NERC

NERC Submits Remote Access Study Report - June 30 – NERC submitted to FERC a Remote Access Study Report, assessing three areas: (1) the effectiveness of the controls in the CIP Reliability Standards to mitigate known remote access vulnerabilities; (2) the risks posed by remote access-related threats and vulnerabilities; and (3) appropriate mitigating controls for any identified risks. In Order No. 882, issued by the FERC in 2016, the Commission had directed NERC to perform a study on the remote access protections required by the NERC’s Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Reliability Standards.

NERC Submits Information Filing on Light-Load Case Study - June 30 - NERC submitted to FERC an informational filing, finding that the Eastern Interconnection is resilient to large losses of generation resources and that the Interconnection Frequency Response Obligation is adequate during light load conditions.  In the report, NERC recommends continuing to improve the data quality of models and creating a yearly light load dynamics case study with actual governor data.  The filing was in response to a FERC order approving Reliability Standard BAL-003-1 (Frequency Response and Frequency Bias Setting) and directing NERC to submit results of the Eastern Interconnection Reliability Assessment Group’s light-load case study, using actual turbine governor response data. 

NERC Penalty Activity - June 29 - NERC filed with FERC a spreadsheet notice of penalty resolving 3 violations of 3 Reliability Standards totaling $254,000 in penalties.

Other Developments

Draft of DOE Grid Study Finds Renewables not a Threat to Reliability - July 14 – A leaked draft of the Department of Energy’s Electric Power System, Markets and Reliability Study shows that the increase in renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, has not harmed the reliability of the US electricity grid.  The draft reports that, "Costly environmental regulations and subsidized renewable generation have exacerbated baseload power plant retirements.  However, those factors played minor roles compared to the longstanding drop in electricity demand relative to previous expectations and years of low electric prices driven by high natural gas availability."  The final report has yet to be released.