Find, Fix and Track Entity, Docket No. RC11-6 (September 30, 2011)
Reliability Standard: PRC-001-1
Requirement: R5
Region: TRE
Issue: FFT Entity self-reported that, as a result of a technician installing a disturbance monitoring panel at a substation, it disabled the primary and backup relaying on a 345 kV line without providing prior notification to its TO of the change to operating conditions. Relaying was disabled for four minutes before the TO was notified.
Finding: TRE found that this issue constituted only a minimal actual risk to BPS reliability (but a moderate potential risk). The non-compliance period was very brief (with a low probability of a fault occurring during that four-minute period) and only a portion of the transmission line protection system had been disabled.
Find, Fix and Track Entity, FERC Docket No. RC12-1 (October 31, 2011)
Reliability Standard: PRC-001-1
Requirement: R3
Region: FRCC
Issue: FFT Entity self-reported that, over the course of a one-month period, it did not coordinate 51 protective system changes it made with its neighboring TOPs and BAs.
Finding: FRCC found that the issue constituted only a minimal risk to BPS reliability. The relevant changes were made to common timers and those changes served to allow the relays to more accurately react to evolving faults. In addition, the changes to the common timers were agreed to at the FRCC member services level with the other BAs and TOPs.
Find, Fix and Track Entity, FERC Docket No. RC12-6 (December 30, 2011)
Reliability Standard: PRC-001-1
Requirement: R3/3.2, R4
Region: FRCC
Issue: FFT Entity was unable to show in any form that all new and existing protection systems and all changes to those systems were coordinated with its neighboring TOs and BAs as required by R3.2 and R4.
Finding: FFT Entity found through testing that the changes only affected its system and not interconnections or neighboring TOs or BAs. Considering that, FRCC determined that the issue posed a minimal and not serious or substantial risk to the reliability of the BPS.
Michigan South Central Power Agency (MSCPA), Docket No. RC13-9, May 30, 2013
Reliability Standard: PRC-001-1
Requirement: 1
Region: RFC
Issue: Further to a Compliance Audit, RFC determined that MSCPA, as a GOP, had an issue with PRC-001-1 R1 that arose when it was unable to provide evidence that its personnel were familiar with the purpose and limitations of protective system schemes applied in its area.
Finding: RFC determined that the issue posed a minimal risk to the reliability of the BPS because MSCPA’s operators are experienced in power plant operations (including protective scheme systems), and MSCPA has a relatively small contribution of to the BPS.
Red Hills Wind Project, LLC, FERC Docket No. RC12-11 (April 30, 2012)
Reliability Standard: PRC-001-1
Requirement: R3
Region: SPP
Issue: Red Hills Wind Project, LLC (RHWP), as a GO, self-reported that, in regards to changes in its overcurrent relay pickup point, it had not coordinated all of its new protective systems and changes with its TOP and BA, as required.
Finding: SPP found that this issue constituted only a minimal risk to the BPS. RHWP’s change to the overcurrent relay pickup point of the main breaker was temporary, and RHWP only failed to communicate the information to the Western Farmers Electrical Cooperative (WFEC) when it was changing the pickup point back. In addition, the change to the pickup point of the overcurrent relay did not have an effect on WFEC’s transmission system.
