Electric Power System Reliability -2015
First Edition
William H. Smith, P.E.
Powersmiths International is recognized by the North American Electric Reliability
Corporation as a continuing education provider that adheres to NERC Continuing
Education Program Criteria.
Cover design and creation by Rondee Mikolajczak, Milwaukee, WI
Cover Photo by Linda K. Smith, Marietta, GA
Contents
Preface
Introduction
Standards Development and Monetary Penalties
v
1
10
Chapter 1.
19
Chapter 2.
Chapter 3.
Chapter 4.
Chapter 5.
Chapter 6.
Chapter 7.
Chapter 8.
Resource and Demand Balancing
NERC Standards BAL-001, 003, 004, 005, 006
Voltage Control and Reactive Power
NERC Standard VAR-001, 002
Power System Disturbance and Contingency Response
NERC Standard BAL-002
Reliability Operating Limits and Reliability Coordination
NERC Standards IRO-004, 005, TOP-004, 007, 008
IRO-001, 002, 003 ,008, 009, 010, 014, 015, 016, FAC-011,014
Transmission Congestion
NERC Standards IRO-006,
FAC- 008, 013, MOD-001, 004, 008
Emergency Operations
NERC Standards EOP-001 thru 004, 008, 010
Power System Restoration
NERC Standards EOP-005, 006, 007, 009
Transmission System Operations
NERC Standards TOP-001, 002, 003, 005, 006
45
61
71
93
121
149
191
PRC-001, 004 thru 011, 015 thru 018, 021 thru 023
Chapter 9.
Interchange
NERC Standards INT-004, 006, 009, 010, 011
Chapter 10. Transmission Planning
NERC Standards MOD-010, 012,016-021,
TPL-001 thru 004, FAC-010
Chapter 11. Cyber Infrastructure
NERC Standards CIP-002 thru 009
Chapter 12. Communications
NERC Standards COM-001, 002
Chapter 13. Personnel Performance, Training and Qualifications
NERC Standards PER-001 thru 004
Chapter 14. Facilities Design, Connections and Maintenance
NERC Standards FAC-001, 002, 003
Chapter 15. Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination -NUC-001
Chapter 16. Power System Stability
Chapter 17. Power System Simulation
Answers to Questions
About the Author
233
253
269
285
289
297
305
307
313
319
320
Preface
Electric Power System Reliability-2015 is designed to serve as an aid for those
preparing for the NERC System Operator Certification exams and those seeking to
familiarize themselves with the power system fundamentals necessary to fully
understand and properly implement the NERC Reliability Standards. It is the most
up to date written material for those preparing for the new 2015 NERC System
Operator Certification Exams.
“Electric Power System Reliability-2006” was first offered in July, 2006. It was
popular and served its purpose. “EPSR-2007” was an updated version of the 2006
book including the new and revised NERC Standards on which the July, 2007
NERC exams were to be based and some new questions to promote understanding.
The new NERC exams were delayed and ultimately implemented in July, 2008.
NERC implemented new System Operator Certification Exams in 2012. The
exams went live in February, 2012. The exams were based on the NERC Reliability
Standards effective October 1, 2011.
New NERC System Operator Certification Exams were implemented in January,
2015 and test on the NERC Standards which were effective on January 1, 2014;
particularly the NERC Glossary of Terms and the BAL, COM, EOP, INT, IRO,
TOP, VAR Standards.
This 2015 First Edition is an update to the 2014 First Edition. It includes lessons
learned from recently taking the NERC RC exam. It is revised to include
Standards approved by FERC that become effective during 2015. It emphasizes
the Standards in effect as of January 1, 2014 on which the current (2015) exam is
based. The presentation of the Standards highlights those considered to be most
important in preparing for the NERC exam and those which have the greatest
impact on system reliability.
As always, we will present the Standards in the context of power system
fundamentals, the understanding of which is required to properly implement those
Standards.
The NERC Approved Reliability Standards are organized into fourteen topical
blocks on the NERC website:
BAL—Resource and Demand Balancing
CIP—Critical Infrastructure Protection
COM—Communications
EOP—Emergency Preparedness and Operations
FAC—Facilities Design, Connections and Maintenance
INT—Interchange Scheduling and Coordination
IRO—Interconnection Reliability Operations and Coordination
MOD—Modeling, Data, and Analysis
NUC—Nuclear
PER—Personnel Performance, Training and Qualifications
PRC—Protection and Control
TOP—Transmission Operations
TPL—Transmission Planning
VAR—Voltage and Reactive
This book is organized in seventeen chapters each addressing a fundamental of
Power System Reliability. Rather than present the Reliability Standards strictly in
the NERC alphabetic Standards blocks, the Standards are presented in the context
of the appropriate power system fundamentals. This organization is designed to
provide the technical information required to understand the Standards and
provide relevance and perspective to highlight the purpose of each Standard or
group of Standards. This presentation format is designed to frame each group of
standards so that information can be more easily assimilated and retained by
electric power system operating personnel.
Each chapter is designed around a fundamental of Power System Reliability and its
associated NERC Standards. Background information is presented to explain the
purpose, intent and technical relevance of the Standards in that group. Key
requirements of the Standards are summarized. Finally, any remaining
requirements from the Standards group are presented for completeness.
This book is not intended as a complete and comprehensive representation of the
NERC Reliability Standards. Power system professionals should continue to
consult the NERC web site and other NERC publications for a comprehensive and
current statement of the NERC Reliability Standards and their requirements,
measures and compliance levels.
Chapter 13 contains a description of the details of the NERC System Operator
exams and the process for registering for those exams. Those individuals
preparing for the exam may want to turn there first.