FERC Issuance

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FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20426
OFFICE OF ELECTRIC RELIABILITY
North American Electric Reliability Corporation
Docket No. RD26-5-000
April 14, 2026
North American Electric Reliability Corporation
1401 H Street, N.W., Suite 410
Washington, DC 20005
Attention:

Lauren Perotti, Assistant General Counsel
Alain Rigaud, Associate Counsel
North American Electric Reliability Corporation
Chris Albrecht, Assistant General Counsel
Western Electricity Coordinating Council

Reference:

Petition of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation for
Approval of Retirement of Regional Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC3

Dear Ms. Perotti and Mr. Albrecht:
On February 27, 2026, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation
(NERC) and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) filed a joint petition
seeking approval of the proposed retirement of currently effective Regional Reliability
Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 (Contingency Reserve) to become effective on the first day
of the first quarter following the effective date of the Commission’s order approving the
proposed retirement.
NERC and WECC explain that “[t]he purpose of currently effective Regional
Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 is to specify the quantity and types of
Contingency Reserve required to ensure reliable operation of the Western Interconnection
under normal and abnormal conditions.” 1 NERC and WECC further explain:
Regional Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 requires
1

NERC Petition at 2-3 (footnote omitted).

Docket No. RD26-5-000

-2-

applicable WECC entities to maintain reserves at levels that
exceed those required under the continent-wide Reliability
Standard BAL-002-3 – Disturbance Control Standard –
Contingency Reserve for Recovery from a Balancing
Contingency Event. Following a recent review of the
regional standard, WECC identified that no technical basis
supports the continued applicability of the standard, and that
rather than advance reliability in the Western Interconnection,
the regional standard may be presenting unnecessary
challenges. WECC concluded that the retirement of Regional
Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 would enhance
reliability in the Western Interconnection by allowing
resources that are currently required to be held as excess
reserves to be used more efficiently to support reliable system
operations, particularly as the resource mix continues to
change with increasing levels of variable generation from
Inverter-Based Resources (“IBR”), as well as serve other
important public interests. 2
Notice of NERC and WECC’s filing was published in the Federal Register,
91 Fed. Reg. 11302 (Mar. 9, 2026), with interventions and protests due on or before
March 30, 2026. None was filed.
NERC and WECC’s uncontested filing is hereby approved pursuant to the relevant
authority delegated to the Director of the Office of Electric Reliability under 18 C.F.R.
§ 375.303 (2025), effective as of the date of this order.
This action shall not be construed as approving any other application 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 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 (2025).

2

Id. at 1-2.

Docket No. RD26-5-000

-3Sincerely,

Digitally signed
Kal
by Kal Ayoub
Date: 2026.04.14
Ayoub 11:35:29 -04'00'

Kal Ayoub, Director
Office of Electric Reliability