Project 2010-17 Proposed Definition of Bulk Electric System
 
 
Status:  
The Bulk Electric System (BES) Phase 2 definition was approved by the Board on November 21, 2013 and filed with FERC on December 13, 2013. The definition was approved by FERC on March 20, 2014. 
 
The Reference Document is intended to support implementation of the BES definition, and was posted for industry comment through, February 27, 2014. The drafting team has reviewed the comments and finalized the Reference Document.  On March 31, 2014, the Standards Committee endorsed posting the final Reference Document as a supporting document.
 
Background:
On December 20, 2012 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the Commission) issued Order No. 773, approving the definition of Bulk Electric System filed as a result of Phase 1 of the Definition of Bulk Electric System project.  In Order No. 773, as clarified in Order 773-A, the Commission directed NERC to: (1) modify the exclusions for radial systems (Exclusion E1) and local networks (Exclusion E3) so that they do not apply to tie-lines, i.e. generator interconnection facilities, for BES generators; and (2) modify the local network exclusion to remove the 100 kV minimum operating voltage to allow systems that include one or more looped configurations connected below 100 kV to be eligible for the local network exclusion.
 
In Order No. 773-A, the Commission noted that facilities below 100 kV can be a significant factor in a major blackout. The Commission cited the joint NERC and Commission staff report on the September 8, 2011, Arizona-Southern California blackout in support of its decision to include all facilities that have a material impact on the reliability of the Bulk-Power System.  The Commission’s analysis of the impact of the revisions to the definition of BES to address Order No. 773 directives reflects the intention that the revised definition would not dramatically impact the footprint of the BES. 
 
On May 23, 2013, NERC filed a motion with FERC, requesting that the effective date of Order 773 be extended by one year, from July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014.  On June 6, 2013, FERC granted this request.  In its order, FERC stated that “NERC should submit a filing that includes proposed modifications to comply with the directives pertaining to exclusions E1 and E3 as soon as possible prior to December 31, 2013.  Any delay in the submission of a filing that addresses the responsive modifications could impede the Commission’s ability to act on the directives prior to July 1, 2014.”
 
Purpose/Industry Need:
On November 18, 2010 FERC issued Order 743 and directed NERC to revise the definition of Bulk Electric System so that the definition encompasses all Elements and Facilities necessary for the reliable operation and planning of the interconnected bulk power system.   Phase I of Project 2010-17 Definition of Bulk Electric System concluded on November 21, 2011 with stakeholder approval of a revised definition of Bulk Electric System and application form titled ‘Detailed Information to Support an Exception Request’ referenced in the Rules of Procedure Exception Process.    The revised definition, modifications to the Rules of Procedure to provide a process for determining exceptions to the definition, and an application form to support that process, will all be presented to the NERC Board of Trustees for adoption and then filed with regulatory authorities for approval.  
 
Phase 2 of the project was initiated to develop appropriate technical justification to support refinements to the definition that were suggested by stakeholders during Phase I, and to refine the definition as technically justified. In addition, during Phase 2 the drafting team will address FERC’s directives from Orders 773 and 773-A.
 
 
Draft Action Dates Results Consideration of Comments

Final Phase BES

Reference Document
Clean | Redline to Last Posting

April 2014​
 
Supporting Materials:
 

​Comment Period
Info>>

Submit Comments>>

​01/29/14 - 02/27/14 Comments Received>> Consideration of Comments>>

​Draft 4
Clean | Redline to Last Posting | Redline to Last Approved

Implementation Plan
Clean

Supporting Documents:
 
 
 

​Final Ballot
Info>>

 

Vote>>

11/08/13 - 11/18/13
(closed)​

Summary>>

 

Ballot Results>>

Draft 3
 
Implementation Plan
Redline to Last Posting
 
Supporting Documents:
 
Unofficial Comment Form (Word)
 
 
SAR
 
 
Standards Committee Authorization to Waive the Standard Process
 ​
Additional Ballot
 
 
10/18/13 - 10/29/13​
Extended an additional day to achieve quorum.​
(closed)

Summary>>

 

Ballot Results>>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consideration of Comments>>

Formal Comment Period
Info>>
 

09/27/13 - 10/29/13​(closed)

​Comments Received>>

Draft 2

Clean

 

Redline to Last Posting

 

Implementation Plan

Clean

 

Redline to Last Posting

Supporting Documents

White Paper to Support sub-100 kV Threshold 

SAR

 

Unofficial Comment Form

Notice of Request to Waive the Standard Process

Formal Comment Period

 

Updated Info>>

 

Submit Comments>>

08/06/13 - 09/04/13
(closed)​
Comments
Received >>
Consideration of Comments>>

Additional Ballot

Vote>>

08/26/13 - 09/04/13
(closed)​

Summary>>

 

