Gila Bend Operations Company (GBOC) Assessed a $126,000 Penalty for Violations of FAC-008-3

During a compliance audit conducted September 30, 2019, through October 4, 2019, WECC determined GBOC, as a Generator Owner, had a potential noncompliance with FAC-008-3 R2 and FAC-008-3 R6. GBOC did not include the statement that a Facility Rating shall respect the most limiting applicable Equipment Rating of the individual equipment that comprises that Facility, as required by FAC-008-3 R.2.3. the Facility Rating for each Generator Step-Up (GSU) transformer was not listed in the Facility Ratings appendix, and only six out of 12 GSU transformer Facility Ratings were shown on the one-line diagram. The highest Facility Rating for the six GSU transformers was used as the continuous rating in the element in Facility Ratings appendix, thus did not represent the most limiting element for those Facilities. The FRM also did not specify under what conditions each rating was meant to be used nor the time duration of such ratings, which was not consistent with one-line diagrams, as required by FAC-008-3 R2.2.3. The FRM did not identify clearly the Points of Interconnection (POI) with its Transmission Operator (TOP). The one-line diagrams showed that there were three disconnect switches with the TOP; however, the FRM does not specify how these ratings for jointly owned Facilities should be determined, as required by FAC-008-3 R2. 7. In addition, six metering current transformers (CTs) were not addressed in the FRM nor in the Facility Ratings appendix. Specifically, the Facility Ratings were not listed in the FRM for all metering CTs as elements of the 18 kV (low side) or the 525 kV (high side) circuits of the GSUs as required by FAC-008-3 R.2.4 and R.2.4.1. Lastly, jumpers and overhead conductors were not included. GBOC did not correctly determine the correct most limiting element for five Facilities. Also, GBOC had incorrectly converted from amps to MVA in its Facility Ratings appendix for several elements. According to the Settlement Agreement WECC assessed a penalty of one hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars ($126,000) for the referenced violations.