Balancing authority

A balancing authority (BA) is an entity in the US electric system (as well as in parts of Canada and Mexico) that is responsible for grid balancing: resource planning and unit commitment ahead of time, maintenance of the load-interchange-generation balance within a balancing authority area (also known as a control area) and support for real-time load-frequency control. The balancing authorities are connected by metered high-voltage tie lines and grouped into interconnections:

• Eastern Interconnection consists of 31 balancing authorities in the US and 5 in Canada;
• Western Interconnection consists of 34 balancing authorities in the US, 2 in Canada, and 1 in Mexico;
• Electric Reliability Council of Texas includes a single balancing authority;
• Quebec Interconnection also with a single authority.