Reliability Standard EOP-006-3

EOP-006-3 – System Restoration Coordination

A. Introduction
1.

Title:

System Restoration Coordination

2.

Number:

EOP-006-3

3.

Purpose: Ensure plans are established and personnel are prepared to enable
effective coordination of the System restoration process to ensure reliability is
maintained during restoration and priority is placed on restoring the Interconnection.

4.

Applicability:
4.1. Functional Entities:
4.1.1. Reliability Coordinators

5.

Proposed Effective Date: See the Implementation Plan for EOP-006-3.

6.

Standard-Only Definition: None

B. Requirements and Measures
R1.

Each Reliability Coordinator shall develop and implement a Reliability Coordinator
Area restoration plan. The scope of the Reliability Coordinator’s restoration plan
starts when Blackstart Resources are utilized to re-energize a shutdown area of the
Bulk Electric System (BES), or separation has occurred between neighboring Reliability
Coordinators, or an energized island has been formed on the BES within the Reliability
Coordinator Area. The scope of the Reliability Coordinator’s restoration plan ends
when all of its Transmission Operators are interconnected and its Reliability
Coordinator Area is connected to all of its neighboring Reliability Coordinator Areas.
The restoration plan shall include: [Violation Risk Factor = High] [Time Horizon =
Operations Planning, Real-time Operations]
1.1. A description of the high-level strategy to be employed during restoration events
for restoring the Interconnection, including minimum criteria for meeting the
objectives of the Reliability Coordinator’s restoration plan.
1.2. Criteria and conditions for re-establishing interconnections with other
Transmission Operators within its Reliability Coordinator Area, with Transmission
Operators in other Reliability Coordinator Areas, and with other Reliability
Coordinators.
1.3. Reporting requirements for the entities within the Reliability Coordinator Area
during a restoration event.
1.4. Criteria for sharing information regarding restoration with neighboring Reliability
Coordinators and with Transmission Operators and Balancing Authorities within
its Reliability Coordinator Area.
1.5. Identification of the Reliability Coordinator as the primary contact for
disseminating information regarding restoration to neighboring Reliability

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EOP-006-3 – System Restoration Coordination

Coordinators, and to Transmission Operators, and Balancing Authorities within
its Reliability Coordinator Area.
1.6. Criteria for transferring operations and authority back to the Balancing
Authority.
M1. Each Reliability Coordinator shall have available a dated copy of its restoration plan
and will have evidence, such as operator logs or other operating documentation,
voice recordings, or other communication documentation to show that its restoration
plan was implemented in accordance with Requirement R1.
R2.

The Reliability Coordinator shall distribute its most recent Reliability Coordinator Area
restoration plan to each of its Transmission Operators and neighboring Reliability
Coordinators within 30 calendar days of creation or revision. [Violation Risk Factor =
Lower] [Time Horizon = Operations Planning]

M2. Each Reliability Coordinator shall provide evidence such as electronic receipts, posting
to a secure website with notification to affected entities, or registered mail receipts,
that its most recent restoration plan has been distributed in accordance with
Requirement R2.
R3.

Each Reliability Coordinator shall review its restoration plan within 13 calendar
months of the last review. [Violation Risk Factor = Medium] [Time Horizon =
Operations Planning]

M3. Each Reliability Coordinator shall provide evidence such as a review signature sheet,
or revision histories, that it has reviewed its restoration plan within 13 calendar
months of the last review in accordance with Requirement R3.
R4.

Each Reliability Coordinator shall review its neighboring Reliability Coordinator’s
restoration plans and provide written notification of any conflicts discovered during
that review within 60 calendar days of receipt. [Violation Risk Factor = Medium] [Time
Horizon = Operations Planning]
4.1. If a Reliability Coordinator finds conflicts between its restoration plans and any
of its neighbors, the conflicts shall be resolved within 30 calendar days of receipt
of written notification.

M4. Each Reliability Coordinator shall provide evidence such as dated review signature
sheets or electronic receipt that it has reviewed its neighboring Reliability
Coordinator’s restoration plans and resolved any conflicts within the timing
requirements of Requirement R4 and Requirement R4, Part 4.1.
R5.

