Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA), Docket No. RC13-8, April 30, 2013
Reliability Standard: PRC-005-1b
Requirement: 2
Region: FRCC
Issue: KUA, a GO, self-reported that did not maintain Protection System devices within defined intervals. In particular, relay tests for three functions of a generator microprocessor relay were performed between 15-19 days late.
Finding: The violation was deemed to pose minimal risk to BPS reliability which was mitigated because of the short time involved between the due date and the actual testing. Also, the relevant units were not in service and the relay set runs self-diagnostic tests which would alert operators to any misoperation.
Mackinaw Power, LLC (MACK), Docket No. RC13-9, May 30, 2013
Reliability Standard: PRC-005-1b
Requirement: 2
Region: SERC
Issue: MACK, as a GO, self-reported an issue with PRC-005-1 R2 to SERC after discovering that it had failed to perform quarterly battery maintenance within the required interval. This occurred when plant personnel did not initiate the contractor schedule after the preventive maintenance (PM) work order for the battery was generated. SERC determined that MACK tested 1 out of 117 protective relay devices (0.85%) and 4 out of 18 station batteries (22.22%) outside of the defined intervals.
Finding: SERC determined that the issue posed a minimal risk to the reliability of the BPS because maintenance and testing was completed for the missed batteries in accordance to the maintenance intervals following the second quarter of 2012. Furthermore, during the quarter when the scheduled maintenance and testing was not completed, MACK performed monthly maintenance as scheduled. Any performance deterioration would have been discovered during these tests, but no such deterioration as discovered. The transformer relay at issue has an alarm that would trigger if there was an error due to relay failure, and the transformer was protected by a back-up relay.
Reliability Standard: PRC-005-1b
Requirement: R2
Region: MRO
Issue: MPW, as a TO and Distribution Provider, self-reported an issue with PRC-005-1b R2.1 to MRO when it found that it was unable to provide evidence that the station battery tied to the Protection System devices was maintained and tested within the defined intervals under the Standard. MPW completed the test 217 days beyond the 6-year interval required by MPW’s Protection System maintenance and testing program. The issue arose because MPW failed to install an automatic notification for capacity testing.
Finding: MRO determined that the issue posed a minimal risk to the reliability of the BPS because the station battery at issue comprised less than one percent of MPW’s Protection System elements and the six-year testing interval was missed by seven months. MPW is also a small entity with limited possible impact on the BPS. Furthermore, the issue pertains only to batteries at one transmission substation and beyond capacity testing every six years, MPW performs more frequent tests relating to the substation and battery to ensure proper performance. Finally, the nine substation batteries are continuously monitored by MPW’s supervisory control and data acquisition system.
PPL Holtwood, LLC (PPL Holtwood), Docket No. RC13-10, June 27, 2013
Reliability Standard: PRC-005-1b
Requirement: R2
Region: RFC
Issue: PPL Holtwood, as a GO, self-reported an issue with PRC-005-1b R2 to RFC when it found that it had failed to perform maintenance and testing on one of its 237 relays within the defined interval. When the relay was eventually tested, it was found to be functioning properly.
Finding: RFC determined that the issue posed a minimal risk to the reliability of the BPS because the alarming in place for certain of its Protection System devices would have alarmed if the relay had not been functioning properly and PPL Holtwood has backup relay protection on the generator buses and generator step-up transformers. In addition, any malfunction in the relay at issue would only have affected one 12 MW hydro generator. Finally, the relay was found to be in working condition once tested.
Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G), Docket No. RC13-7-000 (March 27, 2013)
Reliability Standard: PRC-005-1b
Requirement: 2
Region: RFC
Issue: PSE&G, a registered TO, submitted a self-report in September 2012 explaining that while conducting an internal review of its Protection System maintenance and testing (M&T) records for almost 4,750 Protection System schemes, it found one relay out of a total of 4,650 and one direct current control circuit out of a total of 724 had not been tested within defined intervals. Upon discovering the missed M&T, PSE&G performed the required testing of the equipment and no abnormal issues were discovered.
Finding: The issue was deemed to pose minimal risk to BPS reliability and not serious or substantial risk. Had either item experienced a performance issue during the relevant time period, it would not have seriously impacted operations at PSE&G or to the BPS because other systems are in place in the event of misoperations.
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE), Docket No. RC13-7-000 (March 27, 2013)
Reliability Standard: PRC-005-1b
Requirement: 2
Region: WECC
Issue: While conducting an on-site compliance audit in September 2012, WECC found SDGE, a registered TO, to have been non-compliant with PRC-005-1b in that SDGE did not conduct a quarterly battery inspection for one battery, comprising less than 3% of SDGE's total batteries, according to the scheduled maintenance and testing set forth in SDGE's Protection System maintenance and testing program. This involved a newly installed battery that was inspected 12 days late.
Finding: Despite SDGE having previous violations of PRC-005-1 R2, WECC determined this issue warranted FFT treatment due to the facts and circumstances involved. The issue posed minimal risk to BPS reliability and not serious or substantial risk because it involved a single, newly installed battery comprising less than 3% of all SDGE's battery devices. Further, SDGE's battery devices are alarmed to notify operators of failures so that they may investigate and fix any problems. All other protection equipment had been tested and maintained according to schedule.
