NERC reliability standards are developed using an industry-driven ANSI-accredited process that ensures the process: is open to all persons who are directly and materially affected by the reliability of the North American bulk power system; is transparent to the public; demonstrates the consensus for each standard; fairly balances the interests of all stakeholders; provides for reasonable notice and opportunity for comment; and enables the development of standards in a timely manner.

NERC reliability standards define the reliability requirements for planning and operating the North American bulk power system.

The Standards Committee (SC) oversees and prioritizes NERC’s standards development activities. The SC also coordinates the development of reliability standards by NERC with the development of wholesale electric business practices by the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB).

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About Standards

NERC reliability standards define the reliability requirements for planning and operating the North American bulk power system. NERC’s ANSI-accredited standards development process is defined in the Reliability Standards Development Procedure and is guided by reliability and market interface principles. The Reliability Functional Model defines the functions that need to be performed to ensure the bulk electric system operates reliably, and is the foundation upon which the reliability standards are based.

Segment Criteria - Excerpt from Reliability Standards Development Procedure, Appendix B.

The Registered Ballot Body (RBB) comprises all entities that qualify and register for one of the ten industry segments as defined in the Reliability Standards Development Procedure. Members of the RBB may vote on all proposed standards. Anyone who is directly and materially affected may propose a new standard or a revision to an existing one. Anyone may submit comments on a standard under development.

Regional Reliability Standards

NERC develops and maintains reliability standards, including regional reliability standards, that apply to bulk power system owners, operators, and users. Regional reliability standards, when approved by FERC and applicable authorities in Canada and Mexico, shall be made part of the body of NERC reliability standards and shall be enforced upon all applicable bulk-power system owners, operators, and users within the applicable regional entity's region, regardless of membership in the region.

Regional reliability standards shall provide for as much uniformity as possible relative to NERC reliability standards across the interconnected bulk-power system of the North American continent. A regional reliability standard shall be more stringent than a continent-wide reliability standard, including a regional difference that addresses matters that the continent-wide reliability standard does not, or shall be a regional difference necessitated by a physical difference in the bulk-power system.

A regional entity may request that NERC approve a regional reliability standards development procedure. These procedures delineate the steps involved in obtaining regional approval of a regional reliability standard.

Only regional entities may submit to NERC a request to approve, revise, or withdraw a regional reliability standard. NERC will post the proposed regional reliability standard including the implementation plan and the justification for the standard. The progress of the development of the regional standard will be posted on the NERC regional reliability standards under development web page.

The Regional Reliability Standards Working Group (RRSWG) was established in May of 2006 to facilitate the development of the regional standards process.