By Carl Curry, NERC Reliability Specialist  NERC released the 2024 State of Reliability (SOR) report and SOR Overview in June, 2024, which provides an assessment of the Bulk Power System (BPS) based on performance of the grid for the entire year of 2023. Data for the report was taken from

By Leonard Wills, NERC CIP Reliability Specialist In today’s digital age, the internet remains an indispensable resource, providing users with numerous sources of information, goods, job opportunities, and other services. As of April 2024, 5.35 billion people use the internet, which equals sixty-six percent (66%) of the world’s total population.

By Laura Christensen, Senior NERC Reliability Specialist  NERC, in accordance with its regulatory obligations under the Federal Power Act, has initiated a draft data request concerning the operation of generators during cold weather. The draft is in response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) directive to develop a plan

By Shaun Rohret, Senior NERC Reliability Specialist  There is still a lot of activity at FERC and NERC based around Extreme Cold Weather Grid Operations, Preparedness and Coordination.   On June 27, 2024, FERC released an order approving EOP-012-2 and directing NERC to make modifications within 9 months. Here is the

By Sean Thompson, NERC Supervisor The digital age has intensified the need for robust cybersecurity measures across all sectors, particularly within the Bulk Electric System (BES). The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has responded to this growing challenge with CIP-003-9, set to take effect on April 1, 2026. This

By Josh Brantley, NERC Reliability Specialist In an era where technology touches every facet of our lives, the energy sector stands on the brink of a monumental transformation. Digitalization, characterized by the integration of digital technologies into everyday processes, is set to revolutionize how we produce, distribute, and consume energy. This

By Allegra Jones, NERC Reliability Specialist In December, NERC released their 2023 Long Term Risk Assessment (LTRA). The LTRA is the ERO’s self-assessment of the Bulk Power System’s (BPS) ability to meet demand over the next 10 years. This latest assessment highlights concerns about energy resource adequacy over the next 10 years.

By Chuck Holm, NERC Reliability Specialist The front-line employee is a key NERC Standard Compliance resource. The front-line employee will have eyes and ears on the regulatory functions of the facility and will keep the facility in compliance if the proper tools are provided. The primary tool is “training”. The

By Trysten Schlottmann, NERC Operations Analyst It comes as no surprise these days that there seems to be breaking news in the realm of Cyber Security nearly every day from great leaps in technologies to protect end-users to verifiable attacks on the gigantic entities that bring about such technologies. All

By Leland McMillan, NERC Supervisor NERC has published the “Registered Entity Self-Report and Mitigation Plan User Guide” to provide guidance for effective communications concerning potential non-compliance.  Quality of detail in this respect is critical to BES reliability, risk assessment, relations with regulators, company reputation, and potentially penalty calculations.  The introduction