Jill Loewer New Hire at GridSME

NERC Alert, Level 3 NERC Alert and Updated Category 2 Information

Max Carpenter New Hire at GridSME

Terry Harbour New Hire at GridSME

Welcome Barry Kuehnle to GridSME! Please join us in welcoming Barry Kuehnle to the GridSME team as an Independent Consultant! Barry brings nearly 30 years of expertise in energy infrastructure, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. A seasoned engineer and leader, he is highly experienced in NERC CIP Reliability Standards, industrial control systems security, and fostering cross-sector collaboration. He joins us following a distinguished 15-year career at FERC, where he played a pivotal role in national cybersecurity strategy and regulatory oversight. With a background spanning the military, government, and private sectors, Barry’s insight will be a tremendous asset to our clients and team. Welcome to GridSME, Barry — we’re excited to have you on board!

Welcome Nathan Droivold to GridSME! We’re thrilled to welcome Nathan Droivold to GridSME as a Project Manager on our Compliance team! Nathan brings over eight years of experience managing hydroelectric and civil infrastructure projects. With expertise in scope development, project analysis, contract negotiation, and team leadership, he has a strong track record of delivering successful projects from start to finish. Known for his collaborative mindset and attention to detail, Nathan excels at guiding teams, engaging stakeholders, and navigating complex project landscapes. His skills and dedication make him a fantastic addition to the GridSME team.  Welcome aboard, Nathan — we’re excited to have you with us!

Celebrating 14 Years of GridSME!

Welcoming Sofia Marcoccia to GridSME! We’re excited to introduce Sofia Marcoccia as the newest member of GridSME’s Business Development team! Meet Sofia – Our New Proposal Coordinator Sofia joins us as a Proposal Coordinator, bringing valuable experience in administrative and business operations. She has a strong background in organization, scheduling, and process management, making her a key asset in ensuring seamless proposal development and execution. A Detail-Oriented and Collaborative Team Player Sofia is highly detail-oriented, a quick learner, and passionate about problem-solving and continuous improvement. Her ability to adapt to new challenges, stay organized, and collaborate across teams makes her an excellent addition to our growing Business Development group. Looking Ahead As we continue to expand our capabilities, we are thrilled to have Sofia on board to help streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and contribute to our mission of delivering outstanding solutions for our clients.  Please join us in welcoming Sofia Marcoccia to the GridSME family! We look forward to her impact and the great work she will bring to our team.

🌟 Welcome to the Team, Sherida Alona! 🌟 We’re excited to welcome Sherida Alona to GridSME as a Project Manager on our Grid Integration Team! 🎉 Sherida brings an impressive depth of experience managing renewable resource projects, with a strong foundation in project scope development, budget management, and the coordination of complex schedules, resources, and risks. With a focus on delivery and accountability, Sherida has successfully led multidisciplinary teams through every stage of the project lifecycle—from system design and development to implementation and reporting. What sets Sherida apart is her collaborative leadership style. She has a proven talent for aligning internal technical teams, contractors, and external partners to keep projects moving forward, even in fast-paced and evolving environments. Her ability to manage multiple concurrent projects while adapting to shifting priorities makes her a valuable asset to our team and clients alike. We’re confident that Sherida’s proactive approach, technical expertise, and dedication to excellence will strengthen our project delivery and enhance the value we bring to our clients. Please join us in giving a warm GridSME welcome to Sherida! We’re thrilled to have her on board and can’t wait to see all the great things we’ll accomplish together.

Information regarding an upcoming NERC Alert Level 3

Welcome Casey James: Our New Senior Meter Engineer at GridSME We are thrilled to announce that Casey James has joined the GridSME team as our Senior Meter Engineer! With over seven years of experience in metering engineering and management, Casey brings a wealth of expertise to our clients, supporting their needs in large-scale energy projects, regulatory compliance, and advanced metering solutions. Casey holds a B.S. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, specializing in Power from California State University, Sacramento, and has built a reputation as an expert in controls and metering integration, battery energy storage systems, and both retail and wholesale metering. His skills also extend to consulting on metering regulations on a national level, where he has guided critical stakeholders and driven innovation in metering standards for the evolving power sector. In previous roles, Casey has led teams of engineers and technicians across California, establishing best practices, training programs, and compliance workflows for efficient, accurate project delivery. He has been instrumental in developing metering methodologies for some of the largest solar and battery energy projects in the country and has substantial experience with CAISO-compliant inspections, SCADA implementations, and programming complex metering algorithms. At GridSME, Casey’s technical acumen and leadership will be invaluable as he works to deliver precise, reliable, and compliant metering solutions for our clients. We are excited to have him on board to help advance our mission and further support our clients in the energy industry.  Please join us in welcoming Casey to the GridSME family!

