September 30, 2021
ERO Enterprise Holds Webinar
On September 28, 2021, the ERO Enterprise hosted an informal webinar as an outreach opportunity to ensure industry remains informed and to support industry readiness on Align and the ERO Enterprise Secure Evidence Locker (ERO SEL). The presentation and recording will be available for viewing at a later date. The ERO Enterprise Align and SEL Presentation covered the following: - Lessons Learned: Align Release 1, Release 2, and SEL
- Change Readiness Assessment Pulse Check: Release 1 and Release 2
- Access Provisioning
- Coordinated Oversight/MRRE Entities
- What's Next: Release 3 and Release 4
- Data Handling in Align and the SEL
- Legacy Systems: webCDMS and Compliance Portal
- Training Resources
For more information or assistance, please contact your regional representative or Align Change Agent.
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September 8, 2021
Data Handling in Align and the ERO Secure Evidence Locker
Document: Data Handling in Align and the SEL
The ERO Enterprise at times must review information owned or produced by registered entities that relates to Bulk-Power System (BPS) operations and planning. This information often includes evidence registered entities must provide to demonstrate compliance with NERC and Regional Reliability Standards and Requirements, as well as information to determine the risk on the BPS. The ERO Enterprise has implemented the Secure Evidence Locker (SEL), provided and maintained by the ERO Enterprise, for use by registered entities to submit evidence (also known as artifacts) for assessment.
NERC posted a guidance document that provides clarity regarding the storage and maintenance of registered entity and ERO Enterprise-created or -provided information related to Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program (CMEP) activities in Align and the SEL. This guidance is to provide general principles to support ERO Enterprise program alignment, but individual facts and circumstances, as well as experience with the Align and SEL systems, may shape ERO Enterprise actions.
For more information or assistance, please contact Lonnie Ratliff (via email) or at 404-446-9709.
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July 19, 2021
Release 2 of Align is Now Live! ERO Enterprise leadership is excited to announce the Release 2 launch of Align starting July 19, 2021. Align is designed to process and track all compliance monitoring and enforcement activities with the goal of improving security and standardizing processes across the ERO Enterprise.
Release 2 includes Technical Feasibility Exceptions (TFE), Periodic Data Submittals (PDS), Attestations, and Self-Certifications functionality in Align, as well as the use of the ERO Secure Evidence Locker (SEL) to collect registered entity-provided evidence to support these activities. Release 2 builds upon Release 1, which included self-reporting/self-logging, enforcement processing, and mitigation functionality in Align. Subsequent releases will introduce new functionalities to the platform throughout 2021 and 2022. Please note that while Release 2 functionality is now available in Align, go-live dates will vary by Region and functionality, as listed in the table below. Reach out to your regional representative with any questions related to your Lead Region's rollout schedule.

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For questions about training or functionality, please reach out to your regional contacts.
Submit questions related to the webinar to AskAlign@nerc.net