148 FERC ¶ 61,042

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

18 CFR Part 40

[Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000; Order No. 799]

Generator Relay Loadability and 

Revised Transmission Relay Loadability Reliability Standards 

 

(Issued July 17, 2014)

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the section regarding Electric Reliability of the Federal Power 

Act, the Commission approves a new Reliability Standard, PRC-025-1 (Generator Relay 

Loadability), submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), 

the Commission-approved Electric Reliability Organization. In addition, the 

Commission approves Reliability Standard PRC-023-3 (Transmission Relay Loadability), 

also submitted by NERC, which revises a currently-effective standard pertaining to

transmission relay loadability. 

DATES: Effective Date: This rule will become effective [INSERT DATE 60 days 

after publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Syed Ahmad (Technical Information)

Office of Electric Reliability

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

(202) 502-8718

syed.ahmad@ferc.gov
Docket Nos. RM13

-19-000 and RM14-3-000 ii

Julie Greenisen (Legal Information)

Office of the General Counsel

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

(202) 502-6362

julie.greenisen@ferc.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

:
148 FERC ¶ 61,042

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Before Commissioners: Cheryl A. LaFleur, Acting Chairman;

 Philip D. Moeller, John R. Norris,

and Tony Clark.

Generator Relay Loadability and 

Revised Transmission Relay Loadability 

Reliability Standards 

Docket Nos. RM13-19-000

RM14-3-000

ORDER NO. 799

FINAL RULE 

(Issued July 17, 2014)

1. Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA),

1 the Commission 

approves a new Reliability Standard, PRC-025-1 (Generator Relay Loadability), 

submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). In addition, 

the Commission approves Reliability Standard PRC-023-3 (Transmission Relay 

Loadability), also submitted by NERC, which revises a currently-effective standard 

pertaining to transmission relay loadability. 

2. NERC developed proposed Reliability Standard PRC-025-1 in response to certain 

Commission directives issued in Order No. 733,2 in which the Commission approved an 

 1 16 U.S.C. § 824o (2012). 

2 Transmission Relay Loadability Reliability Standard, Order No. 733, 130 FERC 

¶ 61,221 (2010) (Order No. 733); order on reh’g and clarification, Order No. 733-A, 

134 FERC ¶ 61,127; clarified, Order No. 733-B, 136 FERC ¶ 61,185 (2011). 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 2 -

initial version of a Reliability Standard governing transmission relay loadability. We find 

that the new standard on generator relay loadability, Reliability Standard PRC-025-1, will 

enhance reliability by imposing mandatory requirements governing generator relay 

loadability, thereby reducing the likelihood of premature or unnecessary tripping of 

generators during system disturbances. In addition, we find that the revisions to 

PRC-023-2 are appropriate in that they clarify the applicability of the two standards 

governing relay loadability (PRC-025-1 and PRC-023-3), and prevent potential 

compliance overlap by eliminating potential inconsistencies. Finally, we approve the 

violation risk factors and violation severity levels as proposed for PRC-025-1, as well as 

the proposed implementation plans for the two standards. 

I. Background 

A. Regulatory Background 

3. Section 215 of the FPA requires a Commission-certified Electric Reliability 

Organization (ERO) to develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards, subject 

to Commission review and approval.3

 Once approved, the Reliability Standards may be 

enforced by the ERO subject to Commission oversight, or by the Commission 

 3 16 U.S.C. § 824o(c) and (d). 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 3 -

independently.4

 In 2006, the Commission certified NERC as the ERO pursuant to FPA 

section 215.5

 

B. Relay Protection Systems

4. Protective relays are devices that detect and initiate the removal of faults on an 

electric system.6

 They are designed to read electrical measurements, such as current, 

voltage, and frequency, and can be set to recognize certain measurements as indicating a 

fault. When a protective relay detects a fault on an element of the system under its 

protection, it sends a signal to an interrupting device, such as a circuit breaker, to 

disconnect the element from the rest of the system. Impedance relays, which are the most 

common type of relays used to protect transmission lines, continuously measure voltage 

and current on the protected transmission line and operate when the measured magnitude 

and phase angle of the impedance (voltage/current) falls within the settings of the relay. 

