This issue charge seeks to identify improvements for capacity testing of Hydro Intermittent and Pumped Storage
Hydro resources. The evolving landscape of PJM’s outage and capability testing requirements—driven by winter
capability testing, ongoing transmission construction, and tighter reserve margins—poses new challenges for
generation resource owners in coordinating planned outages and capability tests, potentially resulting in
inefficiencies1
, increased costs, and scheduling conflicts that may impact system reliability. As these conditions
persist, there is a timely opportunity to reassess capacity testing rules for intermittent hydro and pumped storage
hydro resources for greater flexibility and to enhance the integration of operational planning, outage management,
and capacity testing across the industry. Some generating facilities require longer duration outages that can span an
entire seasonal capacity testing window, forcing resource owners to choose between completing critical maintenance
needed to ensure long-term reliability and remaining available to perform a capacity test despite the outage being
necessary for reliable operation.