NERC Emergency Preparedness and Response Flashcards

What is the required timeframe for a Transmission Operator to notify its Reliability Coordinator of an emergency condition under NERC IRO standards?

Answer: As soon as possible

NERC standards require transmission operators to notify their Reliability Coordinator as soon as possible when an emergency condition exists.

Which NERC standard requires entities to have plans for manual load shedding?

Answer: EOP-003

EOP-003 requires Balancing Authorities and Transmission Operators to have load shedding plans and train operators on executing them.

During a grid emergency, which entity has the highest level of operational authority over the interconnected transmission system?

Answer: The Reliability Coordinator

The Reliability Coordinator has the highest level of operational authority and can direct actions by Transmission Operators and Balancing Authorities during emergencies.

What does NERC require entities to do following a significant disturbance under the post-disturbance analysis process?

Answer: Conduct a root cause analysis and file a disturbance report with NERC

After a significant disturbance, entities must conduct post-event analysis and submit disturbance reports to NERC and the applicable Regional Entity.

NERC's 'Severe Impact Resilience' efforts focus primarily on preparing the bulk electric system for:

Answer: High-impact, low-frequency events such as geomagnetic disturbances, coordinated attacks, or pandemics

Severe Impact Resilience addresses High-Impact, Low-Frequency (HILF) events — extreme but rare scenarios that could cause widespread, long-duration outages.

What is the primary role of NERC's GridEx exercise?

Answer: A biennial industry-wide exercise simulating a large-scale cyber and physical attack on the electric grid

GridEx is a biennial exercise where grid operators, utilities, government agencies, and critical infrastructure partners practice responding to simulated cyber and physical attacks.