FERC Proposes New Reliability Standard on Geomagnetic Disturbances

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") proposed a new reliability standard that addresses the vulnerability of electric transmission systems to geomagnetic disturbances ("GMD"). The purpose of the new standard is to support the continued reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System.

Specifically, the rulemaking would adopt the proposed standard of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation ("NERC") that sets requirements for transmission planners and owners to assess the vulnerability of their systems to a "benchmark GMD event," which NERC described as a "one-in-100-year" event. If an entity does not meet certain performance requirements based on the assessments, then it must develop a plan to meet the requirements successfully.

The proposed rulemaking also would direct NERC to make certain modifications. Given the limited historic geomagnetic data, and because scientific understanding of such disturbances is still evolving, FERC expressed concerns about how a "benchmark GMD event" is defined in the reliability standard. The proposed modifications would require that the study and benchmarking of GMD events be based on "a more complete set of data and a reasonable scientific and engineering approach."

Comments on the proposed rulemaking will be due 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register.