NERC Fundamentals and Compliance

January 16, 2025 | Online :: Central Time

0125-nerc-compliance

“Best course to understand structures of compliance.” Utilities Engineer, CPUC

Entities registered with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) continue to address the complexities of NERC reliability standards implementation, ongoing compliance, and enforcement. Full audit schedules ensure the stakes remain high (as evidenced by the recent $10 million fine imposed on a Registered Entity). Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards involve an added level of complexity.

With increasing generation and transmission projects being proposed and built, it’s essential to understand the implications of being a NERC-registered entity and the complicated and, often, costly compliance process.  A host of important factors can significantly impact operations. A robust compliance program is one of the critical tenets supporting compliance, which can mitigate a penalty. To demonstrate a culture of compliance, a registered entity must show an enterprise-wide commitment to the process. 

This course is an overview of NERC standards, compliance, and monitoring. It will provide the necessary background for staff with compliance responsibilities to understand the concepts and complexities of NERC compliance to build a culture of compliance and reliability and prepare for audits. The course will help registered entities understand the background of the NERC standards, proven methods of compliance, and how to organize evidence best to demonstrate compliance during an audit.

Learning Outcomes

• Define the role of FERC, NERC, and Regional Entities
• Review the background for the NERC standards and discuss major recent revisions
• Explain how regional entities calculate violations
• Discuss how to comply with the most challenging standards
• Define a culture of compliance and its importance in the compliance monitoring and enforcement process
• Examine strategies to build an internal compliance program
• Examine the NERC Operational & Planning (693) requirements
• Analyze the audit process and demonstrate strategies for success before, during, and after an audit
• Review emerging trends in NERC compliance, including:
  • Standards on Physical Security and Supply Chain Management Inverter-Based Resource Registration Impacts
  • Geomagnetic Disturbances FERC Order 881
  • Distributed Energy Resources NERC O&P upcoming standard changes

Thursday, January 16, 2025 : Central Time

Short breaks will be taken throughout the sessions (30 minutes total throughout the day)

Overview of NERC Reliability Standards and Requirements

• NERC as the ERO
• Important definitions used in Reliability Standards
• Overview of entity registration
• Standards background and drafting process
• Results-based standards

NERC Compliance and Enforcement

• Lessons learned
• Technical rationale vs. implementation guides
• Standards efficiency review

Risk-based NERC Compliance Highlights

• Inherent risk assessment
• Internal controls evaluation
• Find, fix, track, and report
• Sanction guidelines

NERC Compliance in Practice

• Defining a culture of compliance and building, communicating, and demonstrating a culture of compliance
• Role of a culture of compliance in mitigation
• Preparing for an audit: what to do before, during, and after an on-site compliance audit
• Settlement process
• Managing documents and evidence
• Demonstrating a culture of compliance

Christopher Benally, Senior Reliability Compliance Consultant, Burns & McDonnell

Christopher is a Senior Reliability Compliance Consultant and is a self-directed and driven team member working across multiple functional organizations managing, implementing, and improving regulatory compliance. He is a fast learner in a formal or informal setting with excellent oral, presentation, and written communication skills. Christopher has strong problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to prioritize workload.

• Primary Compliance SME for CIP-002-5.1a, CIP-005-5, CIP-007-6, CIP-009-6, CIP-010-2.
• Provide testimony and attestation.
• Respond to Auditor’s Request for Information.
• Backup O&P Compliance SME for FAC-008-3, MOD-025-2, MOD-026-1, MOD-027-1, MOD-032-1, EOP-004-1, EOP-009-0, FAC-008-1, PRC-004-2a, VAR-002-1.1b.
• Provide O&P SME coaching, clarification, or response to Auditor Request for Information.

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James Crawford, Senior Compliance Consultant, Burns & McDonnell

Mr. Crawford is a seasoned professional with over eighteen years of progressive electric utility industry experience in Project Management and Transmission Customer Service. Experienced with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) filing requirements and interpretation of regulatory orders and proceedings. Experienced Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazards and Performance Analysis (HPA) Engineering Specialist serving as Team Leader/HPA Specialist. Demonstrated ability to function effectively as a team player, as well as work independently to achieve organizational goals. Dedicated performer willing to go the extra mile to meet aggressive goals.

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Douglas Dickson, Senior Reliability Compliance Consultant, Burns & McDonnell

Doug is a motivated, organized leader with a background in utility management, compliance, program management, business, and engineering. Doug has excellent communication skills and a passion for empathetic collaboration and change management. Doug gained direct NERC and WECC compliance experience during his tenure at Puget Sound Energy and Chugach Federal. He oversaw all NERC CIP and O&P compliance at the largest energy utility in Washington state. Managing PSE’s NERC/WECC 2019 compliance audit. Investigated, reported, and oversaw mitigation of potential noncompliance. Managed implementation of new standards. Led DOE executive order responses. Duties included but are not limited to:

• Prepared SMEs for audit interviews
• Reviewed CIP and O&P RSAWs
• Conducted risk assessments
• Coordinated all data requests and interviews
• Wrote RSAW style guide
• Developed internal controls

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

NERC Fundamentals and Compliance

January 16, 2025 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before December 13, 2024 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.6 CEUs for this event.

Verify our IACET accreditation

Who recognizes IACET Credits?

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program 

Participants must sign in/out each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.  

Instructional Methods  

PowerPoint presentations will be used in this course.  

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Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 7.0
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who Should Attend

Utility and contractor/vendor professionals that work with Fossil Fuel Power Generation, Renewable Energy Generation (solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, or geothermal energy), Transmission Systems, Distribution Systems, Microgrid Systems, and Grid Interconnections.

• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
• Energy Infrastructure Security Manager
• Power Plant Manager
• Grid Operations Manager
• Transmission System Operator
• Distribution System Operator
• Cybersecurity Analyst
• Compliance Manager
• Physical Security Manager
• Risk Manager
• Control Systems Engineer
• IT Manager
• Network Administrator
• System Operator
• Cybersecurity Consultant
• Regulatory Affairs Specialist
• Emergency Preparedness Manager
• Asset Management Analyst
• Smart Grid Specialist
• Energy Storage Systems Engineer