Reliability 

Electric Reliability Organization |  FERC Reliability Orders |  Member-Only Resources

In America, we take electricity for granted. We expect the lights to come on every time we flip the switch. But, a reliable supply of electricity is more than just a convenience. It's a necessity. Our economy—and our way of life—depend on it.

For electric companies, maintaining a high level of reliability requires constant commitment. They must rely on an interconnected network of generation, transmission, and distribution systems to power our homes and businesses. The electric power industry is taking aggressive actions to strengthen reliability.

• For more information, see EEI Reliability Filings at FERC.

Electric Reliability Organization

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO), an independent, self-regulating entity that enforces mandatory electric reliability rules on all users, owners, and operators of the nation's transmission system. This requires otherwise unregulated utilities, such as electric cooperatives and government-owned utilities, to comply with mandatory reliability standards, as well.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is given oversight authority for the ERO. In July 2006, FERC certified the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) as the ERO. In March 2007, FERC approved 83 NERC Reliability Standards, which became the first set of legally enforceable standards for the U.S. bulk power system, effective June 4, 2007.

FERC Reliability Orders

Standards | Electric Reliability Organization Formation | Compliance Enforcement

Standards

• Order Approving Eight Critical Infrastructure Protection Reliability Standard
  January 18, 2008, Order No. 706, RM06-22-000
• Order on Rehearing and Clarification, Preventing Undue Discrimination and Preference in Transmission Service, Clarifying Calculations of Available Transfer Capability, Transmission Facility Planning, and Conditions of Service
  December 28, 2007, Order No. 890-A, RM05-17-000, et al.
• Order Approving Facilities Design, Connections and Maintenance Standard
  December 27, 2007, Order No. 705, RM07-3
• Order Accepting Compliance Filing
  November 2, 2007, re WECC-TOP-STD-007-0
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Facilities Design, Connections and Maintenance Standard
  August 13, 2007, RM07-3
• Order on Rehearing, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System
  July 19, 2007, Order No. 693-A, RM06-16-001
• Order, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System
  March 16, 2007, Order No. 693, RM06-16-001
• Final Rule re Preventing Undue Discrimination and Preference in Transmission Service
  February 16, 2007, Order No. 890, RM05-17-000, et al.
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System
  October 20, 2006, RM06-16-000

Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) Formation

• Order on ERO Registry Determination
  December 20, 2007, RM07-3-000
• Order Affirming ERO Compliance Registry Determination
  November 15, 2007, RC07-3-000 & RC07-5-000
• Order Certifying NERC as ERO
  July 20, 2006, RR06-1-000
• Rules Concerning Certification of ERO and Procedures for the Establishment, Approval, and Enforcement of Electric Reliability Standard
  March 30, 2006, Order No. 672-A, RM05-30-001
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Concerning Certification of ERO and Procedures for the Establishment, Approval, and Enforcement of Electric Reliability Standard 
  September 1, 2005, RM05-30-000

Compliance Enforcement

• Order on Compliance Filing re Violation Risk Factor
  November 16, 2007, RR07-9-003 & RR07-10-003

Member-Only Resources

• Reliability Review 
• Reliability Survey Reports