Power Grid Braces for Solar Storms in Routine Data Extension
Published Date: 5/29/2026
Notice
Summary
FERC is extending the deadline to collect info on how power systems prepare for solar storms that can mess with electricity. This affects power planners who must keep the grid safe from geomagnetic disturbances. No changes or extra costs are planned, but comments are open until June 29, 2026, so folks can share their thoughts.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Geomagnetic Disturbance Assessment Requirement
Under Reliability Standard TPL-007-4, owners and operators of the Bulk-Power System must conduct initial and ongoing vulnerability assessments for defined geomagnetic disturbance events and develop corrective action plans. Entities must also seek Electric Reliability Organization approval for any extensions of time to complete corrective action plan items.
TPL-007-4 Compliance Burden Totals
The TPL-007-4 collection (FERC-725N) is estimated to impose 78,600 total annual hours and $4,992,672 in annual costs across 1,965 entities. The document lists 1,354 generator owners, 60 planning coordinators, 210 transmission planners, and 341 transmission owners, with an average per‑response burden shown as 40 hours and $2,540.80 for these entity types.
TPL-001-5.1 Annual Burden and Cost
For Reliability Standard TPL-001-5.1, the notice estimates a total annual burden of 18,960 hours and $1,204,339 across 270 entities. The table shows 60 planning coordinators each with 148 hours and $9,400.96 per response, and 210 transmission planners each with 48 hours and $3,048.96 per response.
TPL-008-1 Seasonal Planning Burden
For Reliability Standard TPL-008-1 (extreme heat/cold planning), the notice estimates 17,040 total annual hours and $1,082,381 in annual costs across 270 entities. The table shows planning coordinators with 88 hours and $5,589.76 per response and transmission planners with 56 hours and $3,557.12 per response.
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