Each Reliability Coordinator shall review the restoration plans required by EOP-005 of
the Transmission Operators within its Reliability Coordinator Area. [Violation Risk
Factor = Medium] [Time Horizon = Operations Planning]
5.1. The Reliability Coordinator shall determine whether the Transmission Operator’s
restoration plan is coordinated and compatible with the Reliability Coordinator’s
restoration plan and other Transmission Operators’ restoration plans within its
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EOP-006-3 – System Restoration Coordination

Reliability Coordinator Area. The Reliability Coordinator shall provide notification
to the Transmission Operator of approval or disapproval, with stated reasons, of
the Transmission Operator’s submitted restoration plan within 30 calendar days
following the receipt of the restoration plan from the Transmission Operator.
M5. Each Reliability Coordinator shall provide evidence such as a dated review signature
sheet or electronic receipt that it has reviewed, approved or disapproved, and
notified its Transmission Operators within 30 calendar days following the receipt of
the restoration plan from the Transmission Operator in accordance with Requirement
R5.
R6.

Each Reliability Coordinator shall have a copy of its latest restoration plan and copies
of the latest approved restoration plan of each Transmission Operator in its Reliability
Coordinator Area within its primary and backup control rooms so that it is available to
all of its System Operators prior to the effective date. [Violation Risk Factor = Lower]
[Time Horizon = Operations Planning]

M6. Each Reliability Coordinator shall have documentation such as electronic receipts that
it has made the latest copy of its restoration plan and copies of the latest approved
restoration plan of each Transmission Operator in its Reliability Coordinator Area
available in its primary and backup control rooms and to each of its System Operators
prior to the effective date in accordance with Requirement R6.
R7.

Each Reliability Coordinator shall include within its operations training program,
annual System restoration training for its System Operators. This training program
shall address the following: [Violation Risk Factor = Medium] [Time Horizon =
Operations Planning]
7.1. The coordination role of the Reliability Coordinator; and
7.2. Re-establishing the Interconnection.

M7. Each Reliability Coordinator shall have an electronic copy or hard copy of its training
records available showing that it has provided training in accordance with
Requirement R7.
R8.

Each Reliability Coordinator shall conduct two System restoration drills, exercises, or
simulations per calendar year, which shall include the Transmission Operators and
Generator Operators as dictated by the particular scope of the drill, exercise, or
simulation that is being conducted. [Violation Risk Factor = Medium] [Time Horizon =
Operations Planning]
8.1. Each Reliability Coordinator shall request each Transmission Operator identified
in its restoration plan and each Generator Operator identified in the
Transmission Operators’ restoration plans to participate in a drill, exercise, or
simulation at least once every two calendar years.

M8. Each Reliability Coordinator shall have evidence, such as dated electronic documents,
that it conducted two System restoration drills, exercises, or simulations per calendar
year in accordance with Requirement R8. And each Reliability Coordinator shall have
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EOP-006-3 – System Restoration Coordination

evidence that the Reliability Coordinator requested each applicable Transmission
Operator and Generator Operator to participate per Requirement R8 and
Requirement R8, Part 8.1.

C. Compliance
1.

Compliance Monitoring Process
1.1. Compliance Enforcement Authority:
“Compliance Enforcement Authority” means NERC or the Regional Entity, or any
entity as otherwise designated by an Applicable Governmental Authority, in
their respective roles of monitoring and/or enforcing compliance with
mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards in their respective
jurisdictions.
1.2. Evidence Retention:
The following evidence retention period(s) identify the period of time an entity
is required to retain specific evidence to demonstrate compliance. For instances
where the evidence retention period specified below is shorter than the time
since the last audit, the Compliance Enforcement Authority may ask an entity to
provide other evidence to show that it was compliant for the full-time period
since the last audit.
The applicable entity shall keep data or evidence to show compliance as
identified below unless directed by its Compliance Enforcement Authority to
retain specific evidence for a longer period of time as part of an investigation.
•

The current restoration plan and any restoration plans in effect since the
last compliance audit for Requirement R1, Measure M1.

