FERC Updates Rules to Keep Solar and Wind from Grid Glitches
Published Date: 2/26/2025
Notice
Summary
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved new rules from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to better monitor and manage inverter-based power resources, like solar and wind. These changes affect power companies that own or operate these resources, helping keep the electric grid safe and reliable. The new standards replace old ones and will roll out soon, with no extra costs expected for the industry.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Required Disturbance Monitoring Equipment
Reliability Standard PRC-028-1 requires generator owners of applicable IBRs to install disturbance monitoring equipment to collect sequence of event recording, fault recording, and dynamic disturbance recording data. NERC's implementation plan requires generator owners to implement disturbance monitoring equipment by no later than 2030, with a risk-based, phased approach and possible deadline extensions for issues like supply chain delays.
Unexpected IBR Event Identification Rules
Reliability Standard PRC-030-1 requires generator owners to identify and document unexpected IBR changes of power output that meet thresholds of at least 20 MW and at least 10% of the plant's gross nameplate rating occurring within a four-second period. Generator owners must analyze events when required, develop corrective action plans or technical justifications, and report or update plans as specified. Bulk electric system IBRs must comply by the standard's effective date; applicable non-bulk IBRs must comply by the later of January 1, 2027 or the standard's effective date.
PRC-002-5 Replaces PRC-002-4; Adds Data Rules
Reliability Standard PRC-002-5 will replace PRC-002-4 and clarifies applicability to non-IBR bulk electric system elements while adding data collection, sharing, and data formatting requirements similar to PRC-028-1. NERC proposes retiring PRC-002-4 immediately prior to PRC-002-5's effective date.
Estimated Paperwork and Cost Burden Totals
The Commission published estimated annual paperwork and cost burdens for the new and revised standards: PRC-002-5—12,600 hours and $890,442.00; PRC-028-1—107,680 hours and $7,609,745.60; PRC-030-1—26,960 hours and $1,905,263.20 (each for Years 1-3). Hourly cost used in the estimates is $70.67 per hour.
New IBR Definition Added
The Commission approved a new definition of an inverter-based resource (IBR) for the NERC Glossary. The IBR definition will become effective on the first day of the first calendar quarter after the Commission's approval and is not expected to generate new paperwork burden by itself.
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