State Energy Insights: August 2025
Grid Reliability and Regulatory Updates from ReliabilityFirst
News & Updates
President Trump nominates David LaCerte to serve as FERC commissioner
President Donald Trump has nominated David LaCerte to serve as a FERC commissioner in the seat vacated by Willie Phillips’ resignation in April 2025. LaCerte would serve the remainder of former Chair Phillips’ term until June 30, 2026.
Currently, he serves as White House liaison and senior adviser to the director of the Office of Personnel Management. Previously, LaCerte served in the first Trump administration and held legal positions at private firms, the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
FERC Chair Mark Christie holds last open meeting before leaving commission
On July 24, FERC Chair Mark Christie participated in his last open FERC meeting before he plans to step down from the position. In early June, President Trump nominated Laura Swett, an energy regulatory attorney at Vinson & Elkins and former FERC attorney, to take Christie’s seat at FERC.
Christie provided remarks during the open meeting reflecting on his career in the energy industry and thanking his staff and fellow FERC commissioners. He also shared his thoughts on the importance of consumers and electricity prices. He stated, “I hope that everybody who ever sits on this Commission always remembers those people’s wishes — the millions of people who pay the bills, struggle and worry about whether their lights come on or not.”
A link to the webcast of this FERC meeting is available here.
FERC approves new reliability standards for inverter-based resources
On July 24, FERC issued Order 909 – Reliability Standards for Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings and Ride-through for Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs), which establishes new ride-through performance requirements to mitigate reliability concerns with IBR tripping and momentary cessation.
FERC recognized the need for these protections in Order 901, where it states that “as found by multiple NERC reports, some IBRs are not configured or programmed to support grid voltage and frequency in the event of a system disturbance, and…will reduce power output, exhibit momentary cessation, or trip in response to variations in system voltage or frequency.”
In Order 909, FERC approves PRC-024-4 (Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Synchronous Generators, Type 1 and Type 2 Wind Resources, and Synchronous Condensers), PRC-029-1 (Frequency and Voltage Ride-through Requirements for Inverter-Based Resources), and a definition of the term “ride-through” to mean “the plant/facility remains connected and continues to operate through voltage or frequency system disturbances.”
PRC-024-4 removes language that was in PRC-024-3, R1 through R4 on IBR functionality that are now included in PRC-029-1. PRC-029-1 establishes frequency and voltage ride-through performance requirements and criteria for generator owners of IBRs. Specifically, PRC-029-1, R1-R3 establishes requirements to address abnormal IBR tripping, interruption of current injection, and reduced power output, and R4 sets out a process for generator owners to seek an exemption to R1-R3 for hardware limitations.
While FERC approves PRC-029-1 in Order 909, it also directs NERC to determine through its standards process whether and how to account for equipment limitations of HVDC-connected IBRs with choppers (which may physically prevent them from fully complying with the ride-through provisions of the standard), and the long lead time between adopting IBR design specifications and placing the IBR in service. NERC also must submit an informational filing to FERC in 18 months on the reliability impacts of the PRC-029-1, R4 exemption process (including how many exemptions were requested and granted and the reasons for the exemptions). Additional information is available here.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 18, 2-3:30 p.m. ET | Tech Talk with RF
Coming up on the August edition of Tech Talk with RF, we’re focusing on inverter-based resources (IBRs).
We will have a presentation on what to know about NERC Reliability Standard PRC-029-1 and how it will impact IBRs.
Then we will also have a presentation on Rate of Change of Frequency as it relates to underfrequency load shedding. With the ever-increasing mix of inverter-based resources powering the electric grid, this relationship has gained importance, as system inertia decreases.
Sept. 8-10, 2025 | RF Fall Reliability & Security Summit
Register now for RF’s Fall Reliability & Security Summit. This year’s event will be hosted at the MGM National Harbor just outside of Washington, D.C.
Be sure to make your hotel reservation now to secure our discounted room block rate! This deadline has been extended to Monday, Aug. 18, but time is running out!
We’ll kick things off at the summit with an evening reception and our Reliability Recognition Awards Ceremony on Monday, Sept. 8.
Then, we have an exciting agenda on Tuesday, Sept. 9, where we’ll be joined by key players from across the electric industry, including:
- FERC Commissioner David Rosner
- NERC President & CEO Jim Robb
- RF President & CEO Tim Gallagher
- FERC Director of Office of Energy Infrastructure Security Joe McClelland
- AEP President & CEO Bill Fehrman
- LS Power CEO Paul Segal
- PPL Electric Utilities President Christine Martin
- Electric Power Supply Association President & CEO Todd Snitchler
- And more!
Finally, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, attendees will be able to choose from three half-day tracks, depending on which focus area makes the most sense for them. These include an energy policy leadership session, an internal controls workshop for experienced registered entity personnel, and a NERC 101 primer for new registered entities.
The full agenda and registration link are available on our website. We hope to see you there!
Sept. 18, 10-11 a.m. ET | FERC Open Meeting
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will hold an open meeting on Thursday, Sept. 18. There will be a webcast link available on the FERC website.
State Energy Insights from ReliabilityFirst: August 2025