NERC proposes cold weather reliability standard

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The North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) has proposed new cold weather preparedness and operations rules, known as Reliability Standard EOP-012-3, to enhance the resilience of the electric grid against extreme cold weather. This proposal comes after two previous drafts failed to gain stakeholder approval. NERC emphasizes that the new standard aims to improve generator preparedness and performance by establishing clearer requirements and ensuring timely remediation of freezing issues, which are critical for maintaining grid reliability during severe winter conditions.

The updated standard includes several key improvements over its predecessor, EOP-012-2. These enhancements involve clearer criteria for generators to declare operational constraints, shortened deadlines for corrective actions, mandatory cold weather capabilities for new generating units starting commercial operations after October 1, 2027, and more frequent reviews of cold weather constraints. NERC's initiative is a response to past reliability events, particularly the devastating impacts of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, which highlighted the urgent need for robust standards to safeguard the Bulk-Power System during winter seasons.