ERL Blog

On May 16, 2013 in Docket No. RM12-22, FERC issued Order No. 779, which directs NERC to submit for FERC approval proposed Reliability Standards that address the impact of geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) on the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System.

To view FERC’s Order 779, click here.

On May 16, 2013 in Docket No. RM13-6, FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to remand a proposed interpretation to BAL-002-1, Disturbance Control Performance, Requirements R4 and R5, submitted to the Commission for approval by NERC on February 12, 2013.

To view the order, click here.

On May 16, 2013 in Dockets RM12-1 and RM13-9, FERC issued a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to approve TPL-001-4, which supercedes TPL-001-2.

On April 19, 2012, the Commission issued a NOPR that proposed to remand proposed Reliability Standard TPL-001-2, which includes a provision that would allow a transmission planner to plan for non-consequential load loss following a single contingency provided that the plan is documented and vetted in an open and transparent stakeholder process. The Commission explained that the proposed Reliability Standard did not meet the statutory criteria for approval because of vague and unenforceable provisions.

On February 28, 2013, NERC submitted proposed Reliability Standard TPL-001- 4, which further modifies the planned non-consequential load loss provision. The Commission believes that the proposed modifications satisfy the concerns set forth in the NOPR. Accordingly, the Commission supplemented the NOPR by proposing to approve Reliability Standard TPL-001-4.

To view the order, click here.

On May 13, 2013, in Docket No. RM12-19, NERC submitted comments in response to FERC’s March 21, 2013 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to approve Reliability Standards MOD-028-2. In its comments, NERC requests that FERC approve the Reliability Standard as submitted.

To view NERC’s comments, click here.

On May 10, 2013, in Docket No. RR06-1, NERC submitted an Informational Filing on the definition of “Adequate Level of Reliability” and a supporting technical report. The definition of “Adequate Level of Reliability” will be used primarily to guide NERC Reliability Standards development, but also by the NERC Performance Analysis Subcommittee and NERC reliability assessment staff to assess Bulk Electric System reliability and identify gaps in data.

 To view NERC’s filing, click here.

On May 10, 2013, in Docket No. RD13-10, NERC submitted a petition for approval of the proposed terms “Bulk-Power System,” “Reliable Operation” and “Reliability Standard” for inclusion in the NERC Glossary of Terms Used in Reliability Standards in compliance with Order No. 693.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On Wednesday and Thursday, May 8-9, 2013, the NERC Board of Trustees (BOT), the NERC Member Representatives Committee (MRC), the NERC Standards Oversight and Technology Committee (SOTC), the NERC Finance and Audit Committee (Finance), and the NERC BOT Compliance  Committee (BOTCC) will meet in Boston MA.

To view the BOT Agenda, click here.

 To view the MRC Agenda, click here.

 To view the SOTC Agenda, click here.

 To view the Finance Agenda, click here.

 To view the BOTCC Agenda, click here.

 To view the Schedule of Events, click here.

On May 7, 2013, in Docket No. AD13-6, FERC posted a notice that its staff will hold a technical conference focused on issues related to the reliability of the bulk power system (Reliability Technical Conference). The Commissioner-led technical conference will be held on July 9, 2013 at the FERC offices.

To view FERC’s notice, click here.

On April 30, 2013, in Docket No. RC13-4, NERC submitted a motion for leave to answer and answer on the South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association (SLECA) registration appeal answer. NERC urges the Commission to uphold SLECA’s registration as a Distribution Provider and Load-Serving Entity.

To view NERC’s response, click here.

On April 29, 2013, in Docket No. RM12-9, FERC issued a Letter Order approving a compliance filing submitted in response to the December 20, 2013 order approving Regional Reliability Standard PRC-006-SERC-01. The compliance filing corrected the Rationale statement for Requirement R6 and modified the VRF from “Medium” to “High.”

To view FERC’s notice, click here.

