Address
145 Parkshore Dr #140,
Folsom, CA 95630
Get in touch
916-800-4545
customerservicel@gridsme.com
Follow us
Q4 2021 NERC & FERC Regulatory News
GridSME Reliability & Compliance Team • Dec 07, 2021
Recent NERC News
- NERC and Texas RE published the
Odessa Disturbance Report
detailing their findings and recommendations of the extreme cold weather event that hit the Texas Interconnection on May 9, 2021. Some of the recommendations listed include making improvements to Generator Interconnection Agreements, making improvements to the standards to address issues with inverter-based resources, and the creation of standards to address performance validations and mitigations.
- FERC approved modifications to Cold Weather-Related standards to address extreme cold weather conditions for generating units in response to the findings of the Join Report on the 2018 South Central Cold Weather Event. The modified standards are effective April 1, 2023 and include changes to the following standards: 1) EOP-011-2 (Emergency Preparedness and Operations); 2) IRO-010-4 (Reliability Coordinator Data Specification and Collection), and; 3) TOP-003-5 (Operational Reliability Data).
- NERC posted the new Reliability Standard Audit Worksheet (RSAW) for the FAC-008-5- Facility Ratings standard which became effective October 1, 2021.
Recent FERC News
- FERC published their annual staff report of lessons learned from CIP reliability audits for 2021. The report is based on findings from site audits, data requests and staff interviews and propose improvements and recommendations for improving the cyber and physical security of BES facilities, systems, and equipment.
| NERC Reliability Standard | Effective/ Enforcement Date | Functional Registration / System Applicability | New/Revised Standard | Potential Impacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRC-012-2 Remedial Action Schemes (R9 | 1/1/2022 | RC | New | An RC must maintain a RAS database with information on the RAS including but not limited to RAS name, RAS-entity and contact information, as well as other relevant information on RAS performance and system conditions. |
| TPL-007-4 Transmission System Planned Performance for Geomagnetic Disturbance Events (R6, 6.2 – 6.4, R10, 10.1-10.4) | 1/1/22 | TOP, GO | Revised | For applicable facilities, GOs and TOPs must include additional detail and analysis in their benchmark and supplemental thermal impact assessments. |
| CIP-012-1 Cyber Security – Communications between Control Centers | 7/01/2022 | BA, GO, GOP, RC, TOP, TO | New | GO/GOP shall implement documented plan(s) to mitigate the risks of unauthorized disclosure and unauthorized modification of Real-time Assessment and Real-time monitoring data being transmitted between Control Centers. |
| PRC-002-2 Disturbance Monitoring and Reporting Requirements (R2-R4, R6-R11) | 7/1/22 | GO, TO, PC (Eastern Western, ERCOT, Quebec, Western only) | Revised | Each TO and GO shall have SER data and determine electrical quantities for events outlined in the requirements. |
| CIP-005-7 Cyber Security – Electronic Security Perimeter(s) | 10/1/22 | BA, DP, GO, GOP, RC, TOP, TO | Revised | This revised standard contains modified language from CIP-005-6 R2.4 and 2.5 around methods for detecting and terminating vendor initiated remote access. |
| CIP-010-4 Cyber Security – Configuration Change Management and Vulnerability Assessments | 10/1/2022 | BA, DP, GO, GOP, RC, TOP, TO | Revised | EACMS and PACS were added to the scope of applicable systems requirements for R1 Part 1.6. which mandates the verification of software source identity for Medium and High Impact BES Cyber Systems. |
| CIP-013-2 Cyber Security – Supply Chain Risk Management | 10/1/2022 | BA, DP, GO, GOP, RC, TOP, TO | Revised | EACMS and PACS were added to the scope of R1 and R2 to address concerns with the use of intermediate systems and clarify references to Interactive Remote Access (IRA). |
| PRC-024-3 Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources | 10/11/2022 | GO, TO | Revised | Applies to GOs and TOs that own a BES generation step-up transformer or collector transformer listed in section 4.2.1. To set protection such that generating re source(s) remain connected during defined frequency and voltage excursions in support of the Bulk Electric System (BES). |
| EOP-011-2 Emergency Preparedness and Operations | 4/1/2023 | GO, GOP | New | R7 and R8 mandates that generation facilities have one or more cold weather preparedness plan(s) and that GOs and GOPs provide unit-specific training for staff responsible for implementing those plans. |
| IRO-010-4 Reliability Coordinator Data and Specification and Collection | 4/1/2023 | TOP, BA, GO, GOP, TO, DP | Revised | The term “special protection system” is replaced with the term “Remedial Action Scheme (RAS)”. Standard 1.3 is new and mandates that RCs have provisions for notification of unit-specific performance during cold weather. |
| TOP-003-5 | 4/1/2023 | TOP, BA, GO, GOP, TO, DP | Revised | The term “special protection system” is replaced with the term “Remedial Action Scheme (RAS)”. Standard 1.3 is new and mandates that RCs have provisions for notification of unit-specific performance during cold weather. |
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 .