DLO for RD23-5

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426

OFFICE OF ELECTRIC RELIABILITY
North American Electric Reliability Corporation
Docket No. RD23-5-000
January 24, 2024
North American Electric Reliability Corporation
1325 G Street N.W., Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20005
Attention:

Lauren A. Perotti, Assistant General Counsel
North American Electric Reliability Corporation

Reference:

Petition of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation for
Approval of Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-023-6

Dear Ms. Perotti,
On March 2, 2023, and as amended on November 3, 2023, the North American
Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric Reliability
Organization, filed a petition seeking approval of proposed Reliability Standard PRC023-6 (Transmission Relay Loadability), the associated implementation plan, violation
risk factors, and violation severity levels. 1 NERC also requested the Commission’s
approval of the retirement of the version of Reliability Standard PRC-023 that would be
in effect (i.e., currently effective Reliability Standard PRC-023-4 or the approved but not
yet effective Reliability Standard PRC-023-5). 2
0F

1F

NERC explains that the proposed Reliability Standard would advance Bulk-Power
System reliability by removing certain redundant and unnecessary language from the
Standard related to the setting of out-of-step blocking relays. To achieve this, NERC
proposes to retire Reliability Standard PRC-023 Requirement R2, related to setting outof-step blocking schemes to allow tripping of phase protective relays for faults that occur
during the loading conditions used to verify transmission line relay loadability. NERC
1

NERC Petition at 1.

2

NERC Petition at 1-2.

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Docket No. RD23-5-000
also proposes to retire Attachment A, Item 2.3, the exclusion for protection systems
intended for protection during stable power swings. 3 NERC states that Requirement R2
is redundant because the fault condition addressed by Requirement R2 is addressed by
Requirement R1 and requires the same compliance activity by the entity. 4 Further,
NERC explains that the exclusion in Attachment A, Item 2.3 is no longer necessary due
to changes that have occurred to the Bulk-Power System. 5
2F

3F

4F

On October 10, 2023, Commission staff issued a letter requesting NERC to
provide additional information explaining how Requirement R2 of Reliability Standard
PRC-023 is redundant to Requirement R1 and confirming whether compliance with the
existing obligations in Requirement R2 would be enforced and audited under
Requirement R1. NERC filed its responsive amended petition on November 3, 2023.
NERC confirms in its amended petition that, because Requirement R2 is redundant to
Requirement R1, any entity noncompliance with existing obligations of Requirement R2
would be assessed under Requirement R1. 6
5F

Notice of NERC’s March 2, 2023, filing was published in the Federal Register, 88
Fed. Reg. 19,134 (Mar. 30, 2023), with interventions, comments, and protests due on or
before April 21, 2023. Notice of NERC’s November 3, 2023, amended petition was
published in the Federal Register, 88 Fed. Reg. 77,576 (Nov. 13, 2023), with comments,
protests, and motions to intervene due on or before November 27, 2023. No
interventions, comments, or protests were filed.
NERC’s uncontested filing is hereby approved pursuant to the relevant authority
delegated to the Director, Office of Electric Reliability under 18 C.F.R. § 375.303,
effective as of the date of this order.
This action shall not be construed as approving any other application, including
proposed revisions of Electric Reliability Organization or Regional Entity rules or
procedures pursuant to 18 C.F.R. § 375.303(a)(2)(i). Such action shall not be deemed as
recognition of any claimed right or obligation associated therewith and such action is
3

NERC Petition at 4.

4

NERC Petition at 21.

5

NERC Petition at 25-26 and Exhibit C at 10. In Exhibit C NERC explains Attachment
A was intended to exclude certain protection systems designed to maintain system performance
during oscillations in voltage and frequency, and during stable power swings. NERC notes that
the specific protection systems used to justify Attachment A no longer exist.
6

NERC Amended Petition at 25.

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Docket No. RD23-5-000
without prejudice to any findings or orders that have been or may hereafter be made by
the Commission in any proceeding now pending or hereafter instituted by or against the
Electric Reliability Organization or any Regional Entity.
This order constitutes final agency action. Requests for rehearing by the
Commission may be filed within 30 days of the date of issuance of this order, pursuant to
18 C.F.R. § 385.713.

DAVID
ORTIZ

Digitally signed
by DAVID ORTIZ
Date: 2024.01.24
10:56:49 -05'00'

David Ortiz, Director
Office of Electric Reliability