Tdworld 4367 Electricgrid
Tdworld 4367 Electricgrid
Tdworld 4367 Electricgrid
Tdworld 4367 Electricgrid
Tdworld 4367 Electricgrid

Tool Helps Ensure PRC-005 Compliance

Oct. 4, 2016
ProtX PRC 5, a SaaS solution from Physical Systems Integration (PSI), automatically identifies, inventories, tracks, monitors and documents critical protection system elements.

NERC Compliance managers struggling with protection system requirements have a new tool for ensuring PRC-005 compliance. ProtX PRC 5, a SaaS solution from Physical Systems Integration (PSI), automatically identifies, inventories, tracks, monitors and documents critical protection system elements.

“One of the hardest jobs NERC compliance professionals face is proving compliance to NERC Standard PRC- 005,” says Brent Hebert, Sr. Vice President, NERC Services with Physical Systems Integration (PSI). “Protection System relays, reclosing and voltage sensing devices, control circuitry and communications systems are deployed across hundreds, if not thousands, of square miles of generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. Maintaining, testing and monitoring these protection system elements is challenging for us in the industry,” Hebert notes, “especially with long and varying intervals between testing.” To help NERC compliance professionals, Physical Systems Integration, a leading provider of software and NERC services for Generation and Transmission Owners and Operators, and IPPs developed a web-based, SaaS solution for protection system compliance.

ProtX PRC 5 automatically identifies, inventories, and tracks protection system assets in full detail – what they are, where they are located, who is responsible for oversight and maintenance, their current status, and the applicable testing basis requirements - in a searchable, easy to use solution. “Unlike other solutions, ProtX PRC 5 was designed and built by compliance experts with more than 20 years of NERC program, field and PRC-005 audit experience,” says Hebert. “Having lived the challenges of protection system compliance, we designed ProtX PRC 5 to better manage the risk of things."

ProtX PRC 5 allows NERC managers to automatically track maintenance system intervals, manage maintenance test records, test scripts, data sheets, reports and events. ProtX PRC 5 also provides automated, calendar-driven notifications to targeted individuals or groups, notifying users of approaching required testing intervals, compliance deadlines or required maintenance. Escalation notifications can be set to alert manages or others of missed testing or maintenance activities before deadlines.

“NERC standards are constantly evolving,” notes Hebert, “utility personnel are retiring, and NERC compliance turnover is often high. With ProtX PRC 5, a Registered Entity is assured of PRC-005 compliance – no matter the personnel changes – as the system’s dashboard communicates the status of the protection system assets, maintenance records and compliance evidence.”

ProtX PRC 5 is an easy to use, SaaS solution available on all mobile devices for field use and network systems.

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