Upcoming New Standard: PRC-030-1 Unexpected Inverter-Based Resource Event Mitigation

Understanding the NERC Standards Development for Category 2 Inverter-Based Resources (IBR)

GridU Live this October!

NERC Alert: Inverter-Based Resource Model Quality Deficiencies NERC has released a crucial alert addressing significant deficiencies in the modeling and study practices of inverter-based resources (IBR). This comes after analyzing 10 large-scale disturbances since 2016, resulting in nearly 15,000 MW of unexpected IBR output reduction, predominantly occurring between 2020 and 2024. Reporting of these efforts is required by September 2, 2024. Scroll to read the full NERC Alert Article. Key Points: 1) Modeling Deficiencies: Poor modeling practices have been identified as a major contributing factor to these disturbances. Accurate and detailed dynamic models are essential for reliable bulk power system (BPS) operation. 2) Recommendations for Improvement: Model Validation: Models should be validated at both the inverter and plant levels, ensuring they accurately reflect in-service performance. Lifecycle Updates: Continuous updates and validations of models throughout the lifecycle of IBR plants are necessary. Standard and Equipment-Specific Models: Both standard library and equipment-specific models should be used, with rigorous testing and documentation to ensure accuracy. 3) Coordination and Reporting: Generator Owners (GOs), Transmission Planners (TPs), and Planning Coordinators (PCs) must collaborate with manufacturers and third-party consultants to address modeling deficiencies. Reporting of these efforts is required by September 2, 2024.

A Quick Refresher: NERC’s Work Plan and Initiative to Enhance Grid Reliability

Insights from GridSME: California's Renewable Energy Roadmap GridSME's Subject Matter Experts, Gary Brown and Lowell Watros, contributed valuable insights to this article for Reuters. Their expertise helped provide information and analysis on California's latest grid plan, particularly concerning grid improvements, renewable energy projects, and an expected surge in solar and storage projects. With their input, the article offers a comprehensive understanding of the developments in California's energy landscape and the implications for the renewable energy sector. Below are some of the key insights and takeaways from the article.

🚨 NERC Alert: Assessing 6 GHz Communication Impact on Electric Industry NERC has issued a Level 2 Alert concerning 6 GHz Communication Penetration in the Electric Industry, targeting Distribution Providers (DP), Distribution Provider UFLS-Only (DP-UFLS), Generator Owners (GO), and Transmission Owners (TO). The alert aims to evaluate reliance on 6 GHz technology and potential interference severity. Respondents must address a series of questions by July 8, 2024, to assess the situation comprehensively. Although only registered entities can respond directly, the alert is publicly available. Action items include acknowledging the alert and completing the questionnaire. Recommendations include identifying critical circuits and conducting baseline performance tests. It's crucial to note that these recommendations are distinct from requirements, as clarified by NERC. This alert underscores the necessity of assessing 6 GHz communication's impact on industry reliability and security. Stakeholders should stay informed and promptly address the alert's requirements. For further details, visit NERC's website: Link . See our LinkedIn post about the NERC Alert: here .

Welcome Alix Minjarez to GridSME's Compliance Team! Please help us welcome Alix Minjarez as a Compliance Analyst at GridSME! Hailing from Lee's Summit, Missouri, Alix brings a wealth of expertise in contracts and proposals. Her proficiency in navigating the complexities of contractual processes, coupled with a strong commitment to accuracy and compliance, positions her as a valuable asset to our team. With a proven track record and prior leadership experience as a Contract Department Manager, Alix is well-prepared to contribute to our mission of ensuring the reliability and integrity of the electrical grid. Alix's background in efficiently managing contractual intricacies aligns seamlessly with the collaborative and detail-oriented environment at GridSME. We look forward to leveraging her skills and commitment to excellence as we continue to advance our initiatives in maintaining the highest standards of compliance. Welcome to the team, Alix!