•

Distribution of its most recent restoration plan and any restoration plans in
effect for the current calendar year and three prior calendar years for
Requirement R2, Measure M2.

•

It’s reviewed restoration plan for the current review period and the last
three prior review periods for Requirement R3, Measure M3.

•

Reviewed copies of neighboring Reliability Coordinator restoration plans for
the current calendar year and the three prior calendar years for
Requirement R4, Measure M4.

•

The reviewed restoration plans for the current calendar year and the last
three prior calendar years for Requirement R5, Measure M5.

•

The current, approved restoration plan and any restoration plans in effect
for the last three calendar years was made available in its control rooms for
Requirement R6, Measure M6.

•

Actual training program materials or descriptions for three calendar years
for Requirements R7, Measure M7.
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EOP-006-3 – System Restoration Coordination

•

Records of all Reliability Coordinator restoration drills, exercises, or
simulations since its last compliance audit, as well as one previous
compliance audit period for Requirement R8, Measure M8.

If a Reliability Coordinator is found non-compliant, it shall keep information
related to the non-compliance until mitigation is complete and approved or for
the time period specified above, whichever is longer.
The Compliance Enforcement Authority shall keep the last audit records and all
requested and submitted subsequent audit records.
1.3. Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program
As defined in the NERC Rules of Procedure, “Compliance Monitoring and
Enforcement Program” refers to the identification of the processes that will be
used to evaluate data or information for the purpose of assessing performance
or outcomes with the associated Reliability Standard.

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EOP-006-3 – System Restoration Coordination

Violation Severity Levels
R#

Violation Severity Levels

Lower VSL
R1.

The Reliability Coordinator
failed to include one
requirement part of
Requirement R1 within its
restoration plan.

Moderate VSL
The Reliability Coordinator
failed to include two
requirement parts of
Requirement R1 within its
restoration plan.

High VSL
The Reliability Coordinator
failed to include three of the
requirements parts of
Requirement R1 within its
restoration plan.

Severe VSL
The Reliability Coordinator
failed to include four or
more of the requirement
parts within its restoration
plan.
OR
The Reliability Coordinator
had a restoration plan, but
failed to implement it.

R2.

The Reliability Coordinator
distributed the most recent
Reliability Coordinator Area
restoration plan to the
entities identified in
Requirement R2 but was
more than 30 calendar days
late but less than 60
calendar days late.

The Reliability Coordinator
distributed the most recent
Reliability Coordinator Area
restoration plan to the
entities identified in
Requirement R2 but was 60
calendar days or more late,
but less than 90 calendar
days late.

The Reliability Coordinator
distributed the most recent
Reliability Coordinator Area
restoration plan to the
entities identified in
Requirement R2 but was 90
or more calendar days late
but less than 120 calendar
days late.

The Reliability Coordinator
distributed the most recent
Reliability Coordinator Area
restoration plan to entities
identified in Requirement R2
but was 120 calendar days or
more late.

R3.

N/A

N/A

N/A

The Reliability Coordinator
did not review its restoration
plan within 13 calendar
months of the last review.

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EOP-006-3 – System Restoration Coordination

R#

Violation Severity Levels

Lower VSL

Moderate VSL

High VSL

Severe VSL

R4.

The Reliability Coordinator
reviewed the submitted
restoration plans from its
neighboring Reliability
Coordinators within 60
calendar days of receipt, and
resolved conflicts between
31 and 60 calendar days
following written
notification.

The Reliability Coordinator
reviewed the submitted
restoration plans from its
neighboring Reliability
Coordinators within 60
calendar days of receipt and
resolved conflicts between
61 and 90 calendar days
following written
notification.

The Reliability Coordinator
reviewed the submitted
restoration plans from its
neighboring Reliability
Coordinators within 60
calendar days of receipt and
resolved conflicts 91 or more
calendar days following
written notification.

The Reliability Coordinator
did not review the submitted
restoration plans from its
neighboring Reliability
Coordinators within 60
calendar days of receipt.

R5.

