What is an 'Operating Program'?

An 'Operating Program' is primarily a plan that outlines the expected availability and generation capability of a power system. This is critical for ensuring that enough energy resources are available to meet demand while maintaining system reliability. The program helps operators anticipate the performance of generation units, predict outages, and implement strategies to optimize the use of available resources.

In the context of power systems and substations, an effective operating program ensures that energy generation aligns with system demands, thus facilitating informed operational decisions. This can include considerations such as maintenance schedules, forecasting generation outputs, and other factors that significantly affect the overall performance of the power grid.

While other options mention relevant topics such as energy consumption, pricing, and outages, they do not encapsulate the comprehensive nature of an 'Operating Program,' which fundamentally focuses on maintaining and planning the system's generation capability and availability.