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Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP)	Electric Reliability Standards
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FERC, pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, finalized on February 2, 2006, landmark new rules on the certification of an Electric Reliability Organization and the procedures for the establishment, approval and enforcement of mandatory electric reliability standards.

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Orders Reports Conferences Testimony   FERC denies rehearing on Mandatory Reliability Standards for Critical Infrastructure Protection, June 18, 2009 Order No. 706-C FERC seeks comments on revised mandatory reliability standards for interchange scheduling and coordination (INT) June 18, 2009 NOPR FERC seeks comment on NERC’s Reliability Standard—Transmission Relay Loadability, May 21, 2009 NOPR FERC approves WECC Regional Reliability Standard on Regarding Automatic Time Error Control, May 21, 2009 Order No. 723 FERC rules on NERC’s interpretation of specific requirements of frequency response and bias and voltage and reactive control reliability standards, May 21, 2009 Order No. 724 FERC issues a supplemental final rule that approves a Reliability Standard which addresses transmission loading relief requirements. The modified Reliability Standard includes changes directed by the Commission related to the appropriateness of using the Transmission Loading Relief procedure to mitigate a violation of an interconnection reliability operating limit, March 19, 2009 Order No. 713-A FERC approves three revised Reliability Standards developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). The three revised Reliability Standards, set requirements for the development and communication of system operating limits of the Bulk-Power System for use in the planning and operation horizons. In addition, the Commission approves, with modifications, the violation severity levels for the three Reliability Standards, March 20, 2009 Order No. 722 NOPR to approve six Modeling, Data, and Analysis Reliability Standards submitted to the Commission for approval by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The proposed Reliability Standards require certain users, owners, and operators of the Bulk-Power System to develop consistent methodologies for the calculation of available transfer capability or available flowgate capability, March 19, 2009 NOPR NOPR to include certain business practice standards adopted by the Wholesale Electric Quadrant of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) into FERC regulations. NAESB’s Version 002.1 Standards mainly modify NAESB’s Version 001 Standards in response to Order Nos. 890, 890-A, and 890-B, March 19, 2009 NOPR FERC clarifies October 16, 2008 Budget Order at NERC’s request, January 15, 2008 Decision FERC audit recommends changes to improve SPP independence, SPP agrees FERC also gives guidance on reliability compliance audits, January 15, 2009 News Release | Decisions: E-1 and E-21 FERC accepts compliance filings, subject to conditions from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, December 19, 2008 - Decision FERC orders submission of data from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Northeast Power Coordinating Council, Inc. (NPCC), December 18, 2008 - Decision FERC issues four reliability orders to strengthen grid, November 20, 2008 - NOPR E-1 | Decision E-2 | Decision E-4 | NOPR E-5 FERC finalizes nuclear reliability standards, approves ERO budgets for 2009, October 16, 2008- Order No. 716 | Decision E-5 | NOPR FERC proposes to close potential cyber security gap, September 18, 2008 - Decision E-26 | Fact Sheet FERC approves modified reliability standards, July 17, 2008 - Decision E-11 Order No. 713 FERC issues guidance order on reliability notices of penalty, July 3, 2008 - Decision Fact Sheet Modification of Interchange and Transmission Loading Relief Reliability Standards; and Electric Reliability Organization Interpretation of Specific Requirements of Four Reliability Standards, April 21, 2008 - NOPR Statement of administrative policy on processing reliability notices of penalty and order revising statement in Order No. 672, April 17 , 2008 - Administrative Policy FERC joins investigation into Florida blackout, March 19, 2008 - News Release | Order Mandatory Reliability Standard for Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination (NOPR), March 20, 2008 - NOPR Order providing guidance on recovery of reliability penalty costs by regional transmission organizations, March 20, 2008 - Decision FERC conditionally approves amended Rules of Procedures for NERC, February 21, 2008 - The Order approves a new section 1600, which would establish a process for NERC or a Regional Entity to issue requests for data or information. The order conditionally approves section 1600 of NERC's Rules of Procedure and directs NERC to make a compliance filing within 90 days of issuance of this order Decision E-12 FERC denies rehearing of its November 15, 2007 Order, February 21, 2008 - In the November 15 Order, the Commission affirmed NERC's determination that the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council (FRCC), a NERC Regional Entity, had properly registered Lee County, Florida (Lee County) as a generator owner and had registered Covanta Lee, Inc. (Covanta), a contractor operating the Lee County generating facility, as a generator operator. Further, the November 15 Order affirmed NERC's determination that FRCC had properly registered the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, Florida (SWA) as a generator owner and generator operator. Decision E-11 FERC remands