NERC SUBMITS COMMENTS ON NOPR TO APPROVE RELIABILITY STANDARD CIP-012-1

On June 24, 2019, in Docket No. RM18-20-000, NERC submitted comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) regarding proposed  Reliability Standard CIP-012-1 (Cyber Security – Communications between Control Centers). CIP-012-1 addresses FERC’s directive in Order No. 822 to modify the Critical Infrastructure Program (CIP) Reliability Standards to require Responsible Entities to implement controls to protect communication links and sensitive Bulk Electric System (BES) data communicated between BES Control Centers. Overall, NERC supports the Commission’s proposal to approve the proposed standard. However, NERC does not support the Commission’s proposal to direct modifications to the CIP Reliability Standards to: (1) require protections regarding the availability of communication links and data between BES Control Centers; and (2) provide additional specificity on the types of data that must be protected. Instead, NERC proposes to conduct a study of the risks to availability of data and communication links between Control Centers to determine an appropriate course of action.

 To view NERC’s comments, click here.