Comment filed on proposed rule; agency to address at final rule stage.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2013
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2013
1,439
0
1,439
1,281,450
0
1,281,450
134,766,955
0
134,766,955
FERC implemented the Electricity Modernization Act of 2005 which added a new section 215 to the Federal Power Act. FERC approved 83 of 107 proposed Reliability Standards, including six of the eight regional differences, and the Glossary of Terms Used in Reliability Standards as developed by the North American Electric Reliability Council, on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). FERC certified NERC as the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) responsible for developing and enforcing mandatory reliability standards. Bulk-Power System means facilities and control systems necessary for operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network and electric energy from generating facilities needed to maintain transmission system reliability.
In Docket RM09-25-000 (NOPR)the Commission proposes to approve two new Reliability Standards, PER-004-2 and PER-005-1 governing training. These standards will replace currently effective Reliability Standards PER-002-0 and PER-004-1 approved by the Commission in Order No. 693. Rather than creating entirely new training requirements, the proposed Reliability Standard PER-005-1 instead modifies and improves the existing Reliability Standards governing personnel training. This proposed rulemaking does not impose entirely new burdens on the effected entities. For example, the currently effective training Reliability Standard, PER-002-0, requires transmission operators and balancing authorities to create training program objectives, develop a plan for the initial and continued training, and maintain training records. Similarly, proposed training Reliability Standard, PER-005-1, which supersedes PER-002-0, requires transmission operators, balancing authorities and reliability coordinators to establish a training program (using a systematic approach to training), verify the traineeÂs capabilities to perform task for which they receive training, and maintain training records. Accordingly, the recordkeeping requirements imposed by proposed Reliability Standard PER-005-1, are more specific but not necessarily more expansive than currently effective Reliability Standard PER-002-0Âs recordkeeping requirements. However, proposed Reliability Standard PER-005-1 does enlarge the scope of the affected entities to include reliability coordinators.
The Blackout of August 14, 2003 affected significant portions of the Midwest and Northeast United States, and Ontario, Canada including an estimated 50 million people and 61,800 megawatts of electric load. The subsequent investigation and report reviewed several previous major North American outages and concluded that Âinadequate training of operating personnel was among the factors that the August 14 Blackout had in common with previous outages. The Blackout Report recommended Â[i]mprov[ing] near-term and long-term training and certification requirements for operators, reliability coordinators, and operator support staff. The Task Force suggested that NERC require training for planning staff at control areas and reliability coordinators concerning power system characteristics and load, VAR, and voltage limits to enable them to develop rules for operating staff to follow.
Personnel training is important to ensuring the reliability of the Bulk-Power System, as recognized in Order No. 693 and the Blackout Report. The ERO has proposed changes to the training standard on many issues, including: (1) the Systematic Approach to Training, (2) tailoring training for each job function, (3) simulation training, and (4) performance metrics. In several of these areas, the Commission is seeking clarification from the ERO and/or industry comment on specific matters and proposing improvements that can be made to the Standards to further enhance operator training.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
PER-005-1.pdf
F725AombjustRM09-25-000.doc
Mandatory Reliability Standards for Bulk-Power System