C. Development of Reliability Standards on Relay Loadability 

5. Following the August 2003 blackout that affected parts of the Midwest, the 

Northeast, and Ontario, Canada, NERC and the U.S.-Canada Power System Outage Task 

Force (Task Force) concluded that a substantial number of transmission lines 

disconnected during the blackout when load-responsive phase-protection backup distance 

 4 See id. § 824o(e).

5 North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116 FERC ¶ 61,062, order on reh’g 

& compliance, 117 FERC ¶ 61,126 (2006), aff’d sub nom. Alcoa, Inc. v. FERC, 564 F.3d 

1342 (D.C. Cir. 2009). 

6 A “fault” is defined in the NERC Glossary of Terms used in Reliability 

Standards as “[a]n event occurring on an electric system such as a short circuit, a broken 

wire, or an intermittent connection.” 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 4 -

and phase relays operated unnecessarily, i.e. under non-fault conditions. Although these 

relays operated according to their settings, the Task Force determined that the operation 

of these relays for non-fault conditions contributed to cascading outages at the start of the 

blackout and accelerated the geographic spread of the cascade.7

 Seeking to prevent or 

minimize the scope of future blackouts, both NERC and the Task Force developed 

recommendations to ensure that these types of protective relays do not contribute to 

future blackouts.8

 

6. NERC developed Reliability Standard PRC-023-1 (Transmission Relay 

Loadability) to address these recommendations, and submitted it for Commission 

approval under FPA section 215. On March 10, 2010, in Order No. 733, the Commission 

approved Reliability Standard PRC-023-1.

9

 In addition, the Commission directed NERC 

to (1) make certain modifications to the Reliability Standard, (2) submit a timeline for the 

development of a new Reliability Standard to address generator protective relay 

loadability, and (3) develop a new Reliability Standard addressing the issue of protective 

relay operation during stable power swings.

 7 U.S.-Canada Power System Outage Task Force, Final Report on the August 14, 

2003 Blackout in the United States and Canada: Causes and Recommendations, at 80 

(2004) (Final Blackout Report). 

8 See Final Blackout Report, Recommendation 21A; North American Electric 

Reliability Council, August 14, 2003 Blackout: NERC Actions to Prevent and Mitigate 

the Impacts of Future Cascading Blackouts, at 13 and Recommendation 8a (2004).

9 Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶ 61,221. 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 5 -

D. NERC Petition and Reliability Standards PRC-025-1 and PRC-023-3

1. Reliability Standard PRC-025-1

7. On September 30, 2013, NERC submitted a petition seeking approval of 

Reliability Standard PRC-025-1 (Generator Relay Loadability).

10 NERC stated in its 

petition that the standard “is designed to prevent generator tripping when conditions do 

not pose a direct risk to the generator and associated equipment and will reduce the risk 

of unnecessary generator tripping – events that increase the severity of the disturbance.”11 

NERC further stated that the standard is intended to address the second part of the 

Commission’s Order No. 733 directives, requiring development of a standard governing 

generator protective relay loadability.12 NERC noted that it addressed the first Order 

No. 733 directive, requiring modification of PRC-023-1, through its revised standard 

PRC-023-2 (currently in effect).

13 NERC indicated that it is addressing the third portion 

 10 Reliability Standards PRC-025-1 and PRC-023-3 are not attached to this 

Final Rule. The complete texts of these proposed Reliability Standards are available on 

the Commission's eLibrary document retrieval system in Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and 

RM14-3-000, and are posted on NERC’s web site, available at: http:// www.nerc.com. 

11 Petition of the North American Electric Reliability Corp. for Approval of 

Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-025-1 (Generator Relay Loadability), Docket 

No. RM13-19-000 at 4 (Sept. 30, 2013) (September 30 Petition or Petition). NERC 

requested that the Commission delay its consideration of PRC-025-1 until NERC could 

finalize and submit for approval certain related revisions to its transmission relay 

loadability standard, PRC-023-2. Those revisions were submitted on December 17, 

2013, as discussed further below. 

