PER-003-2: Operating Personnel Credentials

Purpose
To ensure that System Operators performing the reliability-related tasks of the Reliability Coordinator, Balancing Authority and Transmission Operator are certified through the NERC System Operator Certification Program when filling a Real- time operating position responsible for control of the Bulk Electric System.

Applicability

Effective Date

7/1/2019

Requirements

R1.    Each Reliability Coordinator shall staff its Real-time operating positions performing Reliability Coordinator reliability-related tasks with System Operators who have demonstrated minimum competency in the areas listed by obtaining and maintaining a valid NERC Reliability Operator certificate (1)( 2): [Risk Factor: High][Time Horizon: Real-time Operations]

1.1. Areas of Competency

1.1.1. Resource and demand balancing

1.1.2. Transmission operations

1.1.3. Emergency preparedness and operations

1.1.4. System operations

1.1.5. Protection and control

1.1.6. Voltage and reactive

1.1.7. Interchange scheduling and coordination

1.1.8. Interconnection reliability operations and coordination

M1.   Each Reliability Coordinator shall have the following evidence to show that it staffed its Real-time operating positions performing reliability-related tasks with System Operators who have demonstrated the applicable minimum competency by obtaining and maintaining the appropriate, valid NERC certificate:

M1.1     A list of Real-time operating positions.

M1.2     A list of System Operators assigned to its Real-time operating positions.

M1.3     A copy of each of its System Operator’s NERC certificate or NERC certificate number with expiration date which demonstrates compliance with the applicable Areas of Competency.

M1.4     Work schedules, work logs, or other equivalent evidence showing which System Operators were assigned to work in Real-time operating positions.

R2.    Each Transmission Operator shall staff its Real-time operating positions performing Transmission Operator reliability-related tasks with System Operators who have demonstrated minimum competency in the areas listed by obtaining and maintaining one of the following valid NERC certificates(1)(2): [Risk Factor: High][Time Horizon: Real-time Operations]:

2.1. Areas of Competency

2.1.1. Transmission operations

2.1.2. Emergency preparedness and operations

2.1.3. System operations

2.1.4. Protection and control

2.1.5. Voltage and reactive

2.2. Certificates

M2.   Each Transmission Operator shall have the following evidence to show that it staffed its Real-time operating positions performing reliability-related tasks with System Operators who have demonstrated the applicable minimum competency by obtaining and maintaining the appropriate, valid NERC certificate:

M2.1     A list of Real-time operating positions.

M2.2     A list of System Operators assigned to its Real-time operating positions.

M2.3     A copy of each of its System Operator’s NERC certificate or NERC certificate number with expiration date which demonstrates compliance with the applicable Areas of Competency.

M2.4     Work schedules, work logs, or other equivalent evidence showing which System Operators were assigned to work in Real-time operating positions.

R3.    Each Balancing Authority shall staff its Real-time operating positions performing Balancing Authority reliability-related tasks with System Operators who have demonstrated minimum competency in the areas listed by obtaining and maintaining one of the following valid NERC certificates(1)(2): [Risk Factor: High][Time Horizon: Real-time Operations]:

3.1. Areas of Competency

3.1.1. Resources and demand balancing

3.1.2. Emergency preparedness and operations

3.1.3. System operations

3.1.4. Interchange scheduling and coordination

3.2. Certificates

M3.   Each Balancing Authority shall have the following evidence to show that it staffed its Real-time operating positions performing reliability-related tasks with System Operators who have demonstrated the applicable minimum competency by obtaining and maintaining the appropriate, valid NERC certificate:

M3.1     A list of Real-time operating positions.

M3.2     A list of System Operators assigned to its Real-time operating positions.

M3.3     A copy of each of its System Operator’s NERC certificate or NERC certificate number with expiration date which demonstrates compliance with the applicable Areas of Competency.

M3.4     Work schedules, work logs, or other equivalent evidence showing which System Operators were assigned to work in Real-time operating positions.


Compliance Monitoring Process

1.1.   Compliance Enforcement Authority:

“Compliance Enforcement Authority” means NERC or the Regional Entity, or any entity as otherwise designated by an Applicable Governmental Authority, in their respective roles of monitoring and/or enforcing compliance with mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards in their respective jurisdictions.

1.2.   Evidence Retention:

The following evidence retention period(s) identify the period of time an entity

is required to retain specific evidence to demonstrate compliance. For instances where the evidence retention period specified below is shorter than the time since the last audit, the Compliance Enforcement Authority may ask an entity to provide other evidence to show that it was compliant for the full-time period since the last audit.

The applicable entity shall keep data or evidence to show compliance as identified below unless directed by its Compliance Enforcement Authority to retain specific evidence for a longer period of time as part of an investigation.

1.3.   Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program

As defined in the NERC Rules of Procedure, “Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program” refers to the identification of the processes that will be used to evaluate data or information for the purpose of assessing performance or outcomes with the associated Reliability Standard.

  1. Non-NERC certified personnel performing any reliability-related task of a real-time operating position must be under the direct supervision of a NERC Certified System Operator stationed at that operating position; the NERC Certified System Operator at that operating position has ultimate responsibility for the performance of the reliability-related tasks.
  2. The NERC certificates referenced in this standard pertain to those certificates identified in the NERC System Operator Certification Program Manual

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