NERC commends IESO's compliance with reliability

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has been found fully compliant with four key electricity reliability standards monitored by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).

These findings were contained in an audit conducted late last year by an audit team made up of independent contractors, as well as representatives of the Northeast Power Coordinating Council Inc. (NPCC), which has delegated authority for monitoring and enforcing compliance with NERC reliability standards in the northeast United States and Canada.

"These audit findings reinforce the IESO's position as one of North America's leading electricity system operators," said Gerry Phillips, Minister of Energy. "A reliable electricity system is the cornerstone of Ontario's economic growth and productivity."

Among other responsibilities, the IESO is responsible for establishing, monitoring and enforcing reliability standards in Ontario. While the IESO has excelled in previous compliance and readiness audits, this is the first formal compliance audit of the IESO since NERC became the North American Electric Reliability Organization.

The audit team evaluated IESO compliance with the four transmission planning reliability standards identified in the NERC 2007 Implementation Plan. These four transmission-related standards define the requirements for system simulations and associated assessments under numerous operating conditions.

"Established reliability standards play an important role in ensuring the reliability, adequacy, and security of North America's integrated electricity system," said Paul Murphy, President and CEO of the IESO. "The audit findings demonstrate the IESO has the appropriate resources, procedures and processes in place to support effective coordination with other industry players, including the Ontario Power Authority and Hydro One."

The results of this latest compliance audit support the findings of an earlier NERC Reliability Readiness Audit, which identified several "Examples of Excellence" at the IESO. Similarly, an NPCC-facilitated Peer Review Team appraised the IESO's 2007 reliability performance and declared it "an exceptional effort."

The NPCC had high praise for the scope and quality of the IESO's latest submissions. "The documentation provided to the auditor by the IESO was precisely laid out and excellent in composition and detail," said Salvatore Buffamante, Manager, Compliance Audit Program of the NPCC. "Employee support was also excellent."