FERC

FERC Proposes Revised CIP Reliability Standards - July 16 - FERC proposed revisions to critical infrastructure protection (CIP) Reliability Standards to address certain cybersecurity risks relating to communication networks and supply chain management security controls associated with the bulk electric system.  The proposed revisions would expand certain CIP standards to cover parts of the supply chain for key hardware or software components, and FERC also seeks comments on security standards for transient electronic devices such as flash drives.  FERC also proposed to approve NERC’s proposed implementation plan and VRF and VSL assignments.  NERC issued a statement noting that FERC’s actions “represent significant progress toward mitigating cyber risks to the bulk power system.” Comments are due September 21, 2015.

FERC Approves Revisions to Reliability Standard CIP-014-2 - July 14 – FERC issued a letter order approving a NERC petition for approval of proposed Reliability Standard CIP-014-02, which removes the term “widespread” from Reliability Standard CIP-014-01.  FERC had directed the revision after determining that the term was unclear in implementation and enforcement.

NERC

Draft 2016-2018 Reliability Standards Development Plan - July 17 - NERC posted for comment the draft 2016-2018 Reliability Standards Development Plan (RSDP), which details NERC standards development goals for future years.  After review from the Standards Committee, comments will be used to form the next version of the RSDP.  Comments are due by Monday, August 17, 2015.

RBR Compliance Filing - July 17 - In response to FERC’s March 19 order approving the Risk-Based Registration (RBR) Initiative but denying without prejudice NERC’s proposal to remove the Load-Serving Entity (LSE) functional registration category, NERC submitted a compliance filing and petition for approval of Rules of Procedure revisions.  In the filing, NERC provides detailed information on LSE activities, urges FERC to remove the Load-Serving Entity (LSE) functional registration category from the NERC Compliance Registry (NCR), and responds to FERC’s concerns in the March 19 Order.

Second Draft 2016 NERC Business Plan and Budget - July 15 - NERC posted its second draft of budget documents for its FY2016 budget plan.  The second draft reflects a budget increase of .8% from FY2015, a reduction of 2.3% from the previous draft.  Comments are due by July 31, 2015 and NERC plans to submit the proposed budget on August 24, 2015.

Reply Comments on Reliability Standard PRC-002-2 - July 13 - NERC replied to comments of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and the American Public Power Association (APPA) on FERC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to approve Reliability Standard PRC-002-2.  Specifically, NERC responded to comments from BPA and APPA that were critical of NERC’s proposed methodology for identifying BES buses subject to PRC-002-2, which would establish recording requirements to allow for analysis of bulk power system disturbances.

Revisions to Violation Risk Factors for PRC Standards - July 7 - NERC proposed revisions to the Violation Risk Factors (VRF) for Requirements R1 through R6 of Reliability Standards PRC-004-3, PRC-004-4, and PRC-004-5 (Protection System Misoperation Identification and Correction).  NERC’s proposal would raise the VRF designation for Requirements R1 through R6 from “medium” to “high”, as directed by the Commission in a May 13 order.

Rules of Procedure Revisions - July 6 - NERC requested approval from FERC for revisions to NERC’s Rules of Procedure.  FERC directed the changes in a February 19, 2015 Order approving NERC’s implementation of the Reliability Assurance Initiative into the Risk-Based Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program.

Cybersecurity and Grid Security

NIST Update on Cybersecurity Framework - July 1 - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released its July newsletter on its cybersecurity framework, highlighting the efforts between government and industry to manage cyber risks.

Congress

Joseph McClelland Testifies on GMD and EMP Threats to the Electric Grid - July 22 - Joseph McClelland, Director of FERC’s Office of Energy Infrastructure Security (OEIS), testified before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs regarding FERC’s role in protecting the electric grid  from geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs).  GMDs may be caused by naturally occurring solar magnetic disturbances, or by man-made electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) from devices that can generate localized high-energy bursts.  McClelland noted that FERC has proposed two reliability standards on GMDs and is collaborating with other federal agencies and industry on GMD and EMP threats.

Regional Developments

2016 Regional Business Plans and Budgets - July 15 – NERC posted 2016 Business Plans and Budgets for each of the Regional Reliability Entities.  Each of these Business Plans and Budgets includes a comparison to 2015 budgets, anticipated expense increases for 2016, and projections for budget and assessment increases in 2017 and 2018.   

Other Developments

DOE Requests Comments on National Transformer Reserve - July 9 - The Department of Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability issued a Request for Information  seeking comments and information on the possible establishment of a National Transformer Reserve Program to support the bulk power grid.  Comments are due on August 24, 2015.

Van Ness Feldman counsels, advises and trains a wide range of clients on reliability matters.  Please email us or call us at 202.298.1817 or 206.829.1814 for additional information.

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