FERC Letter Order (issued 11/4/2014) in Docket RD14-13

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426

OFFICE OF ELECTRIC RELIABILITY

North American Electric Reliability Corporation

Docket No. RD14-13-000

November 4, 2014

North American Electric Reliability Corporation

1325 G Street N.W., Suite 600

Washington, D.C. 20005

Attention: Brady A. Walker

Associate Counsel for North American Electric Reliability Corporation

Reference: Petition of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation for Approval of Proposed Reliability Standard NUC-001-3

Dear Mr. Walker:

On September 15, 2014, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) filed a petition (Petition) seeking approval of the proposed Reliability Standard NUC-001-3 (Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination), the associated implementation plan, violation risk factors and violation security levels, and the retirement of currently-effective Reliability Standard NUC-001-2.1.

Proposed Reliability Standard NUC-001-3 requires coordination between nuclear plant generator operators and transmission entities for the purpose of ensuring safe operation and shutdown of nuclear power plants. The proposed Reliability Standard NUC-001-3 indicates that it is applicable to all nuclear plant generator operators and all transmission entities (including transmission operators, transmission owners, transmission planners, transmission service providers, balancing authorities, reliability coordinators, planning coordinators, distribution providers, load-serving entities, generator owners, and generator operators) that are responsible for providing services related to nuclear plant interface requirements. The Petition states that the proposed Reliability Standard represents the implementation of recommendations made by the five-year review team to revise the currently-effective Reliability Standard NUC‑001‑2.1.¹ The Petition further states that the proposed standard includes several improvements, many of which are intended to provide clarity by improving the structure and language over the currently-effective Reliability Standard.²

NERC’s filing was noticed on September 16, 2014, with interventions, comments and protests due on or before October 15, 2014. Dominion Resources Services, Inc. filed a motion to intervene raising no issues.

NERC’s uncontested filing is hereby approved pursuant to the relevant authority delegated to the Director, Office of Electric Reliability under 18 C.F.R. § 375.303 (2014), effective as of the date of this Order.

This action shall not be construed as approving any other application, including proposed revisions of Electric Reliability Organization or Regional Entity rules or procedures pursuant to 18 C.F.R. § 375.303(a)(2)(i). Such action shall not be deemed as recognition of any claimed right or obligation associated therewith and such action is without prejudice to any findings or orders that have been or may hereafter be made by the Commission in any proceeding now pending or hereafter instituted by or against the Electric Reliability Organization or any Regional Entity.

This order constitutes final agency action. Requests for rehearing by the Commission may be filed within 30 days of the date of issuance of this order, pursuant to 18 C.F.R. § 385.713 (2014).

Sincerely,

Michael Bardee, Director

Office of Electric Reliability

1 NERC Petition at 6.

2 Id. at. 8.