12 See id. at 8.

13 Id. (citing Transmission Relay Loadability Reliability Standard, Order No. 759, 

138 FERC ¶ 61,197 (2012)). 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 6 -

of the Order No. 733 directives, relay operation during stable power swings, as part of a 

separate phase of the project.14 

8. NERC explained that the stated purpose of PRC-025-1 is “[t]o set load-responsive 

protective relays associated with generation Facilities at a level to prevent unnecessary 

tripping of generators during a system disturbance for conditions that do not pose a risk 

of damage to the associated equipment.”15 Reliability Standard PRC-025-1 will apply to 

any generator owner, transmission owner, or distribution provider “that applies loadresponsive protective relays at the terminals of the Elements listed in 3.2, Facilities.”16

The term “facilities,” in turn, is defined in section 3.2 of the proposed standard as:

Elements associated with Bulk Electric System (BES) 

generating units and generating plants, including those . . . 

identified as Blackstart Resources in the Transmission 

Operator’s system restoration plan:

3.2.1 Generating unit(s).

3.2.2 Generator step-up (i.e., GSU) transformer(s).

 14 Id. NERC indicated that this third phase of its response to Order No. 733 is 

tentatively scheduled to be completed in December 2014. Id. 

15 September 30 Petition, Ex. A at 3. While NERC has not proposed a definition 

for the term “load-responsive protective relays,” Attachment A of existing Reliability 

Standard PRC-023-2, which also uses the term “load-responsive protective relays” states 

that the standard includes “any protective functions which could trip with or without time 

delay, on load current.” NERC Reliability Standard PRC-023-2, available at:

http://www.nerc.com/_layouts/PrintStandard.aspx?standardnumber=PRC-023-

2&title=Transmission%20Relay%20Loadability&jurisdiction=United%20States.

16 September 30 Petition, Ex. A at 3. NERC further explained that the standard

should “include all load-responsive protective relays that are affected by increased 

generator output in response to system disturbances.” September 30 Petition, Ex. A at 25 

(Guidelines and Technical Basis) (hereinafter Guidelines). 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 7 -

3.2.3 Unit auxiliary transformer(s) (UAT) that supply 

overall auxiliary power necessary to keep generating 

unit(s) online.

3.2.4 Elements that connect the GSU transformer(s) to the 

Transmission system that are used exclusively to 

export energy directly from a BES generating unit or 

generating plant. Elements may also supply 

generating plant loads.

3.2.5 Elements utilized in the aggregation of dispersed 

power producing resources. 

9. Reliability Standard PRC-025-1 has only one requirement, that each applicable 

entity “shall apply settings that are in accordance with PRC-025-1 – Attachment 1: Relay 

Settings, on each load-responsive protective relay while maintaining reliable fault 

protection.”17 The relay setting options are defined in Table 1 of Attachment 1, and 

include the specific bus voltage and other inputs to be used depending on the application 

(e.g., synchronous or asynchronous generator, generator step-up transformer, or unit

auxiliary transformer) and the type of relay. For most applications of each type of relay, 

the proposed standard would give applicable entities the option of adopting relay settings 

that meet the stated criteria as determined through: (1) a relatively simple calculation;

(2) a more complex calculation; or (3) a described simulation. As stated in the standard, 

the criteria in Attachment 1 “represent short-duration conditions during which generation 

Facilities are capable of providing system reactive resources, and for which generation 

 17 Id. at 18, and Ex. A at 4. 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 8 -

Facilities have been historically recorded to disconnect, causing events to become more 

severe.”18

10. NERC explained in its petition that the specific relay setting criteria are based on 

system conditions observed during the August 2003 Blackout.19 Specifically, the criteria 

for relays applied on synchronous generators, and their associated generator step-up 

transformers (GSUs) and connecting elements, are based on the response of the 

synchronous generator to depressed transmission system voltage (with allowances for 

reactive power losses across the GSU transformer). The criteria for relays applied on 

asynchronous generators and their associated GSU transformers and connecting elements 

are based on the more limited response of an asynchronous generator to the depressed 

voltage (with no allowance for loss of reactive power across the GSU transformer 

because such losses are not significant).20 The criteria for relays applied on unit auxiliary 

transformers (UATs) that supply station service are based on the increased current 

requirements of station service load during a depressed voltage condition. 

