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PER-006-1 – Specific Training for Personnel

Purpose
To ensure that personnel are trained on specific topics essential to reliability to perform or support Real-time operations of the Bulk Electric System.

Applicability

Functional Entities: 

Generator Operator that has:

Effective Date
See Implementation Plan for Project 2007-06.2.

Requirements and Measures
R1. Each Generator Operator shall provide training to personnel identified in Applicability section 4.1.1.1. on the operational functionality of Protection Systems and Remedial Action Schemes (RAS) that affect the output of the generating Facility(ies) it operates. [Violation Risk Factor: Medium] [Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]

M1. Each Generator Operator shall have available for inspection, evidence that the applicable personnel completed training. This evidence may be documents such as training records showing successful completion of training that includes training materials, the name of the person, and date of training.

Compliance

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.

      •  The Generator Operator shall keep data or evidence of Requirement R1 for the current year and three previous calendar years.

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.

Guidelines and Technical Basis

Requirement R1
The Generator Operator (GOP) monitors and controls its generating Facilities in Real-time to maintain reliability. To accomplish this, applicable plant personnel responsible for Real-time control of a generating Facility must be trained on how the operational functionality of Protection Systems and Remedial Action Schemes (RAS) are applied and the affects they may have on a generating Facility. Although, training does not have to be Facility-specific, the standard applies to plant operating personnel associated with the specific Facility to which they have Real-time control. This does not include plant personnel not responsible for Real-time control (e.g., fuel or coal handlers, electricians, machinists, or maintenance staff).

A periodicity for training is not specified in Requirement R1 because the GOP must ensure its plant personnel who have Real-time control of a generator are trained. The Generator Operator must also ensure it provides applicable training that results from changes to the operational functionality of the Protection Systems and Remedial Action Schemes that affect the output of the generation Facility(ies).

The phrase “operational functionality” focuses the training on how Protection Systems operate and prevent possible damage to Elements. It also addresses how RAS detects pre-determined BES conditions and automatically takes corrective actions.

Considerations for operational functionality may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Purpose of protective relays and RAS
  • Zones of protection
  • Protection communication systems (e.g., line current differential, direct transfer trip, etc.)
  • Voltage and current inputs
  • Station dc supply associated with protective functions
  • Resulting actions – tripping/closing of breakers; tripping of a generator step-up (GSU) transformer; or generator ramping/tripping control functions

Requirement R1 focuses on the operational functionality of Protection Systems and Remedial Action Schemes specific to the generating plant and not the Bulk Electric System.

This requirement focuses on those systems that are related to the electrical output of the generator. Protective systems which trip breakers serving station auxiliary loads (e.g., such as pumps, fans, or fuel handling equipment) are not included in the scope of this training. Furthermore, protection of secondary unit substation (SUS) or low voltage switchgear transformers and relays protecting other downstream plant electrical distribution system components are not in the scope of this training, even if a trip of these devices might eventually result in a trip of the generating unit.

Rationale

Rationale for Requirement R1:
Protection Systems and Remedial Action Schemes (RAS) are an integral part of reliable Bulk Electric System (BES) operation. This requirement addresses the reliability objective of ensuring that Generator Operator (GOP) plant operating personnel understand the operational functionality of Protection Systems and RAS and their effects on generating Facilities.

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