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North American Electric
Reliability Corporation
(NERC) Test Questions and
Answers
What percentage of load gives a 1 Hz change in an island condition? - ANSWER>>6-10% (Think 6-10 day island vacation)
If ACE is Zero but system Hz is off, what should a system operator do? - ANSWER>>Nothing! ACE bias and interchange schedule will improve frequency
If ACE is Zero, why not adjust generation to help frequency? - ANSWER>>Could overload equipment, this is a NERC violation
When restoring from blackout condition, what should be done with load? - ANSWER>>All load breakers should be opened, load should be restored in a controlled manner not to exceed 5% of current available gen
What's the point of COM-001? - ANSWER>>Each TO, BA, RC and NERCNet Use Orgs need to have good comms
Where do they need to have comms? - ANSWER>>Internal, Between RC, TO and BA, Other RC, TO, BA and authorities
Where applicable comms should be ______ and _______ routed. - ANSWER>>Redundant and Diversely routed, just in case something fails
How do we know comms will be good? - ANSWER>>They will manage, alarm, test and/or actively monitor, especially emergency comm facilities and equipment (non-routine equipment)
When can languages other than English be used? - ANSWER>>Only for internal operation, Operation of the BES requires comms in English
What is required so operation during a loss of comms will be ensured? - ANSWER>>Written operating instructions and procedures
What is the point of COM-002? - ANSWER>>Ensure BA, TO, GO, and RC have comms and capability to use them for addressing emergency and that operators are trained to use them
Who should a BA or TO notify if they are aware of any condition that could threaten area reliability or when shedding load? - ANSWER>>Notify their RC and any other potentially affected BA or TO
How should directives be issued by an RC, TO or BA? - ANSWER>>In a clear, concise and definitive manner, using 3 part(way) communications
Who is required to create a blackstart restoration plan? Who approves it? - ANSWER>>Transmission Operators; Its RC
When is the blackstart condition finished? - ANSWER>>When the choice of the next load to be restored is not driven by frequency and voltage control
Who directs the procedure for restoring interconnection between Tos? - ANSWER>>RC
What must be done prior to implementing changes in a restoration plan? - ANSWER>>The parties invloved must be told of changes to their role and specific tasks prior to implementation.
How often must a Blackstart Resource be verified at a minimum? - ANSWER>>Once every 3 years
Name two requirements when testing a Blackstart Resource: - ANSWER>>Ability to start with no BES support and remain energized without the rest of the system; The ability to energize a bus
What is the frequency that system restoration training for operators is required? - ANSWER>>Annually
What is the purpose of annual operator system restoration training? - ANSWER>>To assure proper execution of its restoration plan
Name 4 things required in annual operator system restoration training: - ANSWER>>System restoration plan including coordination with RC and GO; Restoration Priorities; Building of cranking paths; Synchronizng
How often and how much training is required for field switching personnel who are included in the system restoration plan? - ANSWER>>Minimum 2 hrs every 2 years
When must a TO or GO participate in RC restoration drills, exercises or simulations? - ANSWER>>As requested by the RC
What is a Blackstart Resource Agreement? - ANSWER>>This is an agreement between a TO and GO that includes the terms and conditions of the use of the Blackstart Unit; e.g. procedures, protocols, testing requirements
What is required by each GO for their Blackstart Resources? - ANSWER>>Documented procuedures for starting each resource and energizing a bus
Who must a GO notify if a Blackstart Resource ability to perform its function is changed? - ANSWER>>The TO who holds the agreement
What is the time requirement for a GO to notify its TO when a Blackstart Resource capabilities are compromised? - ANSWER>>24 Hours
Who is required to perform the agreed upon testing of a Blackstart Resource? - ANSWER>>The GO
What minimum information should be recorded for a Blackstart Resource test? - ANSWER>>Name of Resource, unit tested, date of test, duration of test, time required to start, and any test requirements not met
If requested by a TO or RC, when must Blackstart Resource test results be produced? - ANSWER>>The GO has 30 days to provide test results to its TO or RC
How much time and how frequently must a GO train its personnel on starting a Blackstart Resource and energizing a bus? - ANSWER>>2 hours every 2 years minimum
What two things must be included in the GO Blackstart Resource biannual training? - ANSWER>>The system restoration plan including coordination with the TO; The procedures associated with the Blackstart Resource Agreement
What must each RC have in regard to restoration? - ANSWER>>Each RC is required to have an RC Area Restoration Plan.
