FERC-725E: Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council (RD25-6) (BAL-004-WECC-4)

FERC-725E is the information collection that is required to implement the statutory provisions of section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 824o). Section 215 of the FPA buttresses the Commission's efforts to strengthen the reliability of the interstate grid through the grant of new authority by providing for a system of mandatory Reliability Standards developed by the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). The FERC 725E information collection pertains specifically to the Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC). WECC promotes bulk electric system reliability in the Western Interconnection. WECC is the Regional Entity responsible for compliance monitoring and enforcement. In addition, WECC provides an environment for the development of Reliability Standards and the coordination of the operating and planning activities of its members as set forth in the WECC Bylaws. There are several regional Reliability Standards in the WECC region. These regional Reliability Standards generally require entities to document compliance with substantive requirements, retain documentation, and submit reports to WECC. In RD24-2-000, standard VAR-501-WECC-3.1 is being updated for syntax and the proposed changes have been deemed non-substantive. The currently approved VAR-501-WECC-3.1 is being replaced by VAR-501-WECC-4. The changes include updates to document numbering, the removal and replacement of obsolete language, and removal of redundant language. For the purposes of the extension, the following standards will remain unchanged: BAL-002-WECC-3 (Contingency Reserve) - requires balancing authorities and reserve sharing groups to document compliance with the contingency reserve requirements described in the standard. BAL-004-WECC-3 (Automatic Time Error Correction) - requires balancing authorities to document that time error corrections and primary inadvertent interchange payback were conducted according to the requirements in the standard. FAC-501-WECC-2 (Transmission Maintenance) - requires transmission owners with certain transmission paths to have a transmission maintenance and inspection plan and to document maintenance and inspection activities according to the plan. IRO-006-WECC-3 (Qualified Transfer Path Unscheduled Flow (USF) Relief) - requires balancing authorities and reliability coordinators to document actions taken to mitigate unscheduled flow. VAR-501-WECC-4 (Power System Stabilizers (PSS)) requires the Western Interconnection is operated in a coordinated manner under normal and abnormal conditions by establishing the performance criteria for WECC power system stabilizers.

The latest form for FERC-725E: Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council (RD25-6) (BAL-004-WECC-4) expires 2027-09-30 and can be found here.