11. In its justification for approval of the proposed standard, NERC explained that 

“[a]nalyses of power system disturbances over the past twenty-five years have found

generators to have tripped unnecessarily - an occurrence that has the potential to extend 

the scope and duration of a disturbance.”21 According to NERC, during the recovery 

 18 Id., Ex. A at 4 (Rationale for R1). 

19 Id. at 10. 

20 Id. at 11. 

21 Id. at 9. 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 9 -

phase of a disturbance, system voltage may be widely depressed and may fluctuate. To 

support the system during this phase of a disturbance, NERC explained that the proposed 

standard “establishes criteria for setting load-responsive relays such that individual 

generators may provide Reactive Power within their dynamic capability during transient 

time periods,” thereby avoiding unnecessary tripping of generators and ensuring that

“dynamic capability is available to support system recovery.” 22 

12. NERC proposed to assign a “High” violation risk factor to Requirement R1 of 

PRC-025-1, and a “Severe” violation severity level for failure to apply settings as 

required. NERC’s Implementation Plan proposed that applicable entities must be in 

compliance with the new standard: (1) 60 months after regulatory approval where 

compliance can be achieved without replacement or removal of relays; or (2) 84 months 

after regulatory approval if replacement or removal of relays is necessary.23

2. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-023-3 

13. On December 17, 2013, NERC submitted proposed clarifying changes to

Reliability Standard PRC-023-2, as reflected in PRC-023-3, as “Supplemental 

Information” to its September 30 Petition.24 NERC explained in its Supplemental Filing 

that these changes were identified during development of PRC-025-1 as “necessary to 

establish a bright-line distinction between the applicability of load-responsive protective 

 22 Id. at 9-10.

23 See September 30 Petition, Ex. B (Implementation Plan).

24 Supplemental Information to the Petition of the North American Electric 

Reliability Corp. for Approval of Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-025-1 (Generator 

Relay Loadability), Docket No. RM14-3-000 (Dec. 17, 2013) (Supplemental Filing). 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 10 -

relays in the transmission and generator relay loadability Reliability Standards.”25 NERC 

explained that stakeholders became concerned about potential compliance overlap 

between the new generator relay loadability standard, PRC-025-1, and existing standard 

PRC-023-2, which currently applies to certain elements that connect GSU transformers to 

the transmission system.

14. In order to clarify that proposed standard PRC-025-1 is intended to cover “all load 

responsive protective relays applied at the terminals of generators and GSU 

transformers,”26 NERC proposed to remove Criterion 6 of Requirement R1 from 

PRC-023-2 in its entirety. That sub-requirement currently requires applicable entities to: 

Set transmission line relays applied on transmission lines 

connected to generation stations remote to load so they do not 

operate at or below 230% of the aggregated generation 

nameplate capability.27 

NERC also proposed to change the applicability section of PRC-023-2 to exclude 

“Elements that connect the GSU transformer(s) to the Transmission system that are used 

exclusively to export energy directly from a BES generating unit or generating plant.”28

15. NERC explained in its Supplemental Filing that the two relay loadability 

standards, as revised, would be based on the location where the relays are applied and not 

on the intended protection functions, which NERC considers advantageous because it:

 25 Id. at 1-2. 

26 See id. at 4. 

27 See Supplemental Filing, Ex. A, Redline of PRC-023-2 at 6.

28 See Supplemental Filing at 4, and Ex. A, Proposed Reliability Standard 

PRC-023-3, Sections 4.2.1.1 and 4.2.2.1.
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 11 -

(i) Facilitates the establishment of generator relay 

loadability requirements based on the physics 

associated with increased generator output during 

stressed system conditions.

(ii) Avoids ambiguity as to whether the intended 

protection function is for the generating unit or the 

Transmission System. . . .

(iii) Provides clear division of applicability between the 

Generator and Transmission Relay Loadability 

Reliability Standards based on the physical location, 

independent of the entity that owns the relay.29

16. Under NERC’s proposed implementation plan, Reliability Standard PRC-023-3 

will become effective on the first day of the first calendar quarter beyond the date that the 

standard is approved by the applicable regulatory authority. Reliability Standard 

PRC-023-2 would be retired immediately prior to the effective date of PRC-023-3, except 

that Criterion 6 of Requirement R1 would remain in effect until the effective date of 

PRC-025-1. Any implementation dates or milestones established under PRC-023-2 

would remain in place.30

 29 Supplemental Filing at 5. 

30 As part of its Supplemental Filing, NERC also submitted a report on UAT relay 

loadability to address concerns raised by minority commenters during the development of 

PRC-025-1 as to whether UAT relays on the low-voltage side should be included. See id. 

at 6 and Ex. E. The report concludes that there is no adverse reliability impact from 

Reliability Standard PRC-025-1 as proposed, and finds that “based on a comparison of 

the simulation models and the actual event data, the simulation results are conservative. 

