Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is revising its regulations to incorporate by reference in its regulations at 18 CFR 38.2 the latest version (Version 002.1) of certain business practice standards adopted by the Wholesale Electric Quadrant of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB). NAESB's Version 002.1 Standards include standards adopted by NAESB in response to Order Nos. 890, 890-A, and 890-B. The Version 002.1 Standards we are incorporating by reference in this Final Rule modify NAESB's Commercial Timing Table (WEQ-004 Appendix D) and Transmission Loading Relief Standards (WEQ-008) to provide clarity and align NAESB's business practice standards with the reliability standards adopted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, and amend certain ancillary services definitions appearing in the Open Access Same-Time Information Systems Standards (WEQ-001) relating to the inclusion of demand response resources as potential providers of ancillary services. Incorporating these revised standards by reference into the Commission's regulations 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.