Oversee the development and review of mandatory reliability standards

• Participate in the ERO's standards development process to inform the Commission of potential issues and problems associated with the developing standards. Provide input to the process to help improve the quality of the standards before they are submitted to the Commission for approval.


• Participate in the RE's standards development process to help determine the necessity of the standards and if their approval would have implications on the ERO's standards. Provide information to the Commission about potential issues and problems associated with the developing standards. Provide input to the regional standards development process to help improve the quality of the standards before they are submitted to the Commission for approval.


• Participate in the ERO’s interpretation process to inform the Commission of potential issues and problems associated with the interpretations. Provide input to the process to help improve the quality of the interpretations before they are submitted to the Commission for approval.


• Review and analyze reliability standards filed with the Commission. Recommend whether the standards should be approved or remanded. Recommend if new or modified standards should be developed by the ERO.


• Participate in the formulation and drafting of new rules and policy statements as they relate to the reliability standards.


• Work with the Division of Compliance to perform periodic review of approved reliability standards to determine whether they are adequate to ensure a reliable bulk power system, whether modifications should be developed, or whether new standards should be developed by the ERO.


• Oversee the efforts of the ERO and REs to monitor compliance with Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards.


• Track and review all CIP alleged violations, mitigation plans, and Notices of Penalty in conjunction with the Office of Enforcement.


• Perform incident and alleged violation analyses and/or investigations following bulk power system cyber security incidents, notifications, requests, or complaints in partnership with the Office of Enforcement, as appropriate.


• Independently conduct or partner with the Office of Enforcement in conducting CIP compliance audits of the users, owners, and/or operators of the bulk power system with or without the ERO/REs.


• Coordinate with the Office of Energy Infrastructure and Security (OEIS) on current and emerging cyber and physical security related issues.


• Support as necessary, the other divisions' activities and requirements.