The model results, coupled with the NERC Generating Availability Data System (GADS) 

analysis, are indicative that a reliability gap does not result from excluding relays on the 

low-voltage side of the UAT from PRC-025-1.” Supplemental Filing at 6, Ex. E at 6. 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 12 -

E. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Subsequent Filings

17. On March 20, 2014, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

proposing to approve Reliability Standards PRC-023-3 and PRC-025-1.31 The 

Commission explained that approving the new Reliability Standard on generator relay 

loadability, PRC-025-1, would enhance reliability by imposing mandatory requirements 

governing generator relay loadability, thereby reducing the likelihood of premature or 

unnecessary tripping of generators during system disturbances. In addition, the 

Commission noted that the proposed revisions to PRC-023-2 are appropriate because 

they would clarify the applicability of the two standards governing relay loadability and 

would prevent potential compliance overlap by eliminating potential inconsistencies. 

18. Comments on the NOPR were due by April 28, 2014. Five sets of comments were 

received, submitted by NERC, by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and the Electric 

Power Supply Association (EPSA) (jointly, EEI/EPSA), and by three individuals.

32 All 

commenters supported the approval of Reliability PRC-023-3 and PRC-025-1. 

EEI/EPSA describe the standard as “provid[ing] clarity with respect to premature or 

unnecessary tripping of generators and associated auxiliaries during disturbances while 

satisfying outstanding directives issued in Order No. 733.”33 EEI/EPSA note that their

earlier concern, “that a simple application of PRC-023-1 to generator protection systems 

 31 Generator Relay Loadability and Transmission Relay Loadability Reliability 

Standards, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 146 FERC ¶ 61,189 (2014) (NOPR). 

32 The three individuals are Mark Eliason, G. Wilkowski, and Daniel Shin. 

33 EEI/EPSA Comments at 2. 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 13 -

might unintentionally create a risk of damage to generation assets” has been addressed 

through “development of PRC-025-1 and the clearly defined guidance provided in 

Attachment 1 of that standard.”34 Accordingly, EEI/EPSA support approval of the two 

standards.

II. Discussion

19. Pursuant to section 215(d)(2) of the FPA, we approve Reliability Standards 

PRC-025-1 and PRC-023-3 as just, reasonable, not unduly discriminatory or preferential, 

and in the public interest. Further, we approve the associated violation risk factors and 

violation severity levels, and NERC’s proposed implementation plans for the new and 

revised standards. PRC-025-1 satisfies the Commission directive in Order No. 733 

requiring NERC to develop a separate Reliability Standard that addresses generator 

step-up and auxiliary transformer loadability, and to do so “in a way that is coordinated

with the Requirements and expected outcomes of PRC-023-1.”35 In addition, we find 

that PRC-025-1 will enhance reliability by imposing mandatory requirements governing 

generator relay loadability settings, thereby reducing the likelihood of premature or 

unnecessary tripping of generators during system disturbances. Finally, we find that the 

modifications reflected in PRC-023-3 will clarify the applicability of the two standards 

governing relay loadability and prevent potential compliance overlap due to 

inconsistencies. 

 34 Id.

35 See Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶ 61,221 at PP 104-106. 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 14 -

Other Issues

20. The three individual commenters express support for the approval of PRC-025-1 

and PRC-023-3, but raise certain additional concerns about the reliability of the grid. 

