NERC SCPS Action Item –
Standards Committee Strategic Work Plan 2013-2015, Task No. 2: Review of the
Standards Processes and Procedures:
Need for Project:
The Standards Committee Strategic Work Plan 2013-2015 established a work plan with specific
implementation tasks. Task No. 2 (see below) was assigned to the Standards Committee Process
Subcommittee (SCPS).
Task No. 2: Review of the Standards Processes and Procedures:
Implement revisions needed to NERC’s Rules of Procedure/SMP and SC processes and
procedures to enhance SC and SDT accountability to timely deliver high quality
Reliability Standards and execute the Strategic Plan, including the completion of
Standards Process Input Group (SPIG) recommendations. All revisions, creation or
elimination of processes and procedures provisions shall be presented to the SC for
adoption, prior to presenting to the NERC Board of Trustees (BOT) for approval.
Implementation: Review the Standards Development Process
The SC Process Subcommittee (SCPS) shall review all aspects of the Standards
development process map. The criteria for this review will include increasing
effectiveness, timely completion and consensus building. Flexibility should be
considered in the review to ensure that appropriate safeguards for open, transparent
and consensus construction are part of process, while ensuring that it is geared towards
production, and cannot be used for obstruction. The SCPS shall identify each step and
the need to enhance or revise each step to conform to the SPIG recommendations and
BOT resolutions. After process mapping is complete, SCPS shall draft proposed revisions
to processes, procedures and NERC Rules of Procedure/SPM, as necessary, which shall
include, at a minimum, the following:
For processes and procedures:
Include coordination with the NERC standing committees. Coordination should include
the following: (i) receiving technical research or input from the committees prior to a
standard being developed, as necessary, and (ii) a technical review of the draft
standards.
For the NERC Rules of Procedure/SPM:
a. That the SC has the authority to approve draft and final SARs and the work
product of SDTs as consistent with producing high quality, technically sound,
clear and results-based Reliability Standards.
b. Review the need for, or reshaping of, the quality review process in light of the
new composition of the SDTs.
c. Periodically review the SPM to ensure it meets the minimum requirements of
the ANSI-accredited process.
Project Scope Statement:
The SCPS will review all aspects of Standards development with focus on the following areas:
 Overall and specific effectiveness of the SPM in individual areas (i.e., posting process,
commenting, balloting, development of supporting documents) and
 Historical completion time for projects and what may have affected the ability to adhere to
project milestones and
 Consensus building throughout the project.
Phase 1: The SCPS, in conjunction with the SC will identify the present and past effectiveness of the
current Standard Processes Manual (SPM) (dated: June 26, 2013) (SPM). The SCPS will review
stakeholder standards related input from the NERC Performance Assessment results, and as
may be necessary, utilize focused surveys, questionnaires, etc. to confirm and expand upon
issues related to the effectiveness of the Standards development processes. The SCPS will then
evaluate all input received and develop two lists of recommendations. The first will be a list of
potential areas for improvement to the SPM and the second list will contain other potential
Standards process improvements, such as those which may require changes to the NERC ROP,
training materials, etc. to support changes to the SPM. These lists will be brought to the SC for
approval and further action.
Phase 2: The SCPS will develop a mapping document to identify the specific areas of the SPM where
potential improvements would benefit the process. If necessary, the SCPS will draft revisions to
the Standard Process Manual to support the final recommendations and also facilitate
whatever other changes may be necessary to other documents and process to effectuate the
issues identifying improvements in Phase 1.
All results will be presented to the Standards Committee for approvals/endorsement prior to any
recommendations to the NERC BOT
Resources:
NERC Standards staff support will be required:


To provide standards and legal departments support in the development and deployment of
strategies to enhance the current SPM and Standards Development processes during Phase 1),
and
To further provide support in the development of the deliverables associated with phase 2 of
the project (i.e., mapping document, potential revisions to the SPM, ROP etc.).