Revisions to Electric Reliability Organization Definition of Bulk Electric System and Rules of Procedure

In this Final Rule, pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) approves modifications to the currently-effective definition of "bulk electric system" developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric Reliability Organization. The Commission finds that the modified definition of "bulk electric system" removes language allowing for regional discretion in the currently-effective bulk electric system definition and establishes a bright-line threshold that includes all facilities operated at or above 100 kV. The modified definition also identifies specific categories of facilities and configurations as inclusions and exclusions to provide clarity in the definition of "bulk electric system." In this Final Rule, the Commission also approves: NERC's revisions to its Rules of Procedure, which create an exception process to add elements to, or remove elements from, the definition of "bulk electric system" on a case-by-case basis; NERC's form entitled "Detailed Information To Support an Exception Request" that entities will use to support requests for exception from the "bulk electric system" definition; and NERC's implementation plan for the revised "bulk electric system" definition.