FERC Approves Reliability Standard Aimed At Relay Performance

On March 17, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC" or the "Commission") issued an order approving Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 (Relay Performance During Stable Power Swings). According to the Commission, PRC-026-1 is "designed to ensure that applicable entities use protective relay systems that can differentiate between faults and stable power swings." The Commission also approved the proposed violation risk factors, violation severity levels, and implementation plan for PRC-026-1. Under the approved implementation plan, Requirement R1 of PRC-026-1 will become effective 12 months after Commission approval, and Requirements R2, R3, and R4 will become effective 36 months after Commission approval.