FERC Designates Docket for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards

On October 7, 2010, FERC issued a notice establishing new Docket No. RM11-2-000 as the docket for the possible rulemaking proceeding in order to consider the five suites of smart grid interoperability standards that were developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and, according to NIST, are now ready for consideration by regulatory authorities. FERC’s notices states that it has not yet made a determination on whether “sufficient consensus” exists for these standards but that it nonetheless is appropriate to establish a docket for the Commission’s eventual review of such standards, which will be conducted through the issuance of notice and comment rulemaking. To view NERC’s notice, click here.