RM17-12 News Release 9.20.2017

September 20, 2017
News Media Contact
Craig Cano | 202-502-8680
Docket Nos. RM16-13-000, RM16-20-000,
RM17-12-000
Item Nos. E-1, E-2, E-3

FERC Issues Final Rules to Enhance Bulk Electric System Resilience, Reliability
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today approved two final rules and issued a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NOPR) addressing mandatory standards intended to support the resilience and reliability of the nation’s
bulk electric system.
One final rule approves revised reliability standards on Balancing Authority Control (BAL-005-1) and Facility
Interconnection Requirements (FAC-001-3) that clarify and consolidate existing requirements related to frequency
control. The revised standards will support more accurate and comprehensive calculation of Reporting Area Control
Error.
The second final rule approves a revised reliability standard on Remedial Action Schemes (PRC-012-2) to ensure that
remedial action schemes do not introduce unintentional or unacceptable reliability risks to the grid. It establishes a
centralized process to review new or modified remedial action schemes before implementation by requiring periodic
evaluations, tests and operational analyses of each remedial action scheme and an annual update of an area-wide
remedial action scheme database. The final rule also assigns specific responsibilities to the appropriate functional
entities.
Today’s NOPR proposes to approve revised Emergency Preparedness and Operations reliability standards covering Event
Reporting (EOP-004-4), System Restoration from Blackstart Resources (EOP-005-3), System Restoration Coordination
(EOP-006-3) and Loss of Control Center Functionality (EOP-008-2). The proposed standards are intended to:
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Provide accurate reporting of events to the North American Electric Reliability Corp’s event analysis group to
examine the impact on reliability of the grid;
Delineate the roles and responsibilities of entities that support system restoration from blackstart resources;
Clarify the procedures and coordination requirements for reliability coordinator personnel to execute system
restoration processes; and
Refine the required elements of an operating plan used to continue reliable operation of the grid if primary
control functionality is lost.

The final rules take effect, and comments on the NOPR are due, 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
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