Status:
The Bulk Electric System (BES) Phase 2 definition was approved by the Board on November 21, 2013 and filed with FERC on December 13, 2013. The definition was approved by FERC on March 20, 2014.
The Reference Document is intended to support implementation of the BES definition, and was posted for industry comment through, February 27, 2014. The drafting team has reviewed the comments and finalized the Reference Document. On March 31, 2014, the Standards Committee endorsed posting the final Reference Document as a supporting document.
Background:
On December 20, 2012 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the Commission) issued Order No. 773, approving the definition of Bulk Electric System filed as a result of Phase 1 of the Definition of Bulk Electric System project. In Order No. 773, as clarified in Order 773-A, the Commission directed NERC to: (1) modify the exclusions for radial systems (Exclusion E1) and local networks (Exclusion E3) so that they do not apply to tie-lines, i.e. generator interconnection facilities, for BES generators; and (2) modify the local network exclusion to remove the 100 kV minimum operating voltage to allow systems that include one or more looped configurations connected below 100 kV to be eligible for the local network exclusion.
In Order No. 773-A, the Commission noted that facilities below 100 kV can be a significant factor in a major blackout. The Commission cited the joint NERC and Commission staff report on the September 8, 2011, Arizona-Southern California blackout in support of its decision to include all facilities that have a material impact on the reliability of the Bulk-Power System. The Commission’s analysis of the impact of the revisions to the definition of BES to address Order No. 773 directives reflects the intention that the revised definition would not dramatically impact the footprint of the BES.
On May 23, 2013, NERC filed a motion with FERC, requesting that the effective date of Order 773 be extended by one year, from July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014. On June 6, 2013, FERC granted this request. In its order, FERC stated that “NERC should submit a filing that includes proposed modifications to comply with the directives pertaining to exclusions E1 and E3 as soon as possible prior to December 31, 2013. Any delay in the submission of a filing that addresses the responsive modifications could impede the Commission’s ability to act on the directives prior to July 1, 2014.”
Purpose/Industry Need:
On November 18, 2010 FERC issued Order 743 and directed NERC to revise the definition of Bulk Electric System so that the definition encompasses all Elements and Facilities necessary for the reliable operation and planning of the interconnected bulk power system. Phase I of Project 2010-17 Definition of Bulk Electric System concluded on November 21, 2011 with stakeholder approval of a revised definition of Bulk Electric System and application form titled ‘Detailed Information to Support an Exception Request’ referenced in the Rules of Procedure Exception Process. The revised definition, modifications to the Rules of Procedure to provide a process for determining exceptions to the definition, and an application form to support that process, will all be presented to the NERC Board of Trustees for adoption and then filed with regulatory authorities for approval.
Phase 2 of the project was initiated to develop appropriate technical justification to support refinements to the definition that were suggested by stakeholders during Phase I, and to refine the definition as technically justified. In addition, during Phase 2 the drafting team will address FERC’s directives from Orders 773 and 773-A.