proceeding to Electric Reliability Organization, February 21, 2008 - FERC remands to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), a decision in which NERC found that the Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA) was properly included on the NERC compliance registry as a transmission operator and resource planner, and thus subject to mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards applicable to those functions. SERC Reliability Corporation (SERC), a NERC Regional Entity, registered SEPA as a transmission operator and resource planner. SEPA sought NERC review of SERC's decision and, after affirmation by NERC, appealed to the Commission to reverse the NERC determination. The Commission remands this proceeding to NERC for further consideration and to submit, within 60 days of the date of this order, a revised registration determination that addresses the Commission's concerns Decision E-10 Commission approves Reliability Standards, December 27, 2007 Order No. 705 Commission rules on electric reliability organization registry determinations for Direct Energy Services, LLC, Sempra Energy Solutions LLC and Strategic Energy, L.L.C., December 20, 2007 Decision Commission approves modified Violation Risk Factors submitted by NERC, November 16, 2007 Decision Commission affirms electric reliability organization compliance registry determinations for Lee County, Florida, November 15, 2007 Decision Commission increases funding for grid reliability organizations, October 18, 2007 News Release | Decisions E-2 and E-14 Commission directs staff to convene a technical conference to further explore the registration of retail power marketers in the Reliability First region as Load Serving Entities, September 26, 2007 Decision FERC clarifies earlier decision and directs NERC to clarify some of its rules, September 20, 2007 News Release | Decision E-1 Commission proposes to approve three planning and operating reliability standards, August 13, 2007 Decision Commission proposes adoption of new reliability standards for cyber security in the bulk power system, July 19, 2007 - a set of reliability standards to help safeguard the nation's bulk electric power supply system against potential disruptions from cyber attacks. The NOPR also calls for NERC to develop modifications to address specific concerns identified by the Commission News Release | Decision E-5 | NOPR | Order 693-A Commission approves 22 Violation Risk Factors associated with Commission-approved Reliability Standards, June 26, 2007 Decision Commission approves eight regional Reliability Standards for the Western Interconnection, June 8, 2007 Decision Commission approves NERC’s assignment of violation risk factors associated with approved reliability standards, May 17, 2007 News Release | Decision E-8 | Order No. 696 Commission accepts NERC's regional reliability entity delegation agreements; additional WECC funding approved, April 19, 2007 - third in a series of orders designed to establish a new regime to ensure reliability for the nation's bulk electric power system, laying the foundation for mandatory, enforceable power-system reliability standards to be in place in time for this summer's peak electricity demand season News Release | Decision E-19 | Decision E-2 Commission approves 83 NERC reliability standards; proposes rule to eliminate QF reliability exemption, March 15, 2007 News Release | Commissioners Statements: Kelly's, Moeller's, Spitzer's and Wellinghoff's | NOPR | Order No. 693 WECC's Reliability Coordinator Activities Conference Ordered, February 15, 2007 - Commission staff to convene a technical conference to discuss the issues raised concerning WECC’s reliability coordinator activities Decision Inquiry into Gas-Electric Coordination Issues, October 25, 2006 - Scheduling practices of ISOs and RTOs; instituting inquiries into gas-electric coordination issues (EL07-1-000 et al.) Decision Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Proposed Reliability Standards, October 19, 2006 - Proposed rule would approve 83 NERC reliability standards; Funding for statutory activities through ERO approved News Release | NOPR | Decision E-3 Approval of EEI's Spare Transformer Equipment Program, September 21, 2006 - Commission acts to improve security of Nation's power grid News Release | Decision ERO Certification and WIRAB Approval, July 20, 2006 - NERC certified as Electric Reliability Organization; Western Governors’ Reliability Advisory body accepted News Release | Decisions E-5 and E-6 NERC Reliability Standards, May 11, 2006 - Staff seeks comments on preliminary assessment of NERC Reliability Standards: News Release | Fact Sheet | Staff Assessment Report | View Video [WMV] (You must have Windows Media Player 9 to view this file, Download ) | Notice Initiation of Reliability Standards Rulemaking, April 18, 2006 - Commission announces rulemaking for processing Reliability Standards pending ERO certification News Release | Notice Order No. 672-A, March 30, 2006 - Order No. 672-A re-affirms and clarifies the establishment of an Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) Order No. 672, February 2, 2006 - Commission finalizes Electric Reliability Organization Rulemaking News Release | Order No. 672 | Overview Reliability in Washington, DC, January 9, 2006 - Pepco, PJM directed to develop plan to assure reliability in Washington, DC region News Release | Decision NOPR on Standards & Enforcement, September 1, 2005 - Proposed regulations issued on mandatory electric reliability standards and enforcement (Docket No. RM05-30-000) News Release | NOPR | Bilateral Principles Referenced in NOPR Potomac River Generating Station Shutdown, August 25, 2005 - DC Public Service Commission asks FERC