
loads within the metered boundaries of the Balancing Authority. The Balancing
Authority maintains load-resource balance within this area.
Base Load - ANSWER The minimum amount of electric power delivered or required over
a given period at a constant rate.
Blackstart Resource - ANSWER A generating unit(s) and its associated set of equipment
which has the ability to be started without support from the System or is designed to
remain energized without connection to the remainder of the System, with the ability to
energize a bus, meeting the Transmission Operator's restoration plan needs for real and
reactive power capability, frequency and voltage control, and that has been included in
the Transmission Operator's restoration plan.
Block Dispatch - ANSWER A set of dispatch rules such that given a specific amount of
load to serve, an approximate generation dispatch can be determined. To accomplish
this, the capacity of a given generator is segmented into loadable "blocks," each of
