FERC approves revised definition of bulk electric system

subscribe

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FERC recently issued a final rule revising the definition of the bulk electric system. The revisions, proposed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation NERC, should provide greater transparency and uniformity in defining the bulk electric system.

Key revisions to the current definition remove language allowing for broad discretion across the reliability regions and establish a “bright-line” threshold that includes all facilities operated at or above 100 kilovolts.

TodayÂ’s final rule also establishes a process for seeking a Commission ruling on whether facilities otherwise included in the bulk power system are used in local distribution as set forth in the Federal Power Act. The starting point for this case-by-case analysis will be Order No. 888Â’s seven-factor test for determining whether a facility is a local distribution or transmission facility however, FERC will consider other factors based on the specific situation.

In other revisions, the final rule:

- Identifies five facilities configurations that are included in the bulk electric system.

- Identifies four facilities configurations that are not included in the bulk electric system.

- Accepts North American Electric Reliability CorporationÂ’s proposed exception process rules to add or remove system elements from the definition on a case-by-case basis.

The final rule takes effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Related News

alberta-last-coal-plant-closes-embracing-clean-energy

Alberta's Last Coal Plant Closes, Embracing Clean Energy

ALBERTA - The closure of the Genesee Generating Station on September 30, 2023, marked a significant milestone in Alberta's energy history. The Genesee, located near Calgary, was the province's last remaining coal-fired power plant. Its closure represents the culmination of a multi-year effort to transition Alberta's electricity sector away from coal and towards cleaner sources of energy.

For decades, coal was the backbone of Alberta's electricity grid. Coal-fired plants were reliable and relatively inexpensive to operate. However, coal also has a significant environmental impact. The burning of coal releases greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, a major contributor to climate change.…

READ MORE

Ambitious clean energy target will mean lower electricity prices, modelling says

READ MORE

power lines

Nearly $1 Trillion in Investments Estimated by 2030 as Power Sector Transitions to a More Decarbonized and Flexible System

READ MORE

london-gateway-unveils-world-first-all-electric-berth

London Gateway Unveils World’s First All-Electric Berth

READ MORE

Congressional Democrats

Congressional Democrats push FERC to act on aggregated DERs

READ MORE