Nuclear Power Plant/Electric Grid Regulatory Nuclear Power Plant/Electric Grid Regulatory
Coordination and Cooperation - ERO Coordination and Cooperation - ERO
PerspectivePerspective
David R. Nevius and Michael J. Assante
2009 NRC Regulatory Information Conference
March 11, 2009
NERC MissionNERC Mission
Develop & enforce reliability standards
Assess current and future reliability
Analyze system events for lessons learned & recommend improved practices
Maintain situational awareness of grid reliability
Protect grid infrastructure
Certify grid system operators
To ensure the reliability of the North American bulk power system
NERC VitalsNERC Vitals
Independent non-profit corporation
Certified by FERC as the Electric Reliability Organization for the U.S.
Certifications from Canadian Provinces by way of MOUs
Authority to set and enforce compliance with Reliability Standards
NRC-NERC MOA
Original agreement signed in 2004 and updated July 2007
Coordination plans:
• Communication during emergencies
• Event analyses
• Exchange of operational experience
• Participation in NERC committees
Reliability StandardsReliability Standards
Apply to all owners, operators, and users of the bulk power system, including nuclear generator owner/operators
Focus on bulk power system reliability
Results-oriented
• Avoid prescribing practices – allow entities to determine their own “best way” to meet a standard given their individual circumstances
• Specific & measurable requirements
Approval by FERC before enforceable in U.S.
Nuclear Plant Interface CoordinationNuclear Plant Interface CoordinationNUC-001NUC-001
Required coordination between nuclear plant operators and transmission operators to ensure grid has capacity to support safe operation and shutdown of nuclear units
Nuclear plant licensing and design requirements documented in written agreements
Standard approved by NERC board May 2007 & by FERC October 2008
Agreements in place 15 months after FERC approval
NERC enforcement ~ April 2010
Critical Infrastructure ProtectionCritical Infrastructure ProtectionCIP-002 - 009CIP-002 - 009
Critical Cyber Asset ID
Security Management Controls
Personnel & Training
Electronic Security Perimeter(s)
Physical Security of Critical Cyber Assets
Systems Security Management
Incident Reporting and Response Planning
Recovery Plans for Critical Cyber Assets
Applicability of CIP Standards to Applicability of CIP Standards to Nuclear Power PlantsNuclear Power Plants
FERC NOPR to clarify scope and applicability of standards for nuclear power plants
NERC comments filed November 2008
• Agree on need for clarification
• Suggested specific revised language
Awaiting FERC decision
Compliance Monitoring and EnforcementCompliance Monitoring and Enforcement
Focus on improving bulk power system reliability
Protect confidentiality of involved parties
Single, defined appeals process whereby resolution can be reached
Reports issued to governmental authorities
About EnforcementAbout Enforcement
Violating entities can be subject to:
• Monetary – up to $1 million per day per violation
• Order a change in practice to mitigate the violation
Penalty levels based on threat to grid reliability
Credit for self-reporting & voluntary corrective actions
Flexible to adapt to all relevant facts
Meets FERC policy statement
Reliability AssessmentsReliability Assessments
Long-Term Reliability Assessments• 10 year projections assessing electricity
supply and demand
• Evaluates transmission system adequacy
• Discusses key issues and trends
Summer and Winter Assessments• Assess the adequacy of electricity supplies in
the United States and Canada for the upcoming summer and winter peak demand periods
Special Assessments• Conducted on a regional, interregional, or
interconnection-wide basis as needed
Analyze System DisturbancesAnalyze System Disturbances
Determine what happened
Identify what (if anything) went wrong
Alerts to industry for systemic problems
Share lessons-learned
Suggest changes to standards
NRC staff called on to assist where appropriate, as per MOA
Industry AlertsIndustry Alerts
Industry Advisories, Industry Recommendations, and requests for Essential Actions
Issued to relevant industry sectors when an issue arises that causes or contributes to an event under analysis
• Advises the industry to evaluate system status and take action to correct issues affecting reliability
Situational Awareness of Grid
Situational Awareness Monitoring System
• Information from Reliability Coordinators
• Provided to FERC, NERC, and Regional Entities
North American Synchro-Phasor Initiative
• Next generation grid monitoring technology
• Allow system operators to better visualize the status of the grid in near real-time
• Supported by U.S. DOE
Protecting Grid Infrastructure
Address both physical and cyber security
Electricity Sector Steering Group
Electricity Sector Coordinating Council
Electricity Sector Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ES-ISAC)
• Primary point of contact with NRC Headquarters Operations Office, as per MOA