Name the three things covered in the RC Area Restoration Plan? - ANSWER>>Blackstart Resources used to re-energize a shut down area of the BES; separation has occurred between neighboring RC; An energized island has been formed on the BES
If a TO restoration plan does not work with the RC or neighboring TO what must be done? - ANSWER>>The RC will inform the TO of the conflict with stated reasons within 30 days of receiving the plan
What must be kept in the Primary and Backup RC control room in regard to documentation? - ANSWER>>The RC must have a copy of the restoration plans of each of its TO
If the exact restoration plan will not work, what must an RC do? - ANSWER>>Use restoration strategies to facilitate system restoration
Who coordinates and authorizes resynchronizing islanded areas that bridge TO or RC boundaries? - ANSWER>>The RC
How often must the RC train personnel on restoration? - ANSWER>>Annually
What two things are required in RC annual restoration training? - ANSWER>>Coordination role of the RC; Reestablishing the Interconnection
How many system restoration drills, exercises or simulations must be conducted by an RC each year? - ANSWER>>2 system restoration drills, exercises or simulations
Who must be included in the RC System restoration drills, exercises or simulations held each year? - ANSWER>>GO and TO as directed by the scope of the drill
How often must a TO or GO be requested to participate in an RC system restoration drill, exercise or simulation? - ANSWER>>At least once every two years
What is the purpose of the Loss of Control Center Functionality standard? - ANSWER>>To ensure continued reliability of the BES in the event a control room is compromised
What 3 entities does the Loss of Control Center Functionality standard apply to? - ANSWER>>TO, RC and BA
What is each TO, BA and RC required to have in regard to the loss of primary control center functionality? - ANSWER>>Each must have an Operating Plan describing how it will continues to control the BES
Name 5 things required to support a backup control centers functionality: - ANSWER>>Tools and applications giving BES situational awareness; Data comms; Voice comms; Power souce; Physical and cyber security
Name 5 components of the Backup Control Facility Operating Plan: - ANSWER>>Location and method to provide backup functionality until primary is restored; a summary of backup functionality elements; plan to keep backup consisten with primary function; a transition period between loss of primary and fully implemented backup funcitionality; actions required to be taken during the transition
Within what time frame must a backup control facility be fully functional? - ANSWER>>Less than or equal to two hours
What 3 elements must be included in the control center transfer Operating Process? - ANSWER>>Entiites to notify; Actions to manage risk of the BES; Identification of Roles during transition
Where must a copy of the control center transition Operating Plan be kept? - ANSWER>>A copy in the primary and backup control facilities
How long can an RC have only one available control center? - ANSWER>>Planned outages of primary or backup facilities of two weeks or less do not require the minimum two facilities
How often must an Responsible Entity validate all contact information contained in the event reporting operating plan? - ANSWER>>Annually
Events meeting event report threshold: - ANSWER>>Damage, destruction or physical threats physical threats to a facility, physical threats to a control center, public appeal for load reduction, system-wide voltage reduction >3%, manual or automatic firm load shedding >100MW; voltage deviation +/- 10% for 15 minutes; IROL or SOL violation, loss of Firm load, System separation (islanding), generation loss, complete loss of offsite power to a nuclear plant, transmission loss, control center evacuation, complete loss of voice comm or monitoring capabilities
What is the minimum loss of system-wide voltage required to report? - ANSWER>>> 3%
What is the minimum manual load shed required to report? - ANSWER>>> 100 MW
What is the minimum automatic load shed required to report? - ANSWER>>> 100 MW (by UFLS, UVLS, SPS/RAS)
What observed voltage deviation requires reporting? - ANSWER>>Deviation of +/- 10% voltage sustained for 15 minutes or more
What is the minimum time for an IROL violation in regard to reporting? - ANSWER>>If an interconnection operates outside of IROL for a time greater than IROL Tv
