New regulatory requirements established by FERC in 2013, and currently being implemented by NERC, are expected to significantly reshape the way utility companies manage power system protection (PSP) data and reporting.
Doble Engineering Co. has been selected by Southern California Edison to develop a protection system management program that will define best practices to help support these regulations within complex IT environments.
The program Doble has built creates an integrated communication platform between enterprise work order management software, a relay settings database, and Doble's Protection Suite relay test and maintenance database to form an asset registry database. The system sits on the dobleARMS framework and connects to users in the field, creating a comprehensive, end-to-end solution.
"Utilities across North America are under constant pressure to maintain reliability, reduce cost and ensure safety. They're working to avoid fines and maintain rates, all while regulatory bodies are doing their best to make sure consumers are safe – often meaning new rules and regulations for our customers," said David Zabetakis, president of Doble.
With Doble's help, customers will have the ability to optimize relay maintenance, protection asset management, NERC reporting, and investment strategies, while enabling long-range planning with standard test data management, work process optimization and workforce automation.
"We're proud to be working with our innovative customers, like SCE, on protection management systems that will not only meet industry standards, but will define the best practices for protection data management," said Zabetakis.
The proposed NERC PRC 005-2 will mandate North American utilities to follow new or revised standards in the operation and maintenance of assets protecting the Bulk Electrical System (BES). This mandate will require each utility to produce documentation validating compliance with maintenance intervals, ensuring that the protection assets perform as intended and the inputs and outputs are correctly wired and configured. These validations are required for all protection related to BES assets.
The new Doble offering will ensure and verify every task named and associated with NERC PRC 005-2 compliances is carried out. Doble will also ensure that test data from each relay is standardized, auditable and centralized for planning, and reporting. The end result is that utilities will have a robust, yet easy to implement process to improve the consistency, traceability and timeliness for regulatory reporting.
