Scope:
Spare Equipment Database Task Force
Scope: Spare Equipment Database Task Force
Purpose
The purpose of the Spare Equipment Database Task Force (SEDTF) is to provide recommendations for enhancing resilience to High Impact Low Frequency events through improved access to critical spares, and potentially other long-lead time electric transmission system equipment. The SEDTF objective is to provide a series of recommendation and potential options that provide enhanced resilience[1].
Among the evaluations, the SEDTF will consider the benefits or adverse impacts of adopting a uniform approach to collecting, storing, and distributing information on long-lead time electric transmission system spare equipment[2] that has been voluntarily provided by Registered Entities.
A proposal to centrally maintain such information/data must address its classification as Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII)[3] and proposals for maintaining heightened security precautions. Other evaluations should consider benefits or adverse impacts of expanding or building upon existing pooling or bilateral programs, including ongoing initiatives such as the EEI STEP program and the Department of Energy – EPRI critical infrastructure database initiative.
The SEDTF will initially focus on bulk power transformers. Prior to proceeding with other forms of critical long-lead time equipment, approval will be sought from the OC/PC/CIPC. The task force will report to the Planning Committee.
Background
The availability of spare equipment during High Impact Low Frequency events can be a vital link to bridge to long-term recovery. As a result of potential HILF scenarios, availability/access to critical spare equipment may be limited by various factors, and long lead times associated with such equipment (greater than 6-12 months) may impose significant reliability constraints. The SEDTF is focused on developing recommendations that would enhance availability, access, and reliability resilience of the BES. The SEDTF will consider a wide range of options, presenting for endorsement at the PC, that would include all the key aspects both positive and negative for deliberation and an proposed implementation work plan.
The SEDTF will make recommendations on several key aspects:
1. Options to enhance resilience in responding to HILF scenario incidents, including coordinated physical attacks and GMD incidents, through expanded access/availability long lead time equipment.
2. Benefits/adverse aspects of implementing a centralized database function within NERC and/or Regions. This would consider:
· Specification of the long lead-time electric transmission equipment spares to be included
· Specific information to be maintained for each spare type;
· Process for providing and communicating availability/access regarding equipment information;
· To the extent endorsed, data base function/processes;
· Follow-up procedures for assessing program effectiveness.
3. Benefits/adverse aspects of implementing an enhanced pooling/bilateral approach to enhancing BES resilience in response to HILF scenarios:
· Specification of the pooling/bilateral arrangements for long lead-time electric transmission equipment spares;
· Specific information/processes to be incorporated for each spare type;
· Process for providing and communicating availability/access regarding equipment information;
· Follow-up procedures for assessing program effectiveness.
4. Options regarding interim operational management steps and/or wide-area drills for addressing resilience and reliability constraints in response to a HILF type event.
5. The appropriate implementation work plan elements and milestones for ERO, RE, and registered entities.
Milestones/Activities
1. Start Task Force Q3 2010.
2. Develop the criteria for evaluating options that enhance resilience of the BES in response to HILF type events.
3. Formulate a wide range of preliminary options to consider, develop the proposed benefits/adverse impacts of each option – including development of a spare equipment database and associated equipment definitions/identification process, and development of pooling/bilateral approaches to address.
4. Indentify the CEII*, confidentiality, and system security aspects as part of the criteria for recommendations.
5. Develop criteria for defining long-lead time bulk transmission system emergency equipment
6. Formulate the legal, regulatory, logistics, contractual, technical/design, and other aspects regarding the use of the spare equipment database.
· Definition of long-lead time electric transmission equipment attributes included as part of the SED program, starting with BES power transformers..
· Assemble and coordinate the activities of equipment specialists in describing the appropriate design criteria associated with each equipment type within the SED program.
7. Develop appropriate ‘streamlined’ processes to provide access/availability of SED equipment information and communication of this information among entities responding to HILF events.
8. Provide recommendations whether there are readily implementable enhancements to existing spare equipment programs/pooling-bilateral efforts.
9. Develop a process for evaluating the performance and readiness to implement the SED program, through drills and/or other exercises.
10. Identify recommendations where Federal, Provincial and State Governments support may be necessary to implement effective response [logistics, permitting, etc] to HILF events.
11. Provide recommendations on any follow-on activities.
12. Report to the OC/PC/CIPC regarding progress on the milestones/activities.
Membership
The SEDTF members will be comprised of the following:
· Two (2) members from each of NERC’s regions representative of industry segments;
· Two (2) Canadian members;
· One (1) member from the NERC committee, or working group to whom the TF reports;
· Industry experts as needed; and
· NERC staff member will be assigned as the SEDTF secretary.
The chair of the PC will appoint the chair of the SEDTF.
Meetings
One face-to-face meeting per quarter and 1-2 conference calls per month will be held.
Approved by the Planning Committee: December 8, 2010
[1] This task force will support the Electricity Sub-sector Coordinating Council‘s Critical Infrastructure Protection Roadmap, work plan items: 1) G - Critical Spares, and 2) P- GMD – Restore the Bulk power System.
[2] Spare Equipment includes large, long lead time equipment kept in reserve especially for emergency use, such as BES transformers.
[3] Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII) as defined by US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (http://www.ferc.gov/legal/ceii-foia/ceii.asp):
CEII is specific engineering, vulnerability, or detailed design information about proposed or existing critical infrastructure (physical or virtual) that:
1. Relates details about the production, generation, transmission, or distribution of energy;
2. Could be useful to a person planning an attack on critical infrastructure;
3. Is exempt from mandatory disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act; and
4. Gives strategic information beyond the location of the critical infrastructure.