Standard Authorization Request (SAR)
WECC-0113 Request to Retire Regional Variance
FAC-010 and FAC-011
Introduction
The SAR is used to propose a new or revised document, to retire an existing document, request
interpretation of a document, or request an exemption from a requirement contained in a document.
This request is posted in its original form at the WECC-0113 Request to Retire Regional Variance
project page on the SAR Form accordion.
This SAR was received, validated, and deemed complete on February 25, 2015.
Requester Information
1. Provide your contact information and your alternates contact information:
• Your First Name:
W. Shannon
• Your Last Name:
Black
• Your Email Address:
[email protected]
• Your Phone Number:
(503) 307-5782
• Organization Name:
WECC
• Alternates First Name:
Ken
• Alternates Last Name:
Wilson
• Alternates Email Address:
[email protected]
• Alternates Phone Number:
(801) 883-6886
Type of Request
2. Specify the type of request: (select one)
• Request to Retire a Regional Variance 1
Create, Modify or Retire a Document Questions
Provide the requested information for your request to create, modify, or retire the document.
3. Requested Action: (select one)
• Request to Retire Regional Variance
4. Document Type: (select one)
1
For purposes of this filing a Regional Difference (RD) is synonymous with Regional Variance (RV).
WESTERN ELECTRICITY COORDINATING COUNCIL
155 North 400 West, Suite 200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84103-1114
WECC-0113 FAC-010 and 011 Request to Retire Regional Variance
•
2
WECC Regional Reliability Standard Regional Variance
5. Issue: Specify what industry problem this request is trying to resolve.
This is a request to retire two WECC Regional Variances because the substance of the variances
is either covered in another NERC Standard or the substance is no longer relevant.
6. Proposed Remedy: Specify how this request proposes to address the issue described.
Retire WECC Regional Variances from NERC Standards:
•
FAC-010-2.1, System Operating Limits Methodology for the Planning Horizon
•
FAC-011-2, System Operating Limits Methodology for the Operating Horizon.
7. Detailed Description
This is Standards Authorization Request WECC-0113 2, Request to Retire Regional Variances of
FAC-010 and FAC-011.
The reliability-related substance of the Regional Variances (RV) contained in FAC-010 and FAC011 is:
1) outdated by as much as a decade,
2) redundant to other FERC-approved NERC Reliability Standards,
3) conflicting with other NERC requirements, and,
4) in some cases, is overly ambiguous.
As a result, the RV's are no longer needed for reliability and should be retired.
This Standard Authorization Request (SAR) calls for retirement of all RVs contained in FAC-010
and FAC-011. Support for the request to retire is contained in two white papers, one for each
standard, attached with this SAR.
After examination of RVs contained in NERC Standards FAC-010-2.1, System Operating Limits
Methodology for the Planning Horizon, and FAC-011-2, System Operating Limits Methodology
for the Operating Horizon, the WECC Reliability Subcommittee (RS) acting in its role as a
subcommittee of the WECC Planning Coordination Committee (PCC) concluded that each of the
RVs contained in both FACs should be retired as they are outdated and redundant to existing
NERC Reliability Standards.
2
The Tracking Number was updated from WECC-0112 in the original SAR to WECC-0113.
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WECC-0113 FAC-010 and 011 Request to Retire Regional Variance
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In April 2003, WECC merged its transmission planning standards with that of the North
American Electricity Reliability Corporation (NERC[1]) creating a single document titled
NERC/WECC Planning Standards (PS), approved on April 10, 2003. Noting that in some
circumstances WECC's criteria were more stringent than that of NERC, WECC adopted the
approach that "the more restrictive reliability criteria and guides must be observed."[2]
In April 2005, WECC moved its transmission planning standards into the WECC Reliability
Criteria, at Part I, as approved in April 2005.
In November 2006, the NERC Board of Trustees (BOT) approved each of the FACs followed by
approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Both FAC's reflect the more
stringent WECC approach adopted in 2003.
In June 2008, FERC approved an Effective Date of July 1, 2008 for FAC-010 and April 29, 2009 for
FAC-011.
In the years following approval of the original planning standards, WECC's planning criteria has
continued to evolve based on current and best practices;[3] however, the NERC FACs still reflect
the planning criteria of 2003, rendering those RVs outdated and in many case redundant.
As supported by the attached white papers, the RVs should be retired. The attached white
papers include:
1. White Paper, Proposed Changes to FAC-010 Western Interconnection Regional Differences,
dated January 30, 2015
2. White Paper, Proposed Changes to FAC-011 Western Interconnection Regional Differences,
dated January 30, 2015
Related documents include:
FAC-10-2.1 - System Operating Limits Methodology for the Planning Horizon
FAC-011-2 - System Operating Limits Methodology for the Operations Horizon
TPL-001-4 Transmission System Planning Performance Requirements
PRC-012-0 Special Protection System Review Procedure
[1] In 2005 this was the North American Electricity Reliability Council.
[2] WECC NERC/WECC Planning Standards, Page 4, April 10, 2003.
[3] WECC Regional Criteria, TPL-(001 thru 004)-WECC-CR, System Performance Criteria,
approved by the WECC Board of Directors (Board) on April 16, 2008; replaced by TPL-001W
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WECC-0113 FAC-010 and 011 Request to Retire Regional Variance
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WECC-CRT-2 (December 1, 2011, new naming convention) and TPL-001-WECC-CRT-2.1 (errata,
July 29, 2013) refines WECC's planning criteria; WECC Requirements WR1, WR2, WR4 and WR5
to be retired coincident with the staged Effective Date of NERC TPL-001-4, Transmission System
Planning Performance Requirements.
8. Functions (select all that apply)
•
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FAC-011-2
FAC-010-2.1
Reliability Coordinator
Planning Authority 3
9. Affected Reliability Principles: Which of the following reliability principles is MOST affected by
this request? (select one)
•
Reliability Principle 1 — Interconnected bulk electric systems shall be planned and
operated in a coordinated manner to perform reliably under normal and abnormal
conditions as defined in the NERC Standards.
Reference Uploads
Please reference or upload any affected Standards, Regional Business Practices, Criterion, Policies,
White Papers, Technical Reports or other relevant documents. If this request is based on a conflict of
law, please include a copy of, or accessible reference to, the specific law or regulatory mandate in
conflict.
•
FAC-010 White Paper 1-30-2015 (Attached)
•
FAC-011 White Paper 1-30-2015 (Attached)
10. Additional Comment
The Reliability Subcommittee has concluded that the RV included in the two FACs can be retired
immediately without creating any adverse impact to reliability.
3
The original SAR only listed the applicable entity from FAC-011 (the Reliability Coordinator) and did not list the applicable
entity from FAC-010 (the Planning Authority).
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