to prevent shutdown of 482-MW Potomac River generating station Petition & Complaint | FERC's Initial Response | View all documents issued and received by FERC [eLibrary] North America Cooperation, June 30, 2005 - States and Canada Agencies cooperate to ensure electric reliability in North America News Release | Terms of Reference Support of Formation of Independent Transmission Companies, June 27, 2005 - New policy removes barriers to formation of independent transmission companies News Release | Policy Statement Survey on Operator Training Practices, December 27, 2004 - Order requiring response to survey on operator training practices by control area operators and transmission providers General Reliability Compensation Policy, May 6, 2004 - Commission announced a general Reliability Compensation Policy in the PJM Order, Docket No. EL03-236-000 Blackout Task Force recommendation, April 14, 2004 - FERC takes prompt action in response to Blackout Task Force recommendations; outlines power reliability policy News Release | Presentations Event Details | Policy Statement (PL04-5) | Order (EL04-52) Independent Study of the Ohio's Power Grid, December 24, 2003 - The Commission has ordered FirstEnergy Corp. to pay for an independent study of the state's power grid, where the massive August blackout started. They have 120 days to study the stability of the power grid Read More FERC to Require Reporting of Power-Grid Reliability Violations, December 17, 2003 - The Commission directed staff to develop an order that will require transmission system operators to report violations of the industry’s power-grid reliability standards   December 11, 2006 - FERC Staff Preliminary Assessment July 20, 2006 - Staff presents overview of Demand Response report to Commission February 6, 2006 - DOE and FERC submit Transmission Monitoring Report to Congress April 13, 2005 - Information Technology Guidelines For Power System Organizations September 30, 2004 - Report on Use of Grid Reliability Funds sent to Congress (Staff Report sent to Congress) | Transmittal Letter September 8, 2004 - Utility Vegetation Management & Reliability Final Report (Staff report sent to Congress) April 5, 2004 - The US-Canada Task Force released its Final Report on causes and recommendations from the August 14, 2003 Blackout Statement by Chairman Wood | Chapters 1-3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapters 7-10 | Appendices March 2, 2004 - The Commission released its Utility Vegetation Management Report Final Report   June 15, 2007- Technical conference announced on Reliability Standard Compliance and Enforcement in Regions with Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations for September 18, 2007 (AD07-12-000) Event Details March 2, 2007 - Technical Conference to discuss a rehearing request addressing the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) business plan and budget as the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) (RR06-3-001) Event Details | Comments received [eLibrary] July 6, 2006 - Technical Conference on NERC's April 4, 2006 petition and to address issues raised in the Staff Assessment Event Details April 18, 2006 – FERC and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to meet jointly on grid reliability News Release | Event Details February 2, 2006 - Special public meeting scheduled to address Energy Policy Act items News Release | Event Details November 18, 2005 - Technical conference on Electric Reliability Organization certification and procedures (Docket No. RM05-30-000) Event Details June 22, 2005 - US-Canada workshop in Toronto on Draft Principles for an International Electric Reliability Organization Event Details November 3, 2004 - Staff to attend December 8, 2004 workshop on establishing Electricity Reliability Organization Event Details | Registration September 29, 2004 - Technical conference on Reliability Readiness Reviews Event Details | View Conference (You must have Windows Media Player 9 to view this file, download .) July 15, 2004 - The Commission is planning a summer 2004 Reliability workshop in Cleveland, Ohio Event Details May 14, 2004 - US-Canada power system outage Task Force and FERC co-hosted a technical workshop that discussed improvement of NA electric reliability standards and April 2004 report recommendations Event Details | Staff Paper December 1, 2003 - FERC held a public conference on electric reliability Event Details   July 21, 2009 - Joseph McClelland testified before the House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology on Securing the Modern Electric Grid from Physical and Cyber Attacks May 7, 2009 - Joseph McClelland testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on cybersecurity and critical electricity infrastructure Testimony | Event Details September 11, 2008 - Chairman Kelliher testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality on Protecting the Electric Grid from Cyber-Security Threats Testimony | Event Details October 17, 2007 - Office of Reliability Director Joseph McClelland's testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, & Science & Technology on cyber security Testimony | Event Details July 12, 2006 - Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee Government Reform, Subcommittee on Energy and Resources regarding the "Can the U.S. Electric Grid Take Another Hot Summer?" Testimony | Event Details May 15, 2006 - General Counsel John S. Moot’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources regarding the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and electric reliability Testimony | Event Details June 8, 2005 - FERC Chairman urges Congress to fix transmission grid News Release | Testimony Summary | Full Testimony | Grid 2030 Report