First Things RFirst: December 2024
Expert analysis for a more reliable, secure and resilient electric grid, plus news and updates for RF stakeholders.
Insights & Analysis
ReliabilityFirst 2024-2025 Winter Reliability Assessment
The upcoming winter season projects to bring with it a low risk to reliability in the PJM and MISO footprints under a more typical electric demand forecast, but reliability could be challenged in certain more extreme scenarios, according to ReliabilityFirst (RF) analysis.
Enforcement Explained: 2024 Year in Review—Trends and Outreach
This edition of Enforcement Explained discusses a few trends in 2024 violation intake and processing and highlights important outreach from RF Enforcement staff throughout the year.
The Lighthouse: CIP low impact from the ground up – Part 4, Identifying your CIP Senior Manager
This is the fourth in a series of articles in which RF’s Lew Folkerth will explore the NERC CIP Standards applicable to low impact Bulk Electric System Cyber Systems. In this article, Lew discusses the designation of a management official to be responsible for an entity’s cyber security program.
Mendota Lighthouse in Mohawk, Michigan (Photo: Lew Folkerth)
How Root Cause Analysis can help address reliability issues (and beyond) at their source
Whether you’re dealing with a missed cyber security patch, a breaker tripping offline, or even an issue within your own home, determining the source of an issue through a root cause analysis is a simple methodology that can provide some great benefits, including improving electric grid reliability.
Regulatory Affairs: Grid reliability news we’re tracking
The latest regulatory headlines we’re tracking include:
- FERC issues Order 1920-A on electric regional transmission planning and cost allocation
- FERC holds technical conference on co-location of large loads at generating facilities
- U.S. sets new nuclear targets at COP29 U.N. climate summit
News & Updates
ERO Enterprise hosts IBR Registration Initiative webinar, launches resources for new registrants
The ERO Enterprise hosted an informational webinar on the Inverter-Based Resource (IBR) Registration Initiative on Nov. 13. This initiative addresses the identification and registration of owners and operators of IBRs that are connected to the bulk power system, but are not currently required to register with NERC or adhere to its Reliability Standards. To watch a recording of the webinar click here, and find the presentation slides posted here.
NERC also released a suite of IBR resources for new registrants on Nov. 12, including an IBRs 101 guide, an open letter to new registrants and an overview video on the initiative.
Find more information on the IBR Registration Initiative on the RF website here.
NERC files Interregional Transfer Capability Study with FERC
NERC filed the complete Interregional Transfer Capability Study (ITCS) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Nov. 18, in advance of the Dec. 2 deadline, after 18 months of extensive outreach and collaboration.
The study provides a calculation of current transfer capabilities, an energy margin analysis for 23 Transmission Planning Regions, and recommendations for increases to transfer capability between regions that would strengthen energy adequacy during extreme weather events. It also recommends approaches to meet and maintain transfer capability that would be prudent for reliability. The filing will be followed by a FERC public comment period.
Key findings from the report include:
- Energy deficiencies were identified in all 12 weather years studied.
- Import capability needed during extreme conditions varied significantly across the country—there was no one-size-fits-all answer.
- An additional 35 gigawatts of transfer capability across the United States was identified as being beneficial for reliability.
- There are numerous barriers to realizing the benefits of interregional transmission in a timely manner.
- Some identified transmission needs could be alleviated by projects already in the planning, permitting, or construction phases.
- Higher than expected retirements (without replacement capacity) would lead to increased energy deficiencies and potentially more transfer capability needed than recommended in this study.
- Transmission upgrades alone may not fully address all risks, and a broader set of solutions should be considered, balancing the opportunity for local resources, demand-side management, and storage solutions.
For more information, see NERC’s ITCS Project page.
Upcoming Events
Dec. 16, 2-3:30 p.m. EST | Technical Talk with RF
Join us on Monday, Dec. 16, for our last Tech Talk of 2024! Here’s what’s on the agenda:
RF Winter Reliability Assessment projections
Tim Fryfogle, Principal Engineer – Resources, Engineering & System Performance, RF
- Tim will provide an overview of RF’s 2024-2025 Winter Reliability Assessment.
Enforcement 2024 Year in Review
Elizabeth Emanuel Arora, Counsel, Legal & Enforcement, RF
- Elizabeth will look back at RF’s enforcement actions from 2024 and highlight key takeaways.
Jan. 13, 2-3:30 p.m. EST | Technical Talk with RF
Join us on Monday, Jan. 13, for our first Tech Talk of 2025! Here’s what’s on the agenda:
NERC Distributed Energy Resources Aggregator Report overview
John Paul “JP” Skeath, Senior Engineer, Engineering & Security Integration, NERC
- JP will discuss the highlights from NERC’s new Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Aggregator report.
RF Long-term Reliability Assessment projections
Tim Fryfogle, Principal Engineer – Resources, Engineering & System Performance, RF
- Tim will discuss the analysis and projections in RF’s latest Long-term Reliability Assessment.
March 4, 2025 | ERO Enterprise Women’s Leadership Conference
Save the date for the 2025 ERO Enterprise Women’s Leadership Conference, hosted by Midwest Reliability Organization. Please join us as we celebrate women across the ERO Enterprise and from the energy and other critical infrastructure sectors.
The event will be moderated by MRO Board Chair Dr. Dana Born – a retired USAF Brigadier General and lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Keynote remarks will be provided by: Dr. Jennifer Hesterman, retired USAF Colonel and award-winning author; Dr. Rosie Ward, Ph.D., workplace wellness expert and award-winning author; and MRO’s president and CEO Sara Patrick.
To explore our full calendar of upcoming events, click here.
First Things RFirst: December 2024