Spotlight Articles

Today's LiveWire Spotlight reviews two “teachable moments” where complex devices and systems built to enhance electric system performance threatened it instead.  In the first Lesson Learned, dozens of SF6 circuit breakers…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight examines FERC Docket RD20-4-000 which authorizes NERC’s uncontested filing of seven standards modified in accordance with the Risk-Based Registration (RBR) Initiative.  The LSE has been removed as…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight examines NERC’s recent proposal to update their Rules of Procedure (“Rules”).  The ERO is looking to modify multiple Rules Sections and Appendices to reflect the latest System…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight looks at the latest support document proposed by NERC centering on the validation of planning models for roof-top solar panel aggregations, stand-alone solar/wind farms, and energy storage…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight reviews the ERO Enterprise’s Third Quarter Compliance and Enforcement report, which evaluates the organization’s performance using statistics and ancillary information acquired during the months of July-September.  Among other topics,…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight looks at the Standards Authorization Request (SAR) for Project 2020-05 - which emerged from a comprehensive review of every standard to identify gaps in those governing renewable…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight evaluates feedback given to NERC's Board of Trustees (BOT) Policy prior to their November meeting from the Member Representatives Committee (MRC), industry trade organizations, the ISO/RTO Council,…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight examines FAC-014-3 Draft 4, which looks to tidy up the few residual deficiencies preventing the completion of Project 2015-09: Establish and Communicate System Operating Limits (SOLs).  The update…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight examines the latest annual Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program (CMEP) operating plan issued by NERC and the Regional Entities – the thirteenth since they began a programmatic approach…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight looks at a brand-new NERC Lesson Learned which provides an in-depth examination of a major frequency event triggered by a single phase-to-ground Fault and amplified by a weak local…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight looks at FERC’s denial of a complaint from a Mr. Mabee who asserted that CIP-013-1 inadequately protects the Bulk Power System from nation state attacks through the supply…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight assesses FERC’s Notice of Inquiry (NOI) looking for a sense of the threat posed by telecommunications or video surveillance equipment supplied by companies identified by Congress as national…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight evaluates the latest annual analysis conducted by the ERO Enterprise on the use of Technical Feasibility Exceptions (TFEs) and their effect on BES reliability.  The report allows the…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight looks at FERC Order 873, which approves the retirement of 18 NERC requirements (out of 74 submitted) identified by the industry as redundant, administrative in nature, or providing…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight examines a program proposal made to the Reliability and Security Technical Committee (RSTC) offering a conceptual approach to help them deal with the deficiencies in the historical…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight evaluates NERC's most recent Reliability Guideline approval.  This document offers technical and logistical assistance to planners looking to simulate utility (U-DER) and retail-scale (R-DER) renewables in BES reliability…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight evaluates a NERC/FERC joint cyber study conducted in the hope of identifying the best practices specific to the cyber incident response plans developed by Registered Entities.  The…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight looks at the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS') recent report outlining the progress made in addressing the U.S President’s March 2019 order to mitigate the risk from natural…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight examines NERC's GMD data reporting application - a portal for Generator Owners and Transmission Owners to submit Geomagnetic Disturbance data.  This is an activity directed by FERC when they approved…

Today's LiveWire Spotlight evaluates several of the most recent cyber security vulnerability summaries posted by the Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT).  The topics range from the unsafe use…