Ballot Results>>

Draft 1 - Phase 2 Definition

Clean | Redline to Last Approved

Implementation Plan

Supporting Documents

Unofficial Comment Form (Word Version)

NERC Planning Committee Report on Analysis of Thresholds

Drafting Team Initial Rationale for Radial Exclusion Voltage Threshold

Phase 2 SAR

Phase 2 Supplemental SAR

-------------------​

Comment Period

Info>>

Submit Comments>>

  

---------------

  

Join Ballot Pool>>

 

 

--------------

Initial Ballot

Updated Info>>


Vote>>​

05/29/13 - 07/12/13
(closed)

 

 

-----------------------

 

  05/29/13 - 06/27/13
(closed) 

------------------------

 

07/03/13 - 07/12/13
(closed)​

 

Comments Received>>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary>>

Ballot Results>>

Consideration of Comments>>
Phase 1: Bulk Electric System Definition Reference Document (April 2013)

For Information

 

On June 13, 2013, FERC issued an order extending the effective date of the definition of Bulk Electric System developed in Phase 1.  As a result, this reference document is outdated.  Revisions to the document will be developed at a later date to conform to the definition being developed in Phase 2

Phase 2

 

 

SAR

Supplemental SAR

 

For Information

Draft 1

Guidance Document


Supporting Materials:
Unofficial Comment Form (Word)

Definition of Bulk Electric System
(Filed with FERC 01/23/12)
Informal Comment Period

Info>>

Submit Comments>>
10/4/2012 - 11/5/2012
(closed)
Comments Received>>  Consideration of Comments>>
Phase 2

FINAL SAR
Clean | Redline
Posted for Information 7/10/2012    

Phase 2

Draft 1 SAR

Supporting Materials:
Definition of Bulk Electric System (last approved)

Unofficial Comment Form (Word)
 Comment Period

Info>>

Submit Comments>>
1/4/2012 - 2/3/2012
(closed)
Comments Received>>  

Draft 3

Definition of Bulk Electric System
Clean | Redline to Last Posting

Implementation Plan for Definition
Clean | Redline to Last Posting

Detailed Information to Support BES Exceptions Request
Clean | Redline to Last Posting
Recirculation Ballots

Info>>

Vote>>
11/10/2011 - 11/21/2011
(closed)
Summary>>

BES Definition Full Record>>

BES Exceptions Full Record>>
 
Draft 2

Definition of Bulk Electric System
Clean | Redline to Last Posting

Implementation Plan for Definition
Clean | Redline to Last Posting

Supporting Materials
Comment Form (Word)

Draft Supplemental SAR

090111 Letter to A. Mosher from Chairman Anderson

082411 Letter to Chairman Anderson from from A. Mosher

Technical Justification for Local Network Exclusion
Initial Ballot of Definition of BES

Updated Info>>
Info>>

Vote>>
9/30/2011 - 10/10/2011
(closed)
Summary>>

Full Record>>
Consideration of Comments>>
Join Ballot Pool>>

8/26/2011 -9/26/2011
(closed)
   
Comment Period

Updated Info>>
Info>>

Submit Comments>>
8/26/2011 - 10/10/2011
(closed)
BES Definition Comments Received>> Consideration of Comments>>

Draft 2

Detailed Information to Support BES Exceptions Request

Supporting Materials
Comment Form (Word)



Initial Ballot of Detailed Information to Support BES Exceptions Request

Info>>

Vote>>
9/30/2011 - 10/10/2011
(closed)
Summary>>

Full Record>>
Consideration of Comments>>
Join Ballot Pool>>

8/26/2011 -9/26/2011
(closed)
Comment Period

Info>>

Submit Comments>>
8/26/2011 - 10/10/2011
(closed)
BES Exceptions Comments Received>> Consideration of Comments>>
 

Draft 1

Comment Form (Word)

Comment Period

Submit Comments>>

Info>>
5/11/2011 -6/10/2011
(closed)
Comments Received>> Technical Principles Consideration of Comments>>

SAR Version 2
Clean | Redline to last posting

Definition of Bulk Electric System
Clean | Redline to last posting

Implementation Plan for Definition
Clean

Comment Form (Word)

Bulk Electric System Definition Revision Status

Info>>
    Definition of Bulk Electric System Consideration of Comments>>
Comment Period

Info>>

Submit Comments>>
 

4/28/2011 -5/27/2011

(closed)

 

 
 
Comments Received>>
 
 
 
Supporting Materials:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comment Period


Info>>

Submit Comments>>
 
   12/17/2010 – 1/21/2011
 (closed)


BES Definition Exception Process Comments Received


Comments Received >>



BES SAR & Definition Consideration of Comments>>



BES Definition Exception Process Consideration of Comments

Q1>>

Q2>>

Q3>>


All comments should be forwarded to sarcomm@nerc.com .