FERC Moves to Expand Grid Reliability Oversight

In March, the FERC issued notices of proposed rulemaking that would increase the number of lines that could be subject to mandatory reliability standards as well as strengthen the commission’s role in the definition of those standards.

Under the proposed rules, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) would be required to define any line 100 kilovolts or above as part of the “bulk electric system.” Components of the bulk electric system are subject to mandatory reliability standards.

FERC issued a separate order calling for the elimination of a procedure that allows NERC stakeholders to veto FERC directives by refusing to approve new or modified reliability standards.

Finally, FERC issued orders that would remand two reliability standards back to NERC for changes and require NERC to make additional changes to various other reliability standards.

The commission said that “misuse of the NERC standards development process thwarts Congress' fundamental goal of instituting mandatory standards to protect reliability of the bulk power system.”

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