The Reliability Coordinator
did not review and
approve/disapprove the
submitted restoration plans,
with stated reasons for
disapproval, from its
Transmission Operators and
neighboring Reliability
Coordinators within 30
calendar days of receipt but
did review and
approve/disapprove the
plans within 45 calendar
days of receipt.

The Reliability Coordinator
did not review and
approve/disapprove the
submitted restoration plans,
with stated reasons for
disapproval, from its
Transmission Operators and
neighboring Reliability
Coordinators within 30
calendar days of receipt but
did review and
approve/disapprove the
plans within 60 calendar
days of receipt.

The Reliability Coordinator
did not review and
approve/disapprove the
submitted restoration plans,
with stated reasons for
disapproval, from its
Transmission Operators and
neighboring Reliability
Coordinators within 30
calendar days of receipt but
did review and
approve/disapprove the
plans within 90 calendar
days of receipt.

The Reliability Coordinator
did not review and
approve/disapprove the
submitted restoration plans,
with stated reasons for
disapproval, from its
Transmission Operators and
neighboring Reliability
Coordinators for more than
90 calendar days of receipt.

OR

OR

OR

OR
The Reliability Coordinator
failed to notify the
Transmission Operator of its
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EOP-006-3 – System Restoration Coordination

R#

Violation Severity Levels

Lower VSL

Moderate VSL

High VSL

Severe VSL
approval or disapproval with
stated reasons for
disapproval for more than 90
calendar days of receipt.

The Reliability Coordinator
failed to notify the
Transmission Operator of its
approval or disapproval with
stated reasons for
disapproval within 30
calendar days of receipt but
did notify the Transmission
Operator of its approval or
disapproval with reasons
within 45 calendar days of
receipt.

The Reliability Coordinator
failed to notify the
Transmission Operator of its
approval or disapproval with
stated reasons for
disapproval within 30
calendar days of receipt, but
did notify the Transmission
Operator of its approval or
disapproval with reasons
within 60 calendar days of
receipt

The Reliability Coordinator
failed to notify the
Transmission Operator of its
approval or disapproval with
stated reasons for
disapproval within 30
calendar days of receipt but
did notify the Transmission
Operator of its approval or
disapproval with reasons
within 90 calendar days of
receipt.

R6.

N/A

N/A

The Reliability Coordinator
did not have a copy of the
latest approved restoration
plan of all Transmission
Operators in its Reliability
Coordinator Area within its
primary and backup control
rooms prior to the effective
date.

R7.

N/A

N/A

The Reliability Coordinator
The Reliability Coordinator
did not include the annual
included the annual System
restoration training within its System restoration training
operations training program,

The Reliability Coordinator
did not have a copy of its
latest restoration plan within
its primary and backup
control rooms prior to the
effective date.

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EOP-006-3 – System Restoration Coordination

R#

Violation Severity Levels

Lower VSL

R8.

N/A

Moderate VSL

The Reliability Coordinator
only held one restoration
drill, exercise, or simulation
during the calendar year.

High VSL

Severe VSL

but did not address both of
the requirement parts.

within its operations training
program.

N/A

The Reliability Coordinator
did not hold a restoration
drill, exercise, or simulation
during the calendar year.

OR
The Reliability Coordinator
did not request each
applicable Transmission
Operator or Generator
Operator identified in its
restoration plan to
participate in a drill,
exercise, or simulation at
least once every two
calendar years.

D. Regional Variances
None.

E. Associated Documents

Link to the Implementation Plan and other important associated documents.

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Supplemental Material

Version History
Version

Date

Action

Change Tracking

0

April 1, 2005

Effective Date

New

0

August 8, 2005

Removed “Proposed” from
Effective Date

Errata

1

Nov. 1, 2006

Adopted by Board of Trustees

Revised

Revisions pursuant to Project
2006-03

Updated Measures and
Compliance to match
new Requirements
Revised

2

2

August 5, 2009

Adopted by Board of Trustees

2

March 17, 2011

Order issued by FERC approving
EOP-006-2 (approval effective
5/23/11)

2

July 1, 2013

Updated VRFs and VSLs based
on June 24, 2013 approval.

3

February 9,
2017

Adopted by the NERC Board of
Trustees

Revised

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