In WECC, if an SOL occurs for ______ minutes or more it must be reported. - ANSWER>>
What are the event reporting limits of loss of firm load? - ANSWER>>Loss of firm load for 15 minutes or more, >300 MW for entities with >3000 MW in the previous or > 200 MW for all other entitites
What is the event reporting threshold for a system separation (islanding) condition? - ANSWER>>Each separation resulting in an island > 100 MW
What is the event reporting threshold for a loss of generation? - ANSWER>>> 2000 MW loss within one minute in the WECC or EAST, >1000MW in ERCOT or Quebec
What is the event reporting threshold for loss of power to a nuclear plant? - ANSWER>>Complete loss of off-site power affecting a nuclear generating station
What is the transmission loss reporting threshold? - ANSWER>>Unexpected loss within its area, contrary to design or loss of 3 or more BES elements by a common disturbance
For how long must a BES control center be evacuated to meet the event reporting requirement? - ANSWER>>30 minutes
After how long must a complete loss of voice communications be reported? - ANSWER>>30 minutes
After how long does a complete loss of monitoring capability meet reporting threshold? - ANSWER>>30 minutes
Describe Attachment 1 and attachment 2 of EOP-004 Event Reporting: - ANSWER>>Att 1 is the events required to be reported; Att 2 is the Event Reporting Form
What must a BA or TO with insufficient generation or transmission capacity have the capability and authority to do? - ANSWER>>Shed load rather than risk an uncontrolled failure of the interconnection'
What is a BA required to do in regard to capacity and energy emergencies? - ANSWER>>A BA must take required and appropriate action(s)
Which control system would be affected by a difference in the NIA and NIS? - ANSWER>>Automatic Generator Control
What is the minimum Bias standard for a BA serving native load? - ANSWER>>1% of yearly peak demand per 0.1 Hz; eg 100MW/.1Hz
What is unilateral payback? - ANSWER>>Making a non-zero ACE to payback time, the amount is limited by the BA L10.
What is bilateral payback? - ANSWER>>This is payback that is set up as a schedule and would be part of the interchange schedule in ACE. This means there is no limit, but it requires more than one BA.
What provides the initial response to frequency deviation? - ANSWER>>Frequency Bias Setting or frequency response characteristic is composed of Load/frequency response and Governor Action
Under what condition should AGC be removed from service? - ANSWER>>If AGC is adversely impacting the reliability of the interconnection.
Name the 2 items that must be agreed upon by each BA at the end of the day: - ANSWER>>The hourly values of Net Interchange Schedule and the hourly integrated MW-Hour values of Net Actual Interchange
What CPS uses the L10 as a limit? - ANSWER>>CPS 2, L10 is the MW limit that a BA can exchange in or out over an intertie
If time permits, what must a TO do prior to de-energizing a line exceeding its SOL?
- ANSWER>>Contact the RC and affected Tos
If a TO enters an unknown operating state, in what time must the condition be restored to within known limits? - ANSWER>>30 minutes
What is a short explanation of EEA 2? - ANSWER>>Load Management Procedure is in effect; eg requesting non-firm load offline
What percentage of a BA or Reserve Sharing Group's most sever single contingency is reported? - ANSWER>>Loss of 80% of the largest single contingency
If multiple generators are lost, in what time frame will they be considered one contingency? - ANSWER>>They must trip within 1 minute to be considered a single contingency
What is the main determining factor in system load? - ANSWER>>Weather, this is then used with historical load patterns to calculate the most accurate load expectation
How many days of training and drills using realistic simulations of system emergencies must an RC participate in yearly? - ANSWER>>32 hours of training/year
How many days of training and drills using realistic simulations of system emergencies must a TO or BA participate in yearly? - ANSWER>>32 hours of training/year
What is the most critical factor of a very long transmission power line with remote generation? - ANSWER>>SOLs and IROLs most limiting factor comes from angle stability limitations as those drive the power flow
Is line loading of 100% acceptable? - ANSWER>>Technically this is still within SOL.