One commenter notes that, despite the increased costs associated with installation or 

adjustment of relays under the new Reliability Standards, the “appropriate setting of 

protective relays will be helpful in the case of larger outages.”36 Another commenter 

states that the standard “will reduce the likelihood of premature or unnecessary tripping 

of generators during disturbances,” but also opines on the general need for enhanced 

reliability standards due to, inter alia, proliferation of independent generation facilities, 

increased burdens on and risks to the grid due to increasing demand, climate change, and 

physical attacks.37 Another commenter, while supporting adoption of the rule, notes his 

larger concern with the security of the grid and the need to prevent physical attacks that 

could have a far-reaching effect on national security.38

Commission Determination

21. For the reasons stated above, we approve Reliability Standards PRC-025-1 and 

PRC-023-3, and note that all comments relevant to the issues raised by our proposed 

approval of these Reliability Standards support our approval. With respect to the broader 

issues raised on the need to address other risks to reliability, including risks to the 

physical security of the grid, such issues are beyond the scope of the instant proceeding. 

 36 Comments of Mark Eliason at 1. 

37 Comments of G. Wilkowski at 1-2. 

38 Comments of Daniel Shin at 1-2.
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 15 -

However, we note that certain of these issues are being addressed in other pending 

Commission proceedings, and direct these commenters to Docket No. RM14-1-000, 

addressing Reliability Standards related to Geomagnetic Disturbances; and Docket 

No. RM14-15-000, addressing the development of physical security Reliability 

Standards. 

III. Information Collection Statement

22. The collection of information contained in this Final Rule is subject to review by 

the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under section 3507(d) of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995.39 OMB’s regulations require approval of certain information 

collection requirements imposed by agency rules.40 Upon approval of a collection of 

information, OMB will assign an OMB control number and an expiration date. 

Respondents subject to the filing requirements of a rule will not be penalized for failing 

to respond to this collection of information unless the collections of information display a 

valid OMB control number. 

23. Through issuance of this Final Rule, the Commission approves Reliability 

Standard PRC-025-1 and revisions to PRC-023-2. Reliability Standard PRC-025-1 will 

impose new requirements to set certain generator protective relays in accordance with 

prescribed criteria, and will apply to transmission owners, distribution providers, and 

generator owners with applicable relays. Affected entities will have to ensure that their 

 39 44 U.S.C. § 3507(d) (2012).

40 5 CFR § 1320.11 (2013).
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 16 -

relays are set in accordance with these criteria and maintain records or other evidence 

demonstrating their compliance with the standard’s requirements. The revisions to 

PRC-023-2 will result in a change in how relay settings are calculated for certain kinds of 

relays, but will not result in reporting or recordkeeping requirements or burden. 

Public Reporting Burden: Reliability Standard PRC-025-1 does not require responsible 

entities to file information with the Commission. However, the Reliability Standard 

requires applicable entities to develop and maintain certain information, subject to audit 

by a Regional Entity. In particular, each applicable transmission owner, generator owner 

and distribution provider must “have evidence” to show that each of its load-responsive

protective relays are set according to one of the options in Attachment 1 to Reliability 

Standard PRC-025-1. Our estimate below regarding the number of respondents is based 

on the NERC compliance registry as of January 31, 2014. According to the NERC 

compliance registry, NERC has registered 539 distribution providers, 903 generator 

owners and 344 transmission owners. However, under NERC’s compliance registration 

program, entities may be registered for multiple functions, so these numbers incorporate 

some double counting. The number of unique entities responding will be approximately 

1,01941 entities registered as a transmission owner, a distribution provider, or a generator 

owner that is also a transmission owner and/or a distribution owner. The Commission 

estimates the annual reporting burden and cost as follows: 

 41 This estimate assumes all of the unique entities apply load-responsive protective 

relays.
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 17 -

FERC-725G,

42 additions in Final Rule in RM13-19 and RM14-3 

Number and 

Type of 

Respondents43

(1)

Annual 

Number of 

Responses 

per 

Respondent

(2)

Total 

Number 

of 

Responses

Avg. 

Burden & 

Cost Per 

Response 

(3)

Total 

Annual 

Burden 

Hours & 

Total 

Annual 

Cost

(1)x(2)x(3)

Cost per 

Respondent44

(One-time) 

Review &

documentation 

of relay 

settings to 

ensure 

compliance 

1,019 

GO/DP/TO 1 1,019

20 hrs. & 

$59.62/hour 

20,380 

hours & 

$1,215,056 $1192

 42 At the time the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was issued, an unrelated 

rulemaking affecting other aspects of FERC-725G was pending at OMB for PRA review. 

