First Things RFirst: March 2025
Expert analysis for a more reliable, secure and resilient electric grid, plus news and updates for RF stakeholders.
Insights & Analysis
The Lighthouse: CIP low impact from the ground up – Part 5, Quality evidence
This is the fifth 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 offers his advice to registered entities on gathering and presenting quality evidence when they are audited to any of the NERC Reliability Standards.
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, Port Huron, MI (Photo: Lew Folkerth)
Reminders for entities submitting self-reports and mitigation activities
Here are some things entities should keep in mind the next time they’re reporting a potential noncompliance of the NERC Reliability Standards that can save their companies time and resources.
Regulatory Affairs: Grid reliability news we’re tracking
The latest regulatory headlines we’re tracking include:
- FERC, NERC to host joint workshop on supply chain risk management
- House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy discusses increased demand, renewable energy
- GRID Power Act introduced in House of Representatives
- FERC issues orders approving PRC-028-1, PRC-002-5, PRC-030-1, and TPL-008-1
News & Updates
RF Generator Welcome Package offers guidance and internal control information to new Generator Owners or Generator Operators
Are you a Generator Owner (GO) or Generator Operator (GOP) preparing for or just completing the registration process with NERC? RF’s new Generator Welcome Package provides entities with a framework to prepare for compliance obligations and to internally assess GOs and GOPs’ current state of compliance. This package also provides suggestions on internal controls that can be useful in developing a compliance program.
RF developed this package based on experiences with new GOs and GOPs, and while the package covers a variety of past problem areas and provides helpful guidance, it does not guarantee that compliance will be achieved. However, with proper planning and a framework for assessing the state of compliance, a GO/GOP is better prepared for compliance responsibilities which begin on its registration date.
Click here to explore the document, now available in our Resource Center.
NERC paper discusses growing dependence of electric grid on natural gas infrastructure
NERC released its second Reliability Insights document in March, exploring the interconnected relationship between the gas and electric systems. The series aims to inform stakeholders on topics related to reliability and security of the North American grid, identifying critical issues and potential reliability impacts.
In this paper, NERC details the growing dependence of the electric grid on natural gas infrastructure. This shift has created new operational and planning challenges, as seen during Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022 when extreme cold temperatures in the Eastern Interconnection caused both a spike in peak electricity demand as well as a major dip in natural gas production due to various mechanical and operational issues. The full document is available here.
Watch: CIP Themes and Lessons Learned Report highlighted in new video series
In 2024, the ERO Enterprise identified four risk themes that have made it difficult for some entities to mitigate risks associated with the NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (“CIP”) Reliability Standards. To communicate these themes and possible resolutions to them, the ERO Enterprise developed the 2024 Critical Infrastructure Protection Themes and Lessons Learned Report, and RF recently released short videos on each of the themes (linked below).
The themes identified in the report are:
- Latent vulnerabilities: The importance of internal detective controls
- Insufficient commitment to low impact CIP programs: The need to revisit approaches to CIP-003 R2
- Shortages of labor and skillsets: Challenges in workforce and succession planning
- Performance drift: Physical security issues as markers of performance drift and apathy
Upcoming Events
March 17, 2-3:30 p.m. EST | Tech Talk with RF
Join us on Monday, March 17, for our next Tech Talk with RF! Here’s what’s on the agenda:
Large load forecasting
Molly Mooney, Senior Analyst, Resource Adequacy Group, PJM
- Molly Mooney will discuss what PJM has been seeing with data center growth, electric vehicle growth, and more in the organization’s long-term load forecast.
Incident review and guidance on voltage-sensitive large loads
Rich Bauer, Principal Engineer, NERC
Hassan Hamdar, Program Manager, Event Analysis, SERC
- Rich Bauer and Hassan Hamdar will review an event caused by a 230 kV transmission line fault where simultaneous loss of approximately 1,500 MW of voltage-sensitive load was not anticipated. The electric grid has not historically experienced simultaneous load losses of this magnitude in response to a fault on the system.
March 20, 1-5 p.m. ET | FERC-NERC Joint Supply Chain Workshop
FERC and NERC will hold a hybrid virtual/in-person workshop on supply chain risk management on March 20 at the FERC office in Washington, D.C.
The workshop will focus on FERC’s proposed directive in its September 2024 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to require that entities establish steps in supply chain risk management plans to validate the completeness and accuracy of information received from vendors during the procurement process. The aim is to better inform the identification and assessment of supply chain risks associated with vendors’ software, hardware, or services.
To register to attend in-person, click here. FERC plans to post information on how to attend virtually on its website prior to the event.
April 21, 2-3:30 p.m. ET | Tech Talk with RF
Save the date for our April edition of Tech Talk with RF! It’s coming up on April 21, from 2-3:30 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for agenda details to be posted to our website and LinkedIn feed.
June 4-6, 2025 | NERC Milestone 3 Industry Engagement Workshop
NERC is hosting a workshop from June 4 to 6 to discuss industry comments regarding: Project 2020-06 – Verifications of Models and Data for Generators; Project 2021-01 – System Model Validation with Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs); and Project 2022-02 – Uniform Modeling Framework for IBRs.
The primary objective of the workshop will be to explore the key commonalities identified in the industry comments received during the balloting period, as well as questions raised during outreach leading up to the workshop. Breakout sessions (which will only be open to in-person attendees) will provide opportunities for in-depth discussions on the relevant standards and to integrate industry comments into these standards in pursuit of consensus.
Workshop Schedule
- June 4, 2025: 12 – 5 p.m. | Large Group Conference (in-person/virtual)
- June 5, 2025: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Large Group Conference (in-person/virtual)
1 – 5 p.m. Project Breakout Session (in-person only) - June 6, 2025: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Project Breakout Session (in-person only)
NERC will share further details regarding the location and agenda closer to the workshop date. NERC’s Engineering and Standards Development staff will reach out to the industry to gather questions and comments approximately 1–2 weeks prior to the workshop. NERC encourages industry to submit any questions or topics they would like to see addressed during the event. For more information about this workshop, please contact Levetra Pitts.
Sept. 8-10, 2025 | RF Fall Reliability & Security Summit
Save the date for RF’s 2025 Fall Reliability & Security Summit! This year’s event is planned for Sept. 8-10 in the Washington, D.C., area. Stay tuned for more details.
Multiple dates | SERC System Operator Conferences
SERC is hosting four upcoming System Operator Conferences (SOCs), providing NERC-certified System Operators with the opportunity to earn 19 Continuing Education Hours.
- SOC #1: April 8–10, 2025 – Embassy Suites, Greenville, SC
- SOC #2: May 6–8, 2025 – SERC Office, Charlotte, NC
- SOC #3: Sept. 9–11, 2025 – Embassy Suites, Little Rock, AR
- SOC #4: Oct. 14–16, 2025 – SERC Office, Charlotte, NC
Further details and the link to register can be accessed through SERC University.
May 20-21, 2025 | MRO Reliability, Security, and CMEP Summit
MRO is hosting a Reliability, Security, and CMEP Summit on May 20-21 in Oklahoma City. Industry leaders and experts will come together to explore topics including uncertain energy availability, supply chain risks, IBR & DER performance, and security – physical and cyber.
To explore our full calendar of upcoming events, click here.
First Things RFirst: March 2025