On April 26, 2013, in Docket No. RR13-__, NERC submitted a petition for approval of revisions to the Midwest Reliability Organization’s (MRO) Standard Process Manual.   

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On April 26, 2013, in Docket No. RD13-9, NERC and SPP RE jointly submitted a petition for approval of PRC-006-SPP-01 – Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On April 25, 2013, in Dockets RR06-1 and RR09-7, NERC submitted its first quarterly report on the analysis of NERC Standards Process Results in compliance with an order issued by FERC on January 18, 2007 and a subsequent order on September 16, 2010.

To view NERC’s report click here.

On April 22, 2013 in Docket No. RD12-5, NERC submitted a request for clarification March 21, 2013 Order on Interpretation of Reliability Standard remanding NERC’s proposed interpretation to CIP-002-4, Requirement R2. NERC seeks clarification on 2 specific issues: 1) Clarification that the language in Paragraph 14 of the Remand Order is for illustrative purposes only and is not meant to provide a determination that all laptops must be included in the scope of CIP-002-4, Requirement R2; and (2) Clarification that the Commission’s references to and discussion of the NERC Guideline Documents in Paragraph 15 of the Remand Order were included for illustrative purposes only rather tha forming the basis for the remand, and that the Reliability standards and requirements determine how a Reliability Standard should be interpreted.

To view NERC’s request, click here.

On April 19, 2013 in Docket No. FA11-21, FERC issued an order approving, with modifications, NERC’s written criteria for determining whether a NERC activity can be funded under Section 215 of the Federal Power Act. NERC developed the proposed criteria in response to Recommendation No. 37 in the Office of Enforcement’s May 4, 2012 Audit Report. 

To view FERC’s Order, click here.

On April 18, 2013, in Docket No. RM12-16, FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to approve eliability Standards FAC-001-1 (Facility Connection Requirements), FAC-003-3 (Transmission Vegetation Management), PRC-004-2.1 (Analysis and Mitigation of Transmission and Generation Protection System Misoperations), and PRC-005-1.1b (Transmission and Generation Protection System Maintenance and Testing). The proposed modifications improve reliability either by extending their applicability to certain generator interconnection facilities, or by clarifying that the existing Reliability Standard is and remains applicable to generator interconnection facilities.

To view the NOPR, click here.

On April 18, 2013, in Docket No. RM13-5, FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to approve the Version 5 CIP Standards. The proposed Reliability Standards, which pertain to the cyber security of the bulk electric system, represent an improvement over the current Commission-approved CIP Reliability Standards as they adopt new cyber security controls and extend the scope of the systems that are protected by the CIP Reliability Standards.

To view the NOPR, click here.

On April 18, 2013 in Dockets RM12-6 and RM12-7, FERC issued Order No. 773-A. Order No. 773 was issued on December 20, 2012, and approved modifications to the currently effective definition of “bulk electric system” and revisions to the NERC Rules of Procedure. Order No. 733-A denies rehearing in part, grants hearing in part, and otherwise reaffirms FERC’s determinations in Order No. 773.

To view FERC’s Order 773-A, click here.

On April 17, 2013 in Docket RD13-2, FERC issued an order in which it approved Reliability Standard VAR-002-2b -Generator Operation for Maintaining Network Voltage Schedules, the associated VSLs and VRFs, and an implementation plan. The revised Reliability Standard VAR-002-2b ensures that generators provide reactive and voltage control necessary to ensure voltage levels, reactive flows, and reactive resources are maintained within applicable facility ratings to protect equipment and the reliability operation of the interconnection.

To view the order, click here.