assistance from other BA, declare a EEA with RC, and reduce load (public appeal, voltage reduction, curtailing, firm load drop)
Name 4 examples of Load Reduction: - ANSWER>>Public appeal, voltage reductions, curtailing interruptible load, and firm load shedding
Once and EEA is declared, who addresses the energy emergency? - ANSWER>>The RC
How can an EEA be initiated? - ANSWER>>Only by an RC at the RCs own request, upon request of a BA or upon request of a LSE
List two reasons an EEA can be initiated? - ANSWER>>A LSE is or expects to be unable to prvide its customers energy requirements and cannot locate available resources, or LSE cannot schedule due to ATC limits or transmission loading relief limits
By what means does an RC notify other RCs of a declared EEA? - ANSWER>>The RCIS - Reliability Coordinator Information System
Who does the RC notify after declaring an EEA? - ANSWER>>All BA and TO in their area, as well as all other RCs via the RCIS
Who does the RC notify when an EEA is ended? - ANSWER>>The other RCs via RCIS
What is an EEA 1? - ANSWER>>All available resources in use
What is an EEA 2? - ANSWER>>Load Management prcoedures in effect
What is an EEA 3? - ANSWER>>Firm load interuption imminent or in progress
What is an energy deficient entity? - ANSWER>>A BA, RSG, or LSE that is no longer able to provide its customers expected energy requirements
List 5 examples of options before shedding firm load that can be taken in EEA 2: - ANSWER>>Public appeals to reduce demand, voltage reduction, interruption of non-firm load, demand-side management, utility load conservation measures
Upon request from a BA to declare EEA 2, where does the RC post the declaration of Energy Emergency Alert? - ANSWER>>On the NERC website, including alert level and name of the Deficient entity and name of its BA (if applicable)
How often must an Energy Deficient Entity update its RC if in a EEA 2 & 3 condition? - ANSWER>>Every Hour until the Alert is terminated
What must be done with update information to an RC during a EEA 2 & 3 condition? - ANSWER>>The RC will take hourly information and update affected RCs, BAs and TO
During an EEA 2 what must BA and market participants with resources do to help?
- ANSWER>>Immediately contact the Energy Deficient Entity
What actions can an RC request to improve ATC during an EEA? - ANSWER>>The RC can review SOL and IROL and improve ATC by restoring out of service trans elements, reconfiguring transmission system, adjusting phase angle regulator tap positions, implement emergency operating procedures, and review generation redispatch options
What actions must be performed by an Energy Deficient Entity before moving to EEA 3? - ANSWER>>All available generation units are online, purchases made regardless of cost, non-firm sales recalled and contractually interruptible loads and demand-side management curtailed, operating reserves are being utilized (Entity is below required minimum reserve)
What is the DCS? - ANSWER>>The Disturbance Control Standard is a measure of the loss of load in a BA
What can be considered a supply of contingency reserve? - ANSWER>>Generation, controllable load resources, coordinated adjustments to Interchange Schedules
What is the minimum amount of DCS required? - ANSWER>>At least enough Contingency Reserve to cover the most severe single contingency.
How often do probable contingencies need to be reviewed by the BA? - ANSWER>>Annually to determine the prospective most severe single contingencies
What is the Disturbance Recovery Period? - ANSWER>>A BA must return ACE to zero (unless it was negative, then back to its spot) after a reportable disturbance
How long is the Disturbance Recovery Period? - ANSWER>>A BA must return ACE to its proper value within 15 minutes
What is the minimum that the DCS must be met for reportable events? - ANSWER>>100% of the events (return to ACE in 15 min; Disturbance Recovery Period)
What is the Contingency Reserve Restoration Period? - ANSWER>>90 minutes from the end of the Disturbance Recovery Period (15 min); It is time to FULLY recover Contingency Reserve for its interconnection
Following a Contingency or other event that results in an IROL violation, how long does the TO have to bring the system back into limits? - ANSWER>>As soon as possible and not to exceed 30 minutes
Load management procedure in effect warrants what level of EEA? - ANSWER>>EEA 2
If all available resources to a BA are in use for meeting load and reserves, what is the corresponding EEA? - ANSWER>>EEA 1
Training staff must be identified and the staff must be competent in what two things? - ANSWER>>Knowledge of system operations and instructional capabilities
Geo magnetic disturbances induce what type of current? - ANSWER>>Large amounts of low frequency current that can enter the system through grounds and cause equipment damage, namely to transformers
How does BA include remote BA, jointly owned generation in its ACE? - ANSWER>>Using dynamic schedule and pseudo ties for its ACE, reflecting its respective share of the unit governor droop response in their Hz Bias.
Pending generation and transmission maintenance outages must be coordinated between who? - ANSWER>>RC with other RC and TO, BA, GO in both real time and next day reliability analysis
Protection systems on transmission lines and interconnections must be coordianated with who? - ANSWER>>GO, TO and BA, so new relay packages must be communicated to those bodies
When does each BA have to review its Frequency Bias Settings? - ANSWER>>By January 1st of each year and recalculate for changes
What should a BA do if a factor affecting Frequency Bias is changed? - ANSWER>>Review the Bias Setting and make necessary changes
