SILENCE OF THE POWER ENGINEERS? NERC DOES NOTHING NERC is clearly failing to meet its mission. It should be investigated. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, or NERC for short (rhymes with jerk), recently released a report warning of likely blackouts across much of America this summer. The report got lots of publicity, including this … Continue reading SILENCE OF THE POWER ENGINEERS? NERC DOES NOTHING
NERC assessment highlights potential electricity reliability concern for central U.S. Higher electricity demand forecasts and potential supply reductions are raising concerns about tight reserve margins in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) balancing authority this summer. Working in conjunction with regional utility service providers, balancing authorities are responsible for ensuring that wholesale electric power markets … Continue reading NERC assessment highlights potential electricity reliability concern for central U.S.
FERC, NERC Outline Proposed New Reliability Standards Following the February Winter Storm Last Thursday, the FERC/NERC joint inquiry presented their preliminary report and recommendations at FERC’s monthly open meeting. The report identified two main causes of the widespread outages: freezing or icing of electric generation components, and natural gas fuel supply issues—in particular, the effects … Continue reading FERC, NERC Outline Proposed New Reliability Standards Following the February Winter Storm
Vendor role in NERC’s upcoming cyberattack exercise unclear despite growing power sector threat The lack of any planned vendor participation for GridEx VI has taken some cybersecurity experts by surprise, particularly after last year’s SolarWinds software supply chain hack, which NERC said exposed about 25% of electric utilities to malware. “It appears that we are … Continue reading Vendor role in NERC ‘s upcoming cyberattack exercise unclear despite growing power sector threat
NERC Warns Energy Shortfalls Almost Inevitable This Summer The North American Electric Corp. (NERC) is warning that large swathes of the North American bulk power system (BPS) could face “elevated risks” of energy shortfalls this summer, especially if temperatures surge beyond normal peaks. But in California, risks are even more pronounced, owing to its reliance … Continue reading NERC Warns Energy Shortfalls Almost Inevitable This Summer
NERC: Pandemic, regional fuel shortages threaten winter grid operations in California, New England There is sufficient generating capacity to meet power demand this winter, but NERC sees the potential for fuel-related complications and warned that grid operators must keep worker safety at top of mind given new pandemic-related operating conditions. “Overall, industry takes winter reliability … Continue reading NERC: #Pandemic, regional #fuel_shortages threaten winter grid operations in #California, #New_England
NERC, FERC recommend public anonymity for utilities violating power system security rules The white paper is “a complete 180” from initial recommendations NERC and FERC staff made in August 2019, said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen’s energy program. A first joint white paper proposed that CIP Notices of Penalty (NOP) submissions consist of a … Continue reading NERC, FERC recommend public anonymity for utilities violating power system security rules
FERC, NERC open inquiry into winter load event that stressed Midwest grids FERC and NERC routinely review load events that stress regional grids, like the 2014 Polar Vortex, to improve market rules and emergency procedures. This review, however, could take on special significance due to FERC’s open proceeding on grid resilience and the looming specter … Continue reading FERC, NERC open inquiry into winter load event that stressed Midwest grids
Data Exposure by Vendor Leads to $2.7 Million NERC Penalty for Utility A seven-figure penalty reported by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation demonstrates the potentially severe consequences for electric utilities related to improper data handling practices and underscores the challenges in preventing and resolving unauthorized disclosures. A public filing by the North American Electric … Continue reading Data Exposure by Vendor Leads to $2.7 Million NERC Penalty for #Utility
NERC: Changing resource mix tightening reserve margins The rapid shift from coal and nuclear generation to more intermittent renewables and natural gas is creating new challenges for the North American electric grid, including declining resource adequacy as soon as next year in at least one region. “The accelerating move toward natural gas and renewables means … Continue reading NERC: Changing resource mix tightening reserve margins
