Reliability Standard FAC-002-4

FAC-002-4 – Facility Interconnection Studies

A. Introduction
1.

Title:

Facility Interconnection Studies

2.

Number:

FAC-002-4

3.

Purpose:

To study the impact of interconnecting new or changed Facilities on the
Bulk Electric System.

4.

Applicability:
4.1. Functional Entities:
4.1.1. Planning Coordinator
4.1.2. Transmission Planner
4.1.3. Transmission Owner
4.1.4. Distribution Provider
4.1.5. Generator Owner
4.1.6. Applicable Generator Owner
4.1.6.1.

5.

Generator Owner with a fully executed Agreement to conduct
a study on the reliability impact of interconnecting a third
party Facility to the Generator Owner’s existing Facility that is
used to interconnect to the Transmission system.

Effective Date: See Implementation Plan for Project 2020-05.

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FAC-002-4 – Facility Interconnection Studies

B. Requirements and Measures
R1. Each Transmission Planner and each Planning Coordinator shall study the reliability
impact of: (i) interconnecting new generation, transmission, or electricity end-user
Facilities and (ii) existing interconnections of generation, transmission, or electricity
end-user Facilities seeking to make a qualified change as defined by the Planning
Coordinator under Requirement R6. The following shall be studied: [Violation Risk
Factor: Medium] [Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]
1.1. The reliability impact of the new interconnection, or existing interconnection
seeking to make a qualified change as defined by the Planning Coordinator under
Requirement R6, on affected system(s);
1.2. Adherence to applicable NERC Reliability Standards; regional and Transmission
Owner planning criteria; and Facility interconnection requirements;
1.3. Steady-state, short-circuit, and dynamics studies, as necessary, to evaluate
system performance under both normal and contingency conditions; and
1.4. Study assumptions, system performance, alternatives considered, and
coordinated recommendations. While these studies may be performed
independently, the results shall be evaluated and coordinated by the entities
involved.
M1. Each Transmission Planner or each Planning Coordinator shall have evidence (such as
study reports, including documentation of reliability issues) that it met all
requirements in Requirement R1.
R2. Each Generator Owner seeking to interconnect new generation Facilities, or existing
interconnections of generation Facilities seeking to make a qualified change as defined
by the Planning Coordinator under Requirement R6, shall coordinate and cooperate
on studies with its Transmission Planner or Planning Coordinator, including but not
limited to the provision of data as described in R1, Parts 1.1-1.4. [Violation Risk Factor:
Medium] [Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]
M2. Each Generator Owner shall have evidence (such as documents containing the data
provided in response to the requests of the Transmission Planner or Planning
Coordinator) that it met all requirements in Requirement R2.
R3. Each Transmission Owner and each Distribution Provider seeking to interconnect new
transmission Facilities or electricity end-user Facilities, or existing interconnections of
transmission Facilities or electricity end-user Facilities seeking to make a qualified
change as defined by the Planning Coordinator under Requirement R6, shall
coordinate and cooperate on studies with its Transmission Planner or Planning
Coordinator, including but not limited to the provision of data as described in R1, Parts
1.1-1.4. [Violation Risk Factor: Medium] [Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]
M3. Each Transmission Owner and each Distribution Provider shall have evidence (such as
documents containing the data provided in response to the requests of the

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FAC-002-4 – Facility Interconnection Studies

Transmission Planner or Planning Coordinator) that it met all requirements in
Requirement R3.
R4. Each Transmission Owner shall coordinate and cooperate with its Transmission
Planner or Planning Coordinator on studies regarding requested new or existing
interconnections seeking to make a qualified change as defined by the Planning
Coordinator under Requirement R6, to its Facilities, including but not limited to the
provision of data as described in R1, Parts 1.1-1.4. [Violation Risk Factor: Medium]
[Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]
M4. Each Transmission Owner shall have evidence (such as documents containing the data
provided in response to the requests of the Transmission Planner or Planning
Coordinator) that it met all requirements in Requirement R4.
R5. Each applicable Generator Owner shall coordinate and cooperate with its
Transmission Planner or Planning Coordinator on studies regarding requested
interconnections to its Facilities, including but not limited to the provision of data as
described in R1, Parts 1.1-1.4. [Violation Risk Factor: Medium] [Time Horizon: Longterm Planning]
M5. Each applicable Generator Owner shall have evidence (such as documents containing
the data provided in response to the requests of the Transmission Planner or Planning
Coordinator) that it met all requirements in Requirement R5.
R6. Each Planning Coordinator shall maintain a publicly available definition of qualified
change for the purposes of facility interconnection. [Violation Risk Factor: Lower]
[Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]
M6. Each Planning Coordinator shall have evidence that it has maintained a publicly
available definition of qualified change.