On April 16, 2013, in Docket No. RM13-15, NERC submitted a petition for approval of proposed Reliability Standards IRO-001-3, IRO-002-3, IRO-005-4, and IRO-014-2. The proposed IRO Reliability Standards serve the following important reliability goals: (1) Interconnected Bulk Electric Systems will be planned and operated in a coordinated manner to perform reliably under normal and abnormal conditions as defined in the NERC Reliability Standards; (2) Personnel responsible for planning and operating interconnected bulk electric systems will be trained, qualified, and have the responsibility and authority to implement actions; (3) The security of the interconnected bulk electric systems will be assessed, monitored and maintained on a wide-area basis; and (4) Plans for emergency operation and system restoration of interconnected bulk electric systems will be developed, coordinated, maintained and implemented.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On April 16, 2013, in Docket No. RM13-14, NERC submitted a petition for approval of three Transmission Operation Standards (TOP-001-2 – Transmission Operations, TOP-002-3 – Operations Planning, and TOP-003-2 – Operational Reliability Data), and one Protection and Control Reliability Standard (PRC-001-2 – System Protection Coordination). The petition also seeks retirement of nine existing Reliability Standards and one Requirement from an existing Reliabilty Standard.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On April 12, 2013, in Docket Nos. RM13-13 and RM09-15, NERC submitted a joint petition of NERC and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) for approval of WECC Regional Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-2 – Contingency Reserve.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On April 12, 2013, in Docket No. RD13-8, NERC submitted a petition for approval of Interpretation to Reliability Standards TPL-003-0a (System Performance Following Loss of Two or More Bulk Electric System Elements (Category C)) and TPL-004-0 (System Performance Following Extreme Events Resulting in the Loss of Two or More Bulk Electric System Elements (Category D)).

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On April 9, 2013, in Docket No. RR13-4, NERC submitted a Petition for Approval of Amendments to the Delegation Agreement with Texas Regional Entity, Inc. (Texas RE) – Amendments to Texas RE’s Bylaws. The purpose of these amendments is to make corrections and to update procedures in various articles in the Delegation Agreement with Texas Reliability Entity, Inc.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On April 8, 2013, in Docket No. RR13-3, NERC submitted a petition for approval of revisions to Appendix 4D (Procedure for Requesting and Receiving Technical Feasibility Exceptions to NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection Standards) and Appendix 2 (Definitions Used in the Rules of Procedure) of the NERC Rules of Procedure.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On April 5, 2013, in Docket No. RR13-2, NERC submitted reply comments in response to comments submitted on NERC’s February 28, 2013 Petition for Approval of Revisions to the SPM. The proposed revisions to the SPM further enhance the Reliability Standards development process by providing additional clarity and streamlining the drafting, commenting and balloting processes.  

To view NERC’s comments, click here.

On April 5, 2013, in Docket No. RD13-__, NERC submitted a petition for approval of proposed Reliability Standard TOP-006-6 – Monitoring System Conditions. The proposed revision was made through NERC’s Rapid Revision process to clarify that Transmission Operators are responsible for monitoring and reporting available transmission resources; that Balancing Authorities are responsible for monitoring and reporting available generation resources; and to confirm that Reliability Coordinators, Transmission Operators and Balancing Authorities are required to supply their operating personnel with appropriate technical information concerning protective relays located within their respective areas.  

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On April 4, 2013, in Docket Nos. RM12-6 and RM12-7, NERC submitted a compliance filing in response to Order No. 773 Approving Revisions to the Electric Reliability Organization Definition of Bulk Electric System and Rules of Procedure. In this filing, NERC submits a schedule outlining how and when it will modify Exclusion E3 of the Bulk-Electric System definition to remove the 100kV minimum operating voltage in the local network definition.

To view NERC’s filing, click here.

On April 1, 2013, in Docket No. RR09-6, NERC submitted its third annual Standards Report, Status, and Timetable from Addressing FERC Regulatory Directives summarizing the progress made and plans for addressing directives related to reliability standards. To view NERC’s report, click here.

