Related Files | 2010-05.2 Phase 2 of Protection Systems
Status
Final ballots for PRC-012-2 – Remedial Action Schemes and the Revised Definition of "Special Protection System" concluded 8 p.m. Eastern, Friday, April 29, 2016. The voting results can be accessed via the links below. The standard and definition will be submitted to the Board of Trustees for adoption and then filed with the appropriate regulatory authorities.
Background
In early 2011, NERC staff decided to divide Project 2010-05: Protection Systems into phases. Phase 1 addressed the Misoperations of Protection Systems and was adopted by the NERC BOT on August 14, 2014. Phase 2 revised the definition of Remedial Action Scheme (RAS) and was adopted by the NERC BOT on November 13, 2014. Phase 3 is intended to address all aspects of RAS and Special Protection Systems (SPS) contained in the RAS/SPS-related Reliability Standards.
In FERC Order No. 693 (dated March 16, 2007), the Commission identified PRC-012-0, PRC-013-0, and PRC-014-0 as “fill-in-the-blank” standards and did not approve or remand them because they are applicable to the Regional Reliability Organizations (RROs), assigning the RROs the responsibility to establish regional procedures and databases, and to assess and document the operation, coordination, and compliance of RAS/SPS. The deference to regional practices precludes the consistent application of RAS/SPS-related Reliability Standard requirements. Although there is no FERC directive associated with Phase 3; this project will consider recommendations from the joint report, Special Protection Systems (SPS) and Remedial Action Schemes (RAS): Assessment of Definition, Regional Practices, and Application of Related Standards, issued by the System Analysis and Modeling Subcommittee (SAMS) and System Protection and Control Subcommittee (SPCS), as well as from the joint FERC-NERC inquiry of the September 2011 Southwest Blackout Event.
Standard(s) affected - PRC-012-1, PRC-013-1, PRC-014-1, PRC-015-1, PRC-016-1
Purpose/Industry Need
RAS/SPS are designed to detect predetermined System conditions and automatically take corrective actions to protect the reliability and integrity of the Bulk Electric System; consequently, the NERC Reliability Standards pertaining to these schemes should provide clear and unambiguous performance expectations and reliability benefits.
To accomplish this, the Phase 3 drafting team will correct the applicability of the fill-in-the-blank standards by assigning the requirement responsibilities to the specific users, owners, and operators of the Bulk-Power System; and will revise the RAS/SPS-related standards that address the:
• planning, coordination, and design of RAS/SPS,
• review, assessment, and documentation of RAS/SPS,
• analysis of RAS/SPS operation(s) and/or failure(s) to operate and corrective actions,
• testing of RAS/SPS, and maintenance of any non-protection system components used.