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FAC-002-4 – Facility Interconnection Studies

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 Planning Coordinator, Transmission Planner, Transmission Owner,
Distribution Provider, Generator Owner and applicable Generator Owner shall
keep data or evidence to show compliance as identified below unless directed by
its CEA to retain specific evidence for a longer period of time as part of an
investigation:
The responsible entities shall retain documentation as evidence for three years.
If a responsible entity is found non-compliant, it shall keep information related
to the non-compliance until mitigation is complete and approved or for the time
specified above, whichever is longer.
The CEA 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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FAC-002-4 – Facility Interconnection Studies

Violation Severity Levels
R#

Time
Horizon

VRF

Violation Severity Levels

Lower VSL

Moderate VSL

High VSL

Severe VSL

R1.

Longterm
Planning

Medium The Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator studied
the reliability impact
of: (i) interconnecting
new generation,
transmission, or
electricity end-user
Facilities, and (ii)
existing
interconnections of
generation,
transmission, or
electricity end-user
Facilities seeking to
make a qualified
change as defined by
the Planning
Coordinator under
Requirement R6, but
failed to study one of
the Parts (R1, 1.1-1.4).

The Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator studied
the reliability impact
of: (i) interconnecting
new generation,
transmission, or
electricity end-user
Facilities, and (ii)
existing
interconnections of
generation,
transmission, or
electricity end-user
Facilities seeking to
make a qualified
change as defined by
the Planning
Coordinator under
Requirement R6, but
failed to study two of
the Parts (R1, 1.1-1.4).

The Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator studied
the reliability impact
of: (i) interconnecting
new generation,
transmission, or
electricity end-user
Facilities, and (ii)
existing
interconnections of
generation,
transmission, or
electricity end-user
Facilities seeking to
make a qualified
change as defined by
the Planning
Coordinator under
Requirement R6, but
failed to study three of
the Parts (R1, 1.1-1.4).

The Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator failed to
study the reliability
impact of:
interconnecting new
generation,
transmission, or
electricity end-user
Facilities, and (ii)
existing
interconnections of,
generation,
transmission, or
electricity end-user
Facilities seeking to
make a qualified
change as defined by
the Planning
Coordinator under
Requirement R6.

R2.

Longterm
Planning

Medium The Generator Owner
seeking to
interconnect new
generation Facilities,

The Generator Owner
seeking to
interconnect new
generation Facilities,

The Generator Owner
seeking to
interconnect new
generation Facilities,

The Generator Owner
seeking to
interconnect new
generation Facilities,
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FAC-002-4 – Facility Interconnection Studies

R#

R3.

Time
Horizon

Longterm
Planning

VRF

Violation Severity Levels

Lower VSL

Moderate VSL

High VSL

or existing
interconnections of
generation Facilities
seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6, coordinated and
cooperated on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator, but failed
to provide data
necessary to perform
studies as described in
one of the Parts (R1,
1.1-1.4).

or existing
interconnections of
generation Facilities
seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6, coordinated and
cooperated on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator, but failed
to provide data
necessary to perform
studies as described in
two of the Parts (R1,
1.1-1.4).

or existing
interconnections of
generation Facilities
seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6, coordinated and
cooperated on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator, but failed
to provide data
necessary to perform
studies as described in
three of the Parts (R1,
1.1-1.4).

or existing
interconnections of
generation Facilities
seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6, failed to
coordinate and
cooperate on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator.

The Transmission
Owner, or Distribution
Provider seeking to
interconnect new
transmission Facilities
or electricity end-user
Facilities, or existing
interconnections of
transmission Facilities

The Transmission
Owner or Distribution
Provider seeking to
interconnect new
transmission Facilities
or electricity end-user
Facilities, or existing
interconnections of
transmission Facilities

The Transmission
Owner, or Distribution
Provider seeking to
interconnect new
transmission Facilities
or electricity end-user
Facilities, or existing
interconnections of
transmission Facilities

Medium The Transmission
Owner or Distribution
Provider seeking to
interconnect new
transmission Facilities
or electricity end-user
Facilities, or existing
interconnections of
transmission Facilities

Severe VSL

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FAC-002-4 – Facility Interconnection Studies

R#

R4.