On March 29, 2013, in Docket No. RM13-11, NERC submitted a petition for approval of proposed Reliability Standard BAL-003-1 – Frequency Response and Frequency Bias Setting. The proposed standard ensures that each of the Interconnections have sufficient Frequency Response to guard against underfrequency load shedding due to an event in that Interconnection.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On March 21, 2013, in Docket Nos. RD12-3 and RD12-5, FERC issued an Order remanding NERC’s proposed interpretation to CIP-006-4, Requirement R1.1, and an Order remanding NERC’s proposed interpretation to CIP-002-4, Requirement R3.

To view FERC’s order on CIP-006-4, click here.

To view FERC’s order on CIP-002-4, click here.  

On March 21, 2013, in Docket No. RM12-19, FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to approve Reliability Standard MOD-028-1 – Area Interchange Methodology. The Reliability Standard pertains to the information a transmission service provider must include when calculating Total Transfer Capability using the area interchange methodology for the on-peak and off-peak intra-day and next day time periods. The Commission also proposes to approve NERC’s proposed implementation plan and retirement of the currently-effective standard.

To view the NOPR, click here.

On March 21, 2013 in Docket No. RM12-4, FERC issued Order No. 777. This final rule approves Reliability Standard FAC-003-2 – Transmission Vegetation Management, and three new definitions in the NERC Glossary of Terms – “Right of Way,” “Vegetation Inspection,” and “Minimum Vegetation Clearance Distance.” FAC-003-2 also incorporates a new minimum annual inspection requirement, and incorporates new minimum vegetation clearance distances into the text of the standard.

To view FERC’s Order 777, click here.

On March 18, 2013, in Docket No. RC13-4, NERC submitted a motion to intervene, protest and comment on the South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association (SLECA) registration appeal. NERC protests the relief sought by SLECA and urges the Commission to uphold SLECA’s registration as a Distribution Provider and Load-Serving Entity.

To view NERC’s response, click here.

On March 15, 2013, in Docket No. RC11-6, NERC submitted a Compliance Filing and Report on the Compliance Enforcement Initiative (CEI) and Proposed Enhancements to the Find, Fix, Track and Report (FFT). The Compliance Filing was submitted in response to the March 15, 2012 Order.  

To view NERC’s filing, click here.

On March 14, 2013, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) issued a letter thanking NERC for its “efforts to build the capabilities and resources of the Electricity Sector Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ES-ISAC).”  Specifically, DOE supports NERC’s revised policy statement, approved by the NERC Board of Trustees on March 8, 2013, which clarifies the “firewall” separation between the ES-ISAC and NERC’s Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program.  This separation is intended to encourage industry that information shared with ES-ISAC will be maintained as confidential information and not shared with NERC enforcement staff.

To view DOE’s letter, click here.

To view NERC’s revised policy statement, click here.

On March 11, 2013, in Docket No. RM12-9, NERC submitted a compliance filing in response to Order No. 772 Approving Regional Reliability Standard PRC-006-01. In this filing, NERC submits a modification to the rationale statement and VRF for Requirement R6.  

To view NERC’s filing, click here.

On March 8, 2013, in Docket No. RR13-1, FERC issued a Letter Order accepting the December 28, 2012 Petition seeking approval of amendments to NERC’s Delegation Agreement with ReliabilityFirst (RFC), specifically amendments to the ReliabilityFirst Bylaws. The purpose of the amendments is to enable RFC to organize as a corporation eligible for 501(c)(3) status under the Internal Revenue Code.

To view FERC’s notice, click here.

On March 6, 2013, in Docket No. FA11-21, NERC submitted a response to EEI’s Motion to Intervene, Motion to Consolidate, and Comments on NERC’s February 1, 2012 Compliance Filing in Response to Paragraph 30 of a November 2, 2012 Commission Order. In the Compliance Filing, NERC submitted the “NERC Written Criteria for Determining Whether an Activity is Eligible to Be Funded Under Section 215 of the Federal Power Act.”

To view NERC’s response, click here.