Because only one request per OMB Control Number can be pending OMB review at a 

time, the information collection proposed in this NOPR (RM13-19 and RM14-3) was 

temporarily labeled FERC 725Q (OMB Control No. 1902-0272). The reporting and 

record retention requirements for this Final Rule in RM13-19 and RM14-3 are now being 

submitted to OMB for review under FERC 725G (rather than the temporary FERC 

725Q). 

43 GO = Generator Owner, DP = Distribution Provider, TO = Transmission 

Owner, each of which applies load-responsive protective relays at the terminals of the 

Elements listed in the proposed standard at section 3.2( Facilities). 

44 The estimated hourly costs (salary plus benefits) are based on Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS) information (at http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics3_221000.htm#17-0000) 

for an electrical engineer ($59.62/hour for review and documentation), and for a file clerk 

($28.95/hour for record retention).
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 18 -

(On-going) 

Record 

Retention (of 

compliance 

records for R1 

and M1, for 3 

years or until 

mitigation 

complete)

1,019 

GO/DP/TO 1 1,019

2 hrs. & 

$28.95/hour 

2,038 

hours &

$59,000 $57.90

Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System

Action: Changes to FERC-725G. 

OMB Control No: 1902-0252

Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit institutions; not-for-profit institutions.

Frequency of Responses: One-time and ongoing.

Necessity of the Information: Generator Relay Loadability Reliability Standard 

(PRC-025-1) would implement the Congressional mandate of the Energy Policy Act of 

2005 to develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards to better ensure the 

reliability of the nation’s Bulk-Power System. Specifically, the purpose of the Reliability 

Standard is to set load-responsive protective relays associated with generation facilities at 

a level to prevent unnecessary tripping of generators during a system disturbance for 

conditions that do not pose a risk of damage to the associated equipment. The Reliability 

Standard requires entities to maintain records subject to review by the Commission and 

NERC to ensure compliance with the Reliability Standard.

Internal Review: The Commission has reviewed the requirements pertaining to the 

Reliability Standards PRC-025-1 and PRC-023-3 and determined that the proposed 

requirements are necessary to meet the statutory provisions of the Energy Policy Act 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 19 -

of 2005. These requirements conform to the Commission’s plan for efficient information 

collection, communication and management within the energy industry. The 

Commission has assured itself, by means of internal review, that there is specific, 

objective support for the burden estimates associated with the information requirements. 

24. Interested persons may obtain information on the reporting requirements by 

contacting the following: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, 

Washington, DC 20426 [Attention: Ellen Brown, Office of the Executive Director, 

e-mail: DataClearance@ferc.gov, phone: (202) 502-8663, fax: (202) 273-0873].

25. Comments concerning the information collections proposed in this rule and the 

associated burden estimates should be sent to the Commission in these dockets and to the 

Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs 

[Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission]. For security 

reasons, comments should be sent by e-mail to OMB at: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. 

Please reference FERC-725G, OMB Control No. 1902-0252, and Docket Nos. RM13-19-

000 and RM14-3-000 in your submission.

IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

26. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA)45 generally requires a description 

and analysis of rules that will have significant economic impact on a substantial number 

of small entities. The RFA mandates consideration of regulatory alternatives that 

accomplish the stated objectives of a proposed rule and that minimize any significant 

 45 5 U.S.C. §§ 601-612 (2012).
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 20 -

economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Small Business 

Administration’s (SBA) Office of Size Standards develops the numerical definition of a 

small business.46 The SBA recently revised its size standard for electric utilities 

(effective January 22, 2014) to a standard based on the number of employees, including 

affiliates (from a standard based on megawatt hours).47 Under SBA’s new size standards, 

generator owners, distribution providers, and transmission owners are likely included in 

one of the following categories (with the associated size thresholds noted for each): 48 

• Hydroelectric power generation, at 500 employees;

• Fossil fuel electric power generation, at 750 employees;

• Nuclear power generation, at 750 employees;

• Other electric power generation (e.g. solar, wind, geothermal, and others), at 250 

employees;

• Electric bulk power transmission and control, at 500 employees;

• Electric power distribution, at 1,000 employees. 

27. Based on U.S. economic census data,49 the approximate percentage of small firms 

in these categories varies from 24 percent to 94 percent. However, currently FERC does 

not have information on how the economic census data compares with entities registered 

with NERC and is unable to estimate the number of small GOs, DPs, and TOs using the 

 46 13 CFR § 121.101 (2013).

