Ballot Results for Definition of Bulk Electric System
The two ballots windows for Project 2010-17 Definition of Bulk Electric System (BES): the first for the definition of Bulk Electric System and associated implementation plan, and the second for the draft application form titled Detailed Information to Support an Exception Request referenced in the Rules of Procedure Exception Process closed at 8 p.m. Eastern on Monday, October 10, 2011.
Voting statistics for each ballot are listed below, and the Ballot Results Web page provides a link to the detailed results.
BES Definition
Quorum: 92.97%
Approval: 71.68%

Technical Criteria to Support a BES Exception Request
Quorum: 89.53%
Approval: 64.03%

The drafting team will consider all comments received, and decide whether to make additional revisions to the definition of Bulk Electric System, the associated implementation plan, and the application form titled Detailed Information to Support an Exception Request referenced in the Rules of Procedure Exception Process. The drafting team is working to meet the regulatory deadline established in FERC Orders 743 and 743A (filing by January 25, 2012).

On November 18, 2010, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) issued an Order directing NERC to revise the definition of Bulk Electric System and address the Commission’s concerns as identified in Order No. 693, issued on March 16, 2007.  The definition encompasses all Elements necessary for the reliable operation and planning of the interconnected transmission network.  A draft definition, developed by the Project 2010-17 standards drafting team, was posted for a 30-day comment period on April 28, 2011.

 

Concurrent with the development of the revised Bulk Electric System definition, a Bulk Electric System Rules of Procedure Team (“BES ROP Team”) was formed to develop a procedure for facility-by-facility determinations of inclusions or exclusions to the Bulk Electric System not otherwise resolved through the Bulk Electric System definition.  The BES ROP team has developed an initial draft of the proposed Appendix 5C Bulk Electric System Component Exception Procedure, which is being posted for comment for thirty days.  Concurrently with the posting of the proposed Appendix 5C, NERC is also posting for a thirty-day comment period the BES Technical Principles for BES Exceptions document.

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.  Additional specificity will reduce ambiguity and establish consistency across all Regions in distinguishing between BES and non-BES Elements and Facilities.

A proposed SAR, a proposed revision to the definition of Bulk Electric System, and some concepts proposed for a BES Definition Exception Process are all posted for an extended 30-day informal comment period: December 17-January 21, 2010.  There are two separate comment forms - one for the SAR and proposed definition; one for the BES Definition Exception Process.

The Consideration of Comment reports developed in response to comments on the first draft of the SAR, the first draft of the definition of BES, and the BES Definition Exception Process Concepts Paper have all been posted for stakeholder review along with a revised definition of BES.  A formal comment period seeking comments on the revisions made to the definition of BES will be announced soon.

 
The leadership of the BES Definition SDT and Rules of Procedure team met with the leadership of the Standards Program and the Standards Committee and determined that the BES Definition SDT will assume responsibility for working with stakeholders to identify what evidence is needed to support a request for an exception to the BES definition.  The BES Definition team will solicit stakeholder input to identify the evidence an entity will need to provide when submitting a request for an exception to the definition of BES.  While the determination of what evidence will be needed to support a request for a BES Definition Exception will be developed using NERC’s standard development process, a decision on where the final product will reside - in the definition of BES, or as an attachment (e.g., a procedure identifying what evidence to produce when applying for a BES exception) to the Rules of Procedure will be made jointly by the leadership of the Standards Program and the Standards Committee at a later stage.  Given the time constraints of this project, having all the technical clarity associated with this project developed by a single team seemed the most efficient decision.

A formal comment period seeking comments on the revisions made to the definition of BES is open through Friday, May 27.  In addition, a formal comment period seeking stakeholder input on the first draft of technical evidence needed to support an application for a BES exception is open through June 10, 2011.

A separate team has been working with NERC to develop the necessary changes to NERC’s Rules of Procedure to support applications for BES exceptions.  A draft of the proposed Appendix 5C to the Rules of Procedure has also been posted for comment through June 10, 2011.

NERC is requesting public comments through June 10, 2011 on the new procedure for facility-by-facility determinations of inclusions or exclusions to the Bulk Electric System not otherwise resolved through the application of the definition of Bulk Electric System, which is proposed to be included in the NERC Rules of Procedure as Appendix 5C.  The supporting flowchart generally describes the proposed procedure which would apply to electrical elements that are requested to be excepted from the definition of the Bulk Electric System.

The leadership of the BES Definition SDT and Rules of Procedure team met with the leadership of the Standards Program and the Standards Committee and determined that the BES Definition SDT will assume responsibility for working with stakeholders to identify what evidence is needed to support a request for an exception to the BES definition.  The BES Definition team will solicit stakeholder input to identify the evidence an entity will need to provide when submitting a request for an exception to the definition of BES.  While the determination of what evidence will be needed to support a request for a BES Definition Exception will be developed using NERC’s standard development process, a decision on where the final product will reside - in the definition of BES, or as an attachment (e.g., a procedure identifying what evidence to produce when applying for a BES exception) to the Rules of Procedure will be made jointly by the leadership of the Standards Program and the Standards Committee at a later stage.  Given the time constraints of this project, having all the technical clarity associated with this project developed by a single team seemed the most efficient decision.

The Definition of Bulk Electric System Standard Drafting Team (DBES SDT) has posted a second draft of the Definition of Bulk Electric System (BES) and associated implementation plan for a formal 45-day comment period, through 8 p.m. Eastern on Monday, October 10, 2011.
 

The Definition of Bulk Electric System Standard Drafting Team (DBES SDT) has also posted a draft application form titled Detailed Information to Support an Exception Request referenced in the Rules of Procedure Exception Process for a formal 45-day comment period, through 8 p.m. Eastern on Monday, October 10, 2011. (Note that the information contained in this draft form includes revisions made to the Technical Principles for Supporting BES Exceptions that was posted for comment in May and June 2011.) 
 

A separate team is working with NERC to draft a new Appendix 5C to NERC’s Rules of Procedure to address the process for requesting BES exceptions.  This team will be posting the Rules of Procedure changes for stakeholder comment in September.  The comment period for the Rules of Procedure changes will overlap the comment period for the definition and application form, to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to review all three documents to understand how they will work together.

NERC is requesting public comments through October 27, 2011 on the second draft of a new procedure for facility-by-facility determinations of inclusions or exclusions to the Bulk Electric System resolved through exceptions to the definition of Bulk Electric System.  This exception process is proposed to be included in the NERC Rules of Procedure as Appendix 5C.

The Definition of Bulk Electric System Standard Drafting Team (DBES SDT) has posted a third draft of the Definition of Bulk Electric System (BES) and associated implementation plan for a recirculation ballot, through 8 p.m. Eastern on Monday, November 21, 2011.

The Definition of Bulk Electric System Standard Drafting Team (DBES SDT) has also posted a draft application form titled Detailed Information to Support an Exception Request referenced in the Rules of Procedure Exception Process for a recirculation ballot through 8 p.m. Eastern on Monday, November 21, 2011.

A separate team is working with NERC to draft a new Appendix 5C to NERC’s Rules of Procedure to address the process for requesting BES exceptions.  That team is reviewing comments from a comment period that ended October 27, 2011.