On March 5, 2013, in Docket No. AD12-12, FERC posted a notice that its staff will hold a technical conference focused on natural gas and electric scheduling, and issues related to whether and how natural gas and electric industry schedules could be harmonized in order to achieve the most efficient scheduling systems for both industries.. The conference is being held in response to a November 15, 2012 Order directing such an event. The technical conference will be held on April 25, 2013 at the FERC offices. All interested persons are invited to attend the conference.

To view FERC’s notice, click here.

On February 28, 2013, in Docket Nos. RR12-3 and RR10-12, NERC submitted a petition for approval of revisions to the NERC Standards Process Manual (SPM). The SPM contains all of the procedures governing the Reliability Standards development process by providing additional clarity and streamlining the drafting, commenting and balloting processes.

To view NERC’s petition, click here. 

On February 28, 2013, in Docket Nos. RM13-__ and RM12-1, NERC submitted a petition for approval of Modified Transmission Planning Reliability Standards that include changes to the requirements and processes for planned load shed in the event of a single Contingency that are identified in a revised footnote. NERC also requests FERC approval of revisions to the Standards that correspond to the Footnote revisions included in this Petition and other related documents.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On February 28, 2013, in Docket Nos. RM13-__, NERC submitted a petition for approval of the retirement of 34 requirements within 19 currently effective Reliability Standards that are redundant or otherwise unnecessary, and for which violations pose a lesser risk to the reliability of the Bulk-Power System.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On February 26, 2013, in Docket No. RM13-_, NERC submitted a petition for approval of proposed Reliability Standard PRC-005-2 which consolidates Reliability Standards PRC-005-1.1b, PRC-008-0, PRC-111-0, and PRC-017-0 into a single proposed Reliability Standard. NERC also addresses the directives related to those Reliability Standards issued by the Commission in Order No. 693.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.   

On February 26, 2013, in Docket No. RM06-16, NERC submitted its Fourth Quarter 2012 Compliance Filing in response to Paragraph 629 of Order No. 693. Order No. 693 requires that NERC provide a quarterly informational filing regarding the timeframe to restore power to the auxiliary power systems of U.S. nuclear power plants following a blackout as determined during simulations and drills of system restoration plans. This filing contains the referenced material pertaining to the fourth quarter of 2012.

To view NERC’s filing, click here.

On February 25, 2013, in Docket No. RD12-__, NERC submitted a petition for approval of proposed Reliability Standard VAR-001-3 (Voltage and Reactive Control), which was developed by NERC and WECC that adds a regional variance developed by WECC as Section E of proposed VAR-001-3. NERC also requests approval of the associated implementation plan, Violation Risk Factors (“VRFs”) and Violation Severity Levels (“VSLs”), and retirement of the currently effective Reliability Standard VAR-001-2.

To view NERC’s petition, click here.

On February 21, 2013 in Dockets RM12-12, FERC issued Order No. 775. This final rule approves Regional Reliability Standard PRC-006-NPCC-01 (Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding). The Reliability Standard is designed to ensure the development of an effective automatic underfrequency load shedding program to preserve the security and integrity of the Bulk-Power System during declining system frequency events, in coordination with the NERC  continent-wide UFLS Reliability Standard PRC-006-1.

To view FERC’s Order 775, click here.   

On February 21, 2013, in Docket Nos. RM12-6 and RM12-7, NERC submitted a request for leave to respond and submitted a response to the response of Exelon Corporation to the Request for Clarification of NERC of the Commission’s December 20, 2012 Order No. 773 on Revisions to the ERO Definition of Bulk Electric System (BES) and Rules of Procedure.

To view NERC’s response, click here.

On February 19, 2013 in Docket No. RR12-8, NERC filed an Informational Filing in response to paragraph 31 of a December 20, 2012 FERC Order approving revisions to NERC’s Rules of Procedure. NERC also submitted a Compliance Filing in response to the December 20, 2012 Order.

To view NERC’s Informational Filing, click here.

 To view NERC’s Compliance Filing, click here.