Big Rivers Electric Corporation (BREC), Docket No. NP13-8-000, November 30, 2012
Reliability Standard: PRC-009-0
Requirement: R1; R1.3
Violation Risk Factor: Medium
Violation Severity Level: Severe
Region: SERC
Issue: Further to a Compliance Investigation, SERC discovered a violation of R1 when BREC, as a LSE and DP that owns or operates under a Under Frequency Load Shedding (UFLS) program, failed to include a UFLS event simulation in its analysis of a UFLS event that occurred on May 29, 2009. During the Compliance Investigation, BREC described the event and its initiating conditions, reviewed the UFLS tripping times and setpoints, and summarized its findings, but did not simulate the event.
Finding: SERC determined that the R1 violation posed a minimal risk to the reliability of the BPS because BREC performed an analysis indicating that the UFLS relays were operating properly. SERC and BREC entered into a settlement agreement to resolve multiple violations, whereby BREC agreed to pay a penalty and to undertake other mitigation measures to come into compliance with R1. SERC considered BREC's internal compliance program to be a mitigating factor in making its penalty determination. The duration of the violation was from May 29, 2009 through February 2, 2012. BREC neither admits nor denies the R1 violation.
Penalty: $15,000 (aggregate for 6 violations)
FERC Order: Issued December 28, 2012 (no further review)
