Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is revising its regulations to incorporate by reference the latest version (Version 001) of certain standards adopted by the Wholesale Electric Quadrant (WEQ) of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB). NAESB's standards revise its Open Access Same-Time Information Systems (OASIS) business practice standards, revise four business practice standards relating to reliability issues, add new standards on transmission loading relief for the Eastern Interconnection, add new standards for public key infrastructure, and add a new OASIS implementation guide. Incorporating these revised standards will provide customers with information that will enable them to obtain transmission service on a non-discriminatory basis and will assist the Commission in supporting needed infrastructure and the reliability of the interstate transmission grid.