47 Small Business Size Standards: Utilities, 78 Fed. Reg. 77,343 (Dec. 23, 2013). 

48 13 CFR § 121.201, Sector 22, Utilities. 

49 Data and further information are available from SBA at http://www.sba.gov/

advocacy/849/12162.
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 21 -

new SBA definitions.50 Regardless, FERC recognizes that the rule will likely impact 

small GOs, DPs, and TOs and estimates the economic impact on each entity below.

28. Reliability Standard PRC-025-1 will serve to enhance reliability by imposing 

mandatory requirements governing generator relay loadability, thereby reducing the 

likelihood of premature or unnecessary tripping of generators during system disturbances. 

The Commission estimates that each of the small entities to whom the Reliability 

Standard PRC-025-1 applies will incur one-time compliance costs of $4,480 (i.e., the cost 

of re-setting any relays found to be out of compliance),51 plus paperwork and record 

retention costs of $1,192 (one-time implementation) and $57.90 (annual ongoing).52 

Per entity, the total one-time implementation costs are estimated to be $5,672 (including 

paperwork and non-paperwork costs) and the annual ongoing costs are estimated to be 

$57.90.

 50 Using the previous SBA definition, 230 of the 1,019 entities affected by the 

proposed PRC-025-1 would have qualified as small entities.

51 These are non-paperwork related costs, which are not reflected in the burden 

described in the Information Collection Section above, and instead reflect the burden of 

re-setting relays in order to comply with the new requirements of PRC-025-1. 

Specifically, this figure reflects an estimated time of 8 hours per relay, assuming an 

average of 8 digital relays which will need to be re-set per small entity, at a cost of 

$70 per hour (the average of the salary plus benefits for a manager and an engineer, from 

Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics3_221000.htm and 

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm). 

52 The one-time paperwork-related implementation cost estimate is based on a 

burden of 20 hours at $59.62/hour, and the annual record-keeping cost estimate is based 

on a burden of 2 hours at $28.95/hour. See supra at P 23 and n.44. 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 22 -

29. The Commission does not consider the estimated costs per small entity to have a 

significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Accordingly, the 

Commission certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities.

V. Environmental Analysis

30. The Commission is required to prepare an Environmental Assessment or an 

Environmental Impact Statement for any action that may have a significant adverse effect 

on the human environment.53 The Commission has categorically excluded certain actions 

from this requirement as not having a significant effect on the human environment. 

Included in the exclusion are rules that are clarifying, corrective, or procedural or that do 

not substantially change the effect of the regulations being amended.54 The actions taken 

herein fall within this categorical exclusion in the Commission’s regulations.

VI. Document Availability

31. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the Federal Register, the 

Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the 

contents of this document via the Internet through the Commission's Home Page 

(http://www.ferc.gov) and in the Commission's Public Reference Room during normal 

business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street, NE, Room 2A, 

Washington, DC 20426.

 53 Regulations Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 

Order No. 486, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 30,783 (1987).

54 18 CFR § 380.4(a)(2)(ii).
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 23 -

32. From the Commission's Home Page on the Internet, this information is available 

on eLibrary. The full text of this document is available on eLibrary in PDF and 

Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing, and/or downloading. To access this 

document in eLibrary, type the docket number excluding the last three digits of this 

document in the docket number field.

33. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the Commission’s website during 

normal business hours from the Commission’s Online Support at 202-502-6652 (toll free 

at 1-866-208-3676) or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or the Public Reference 

Room at (202) 502-8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. E-mail the Public Reference Room 

at public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.

VII. Effective Date and Congressional Notification 

34. This Final Rule is effective [INSERT DATE 60 days after publication in the 

FEDERAL REGISTER].

35. The Commission has determined, with the concurrence of the Administrator of the 

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, that this rule is not a “major rule” 

as defined in section 351 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
Docket Nos. RM13-19-000 and RM14-3-000 - 24 -

1996.55 The Commission will submit the Final Rule to both houses of Congress and to 

the General Accountability Office. 

By the Commission.

( S E A L )

Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,

Deputy Secretary.

 55 See 5 U.S.C. § 804(2).