2024 Risk Elements - Stability Studies

Facility Ratings programs are an essential part of the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) Enterprise framework to improve the reliability and security of the Bulk Electric System (BES). The 2024 ERO Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program (CMEP) Implementation Plan (IP) reflects this. Inaccurate Facility Ratings can result in significant adverse impacts to the BES, such as: inadvertent tripping, unneeded operator intervention, and unplanned outages. A strong Facility Ratings program mitigates these threats, facilitates a secure and reliable BES, and supports FAC-008-5 compliance.

The ERO Enterprise Themes and Best Practices for Sustaining Accurate Facility Ratings document and Texas RE suggest the following internal controls to build a strong Facility Rating program.

Suggested Internal Controls and Practices

Performing periodic onsite verifications or walkdowns of Facility Equipment

• Onsite verifications or walkdowns are critical to confirm that current field equipment is correctly captured on the Facility Ratings workbook, thus providing up-to-date information for confirming the most limiting and second most limiting Elements.

Establish training processes for all individuals involved in maintaining Facility Ratings programs

• Training personnel responsible for maintaining a Facility Rating program help ensure the program is maintained in accordance with the Facility Rating methodology.

Strong asset and data management plans

• Strong asset and data management plans provide clear guidance for personnel to perform Facility Ratings program tasks.

Utilize peer review of data for quality assurance

• Using a peer review process gives a secondary process to ensure Facility Rating details are captured correctly.

Strong and sustainable change management program

• A strong change management program ensures that all changes to the Facility equipment are recorded and updated in the worksheet for the Facility.

Management support and oversight

• Management support for the Facility Rating program provides critical top-down validation for the program and reinforces a culture of reliability for the Facility.

Maintain asset data in a single database with matching index codes

• Utilizing matching index codes/numbers across the Facility Rating program allows all personnel reviewing Elements to confirm the Element reviewed is the correct Element on the worksheet and allows personnel to confirm any details for the worksheet quickly and easily.

Include all current carrying series equipment in spreadsheet documentation

• Wave traps, jumpers, connectors and bus work are some of the most often missed details in a Facility Rating program. Reviewing one-line drawings and completing on-site verifications of equipment will help to confirm all Elements are captured. Do not consolidate similar equipment in one line.

Include information on Relay Loadability in spreadsheet documentation

• Including details on Relay Loadability provides a single location to verify the relays do not trip before the most limiting Element.

From inadequate Facility Ratings management processes to inconsistent Facility Ratings methodologies, many obstacles may emerge to maintaining a solid program. The most important strategy for maintaining a Facility Ratings program is to create strong internal controls, including process documentation. This in turn will help CMEP staff understand the controls in place, how an entity establishes the baseline for its data, and how changes are handled in the program.