Time
Horizon

Longterm
Planning

VRF

Violation Severity Levels

Lower VSL

Moderate VSL

High VSL

Severe VSL

seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6, or electricity enduser Facilities,
coordinated and
cooperated on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator, but failed
to provide data
necessary to perform
studies as described in
one of the Parts (R1,
1.1-1.4).

seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6, or electricity enduser Facilities,
coordinated and
cooperated on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator, but failed
to provide data
necessary to perform
studies as described in
two of the Parts (R1,
1.1-1.4).

seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6, or electricity enduser Facilities,
coordinated and
cooperated on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator, but failed
to provide data
necessary to perform
studies as described in
three of the Parts (R1,
1.1-1.4).

seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6, or electricity enduser Facilities, failed to
coordinate and
cooperate on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator.

Medium The Transmission
Owner coordinated
and cooperated on
studies with its
Transmission Planner
or Planning
Coordinator regarding
requested new or
existing
interconnections

The Transmission
Owner coordinated
and cooperated on
studies with its
Transmission Planner
or Planning
Coordinator regarding
requested new or
existing
interconnections

The Transmission
Owner coordinated
and cooperated on
studies with its
Transmission Planner
or Planning
Coordinator regarding
requested new or
existing
interconnections

The Transmission
Owner failed to
coordinate and
cooperate on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator regarding
requested new or
existing
interconnections

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FAC-002-4 – Facility Interconnection Studies

R#

R5.

Time
Horizon

Longterm
Planning

VRF

Violation Severity Levels

Lower VSL

Moderate VSL

High VSL

Severe VSL

seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6to its Facilities, but
failed to provide data
necessary to perform
studies as described in
one of the Parts (R1,
1.1-1.4).

seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6to its Facilities, but
failed to provide data
necessary to perform
studies as described in
two of the Parts (R1,
1.1-1.4).

seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6to its Facilities, but
failed to provide data
necessary to perform
studies as described in
three of the Parts (R1,
1.1-1.4).

seeking to make a
qualified change as
defined by the
Planning Coordinator
under Requirement
R6to its Facilities.

Medium The applicable
Generator Owner
coordinated and
cooperated on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator regarding
requested
interconnections to its
Facilities, but failed to
provide data necessary
to perform studies as
described in one of the
Parts (R1, 1.1-1.4).

The applicable
Generator Owner
coordinated and
cooperated on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator regarding
requested
interconnections to its
Facilities, but failed to
provide data necessary
to perform studies as
described in two of the
Parts (R1, 1.1-1.4).

The applicable
Generator Owner
coordinated and
cooperated on studies
with its Transmission
Planner or Planning
Coordinator regarding
requested
interconnections to its
Facilities, but failed to
provide data necessary
to perform studies as
described in three of
the Parts (R1, 1.1-1.4).

The applicable
Generator Owner
failed to coordinate
and cooperate on
studies with its
Transmission Planner
or Planning
Coordinator regarding
requested
interconnections to its
Facilities.

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FAC-002-4 – Facility Interconnection Studies

R#

R6.

Time
Horizon

Longterm
Planning

Violation Severity Levels

VRF

Lower

Lower VSL
N/A

Moderate VSL
N/A

High VSL
N/A

Severe VSL
The Planning
Coordinator did not
maintain a publicly
available definition of
qualified change for
the purposes of facility
interconnection.

D. Regional Variances
None.

E. Associated Documents
None.

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FAC-002-4 Supplemental Material

Version History
Version

Date

Action

Change
Tracking

0

April 1, 2005

Effective Date

New

0

January 13, 2006

Removed duplication of “Regional
Reliability Organizations(s).

Errata

1

August 5, 2010

Modified to address Order No. 693
Directives contained in paragraph 693.
Adopted by the NERC Board of Trustees.

Revised

1

February 7, 2013

R2 and associated elements approved by
NERC Board of Trustees for retirement as
part of the Paragraph 81 project (Project
2013-02) pending applicable regulatory
approval.

1

November 21, 2013 R2 and associated elements approved by
FERC for retirement as part of the
Paragraph 81 project (Project 2013-02)

2

Revisions to implement the
recommendations of the FAC Five-Year
Review Team.

Revision under
Project 2010-02

2

August 14, 2014

Adopted by the Board of Trustees.

2

November 6, 2014

FERC letter order issued approving FAC002-2.

3

February 6, 2020

Adopted by NERC Board of Trustees.

Revisions under
Project 2017-07

4

May 12, 2022

Adopted by NERC Board of Trustees.

Revisions under
Project 2020-05

4

November 17,2022

FERC Order RD22-5-000 issued approving
FAC-002-4

4

December 2, 2022

Effective Date

1/1/2024

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