Enforcement Processes

Commitment & Philosophy

This page provides additional details on ReliabilityFirst’s enforcement processes (see the resources included below) and philosophy (set forth below).

ReliabilityFirst’s Enforcement Commitment

1. Informed decision making (disposition method, resource allocation, etc.) focused on risk to reliability
2. Use all available tools (penalties, non-monetary sanctions, above and beyond actions) to drive desired conduct and deter undesired conduct
3. Collaborate with entities, regional partners, and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) throughout enforcement action
4. Transparency, objectiveness, predictability and consistency

Examples of Enforcement Philosophy Implementation

1. Award significant credit for reliability-focused solutions that go beyond compliance with Reliability Standards
2. Work with entities to craft holistic solutions to reliability and security issues instead of addressing compliance on a piecemeal basis
3. Process minimal risk issues through available streamlined mechanisms so that time and effort remain focused on greater reliability risks
4. Share internal processes and basis for decisions with entities, regional partners, and NERC to enable uniform, consistent, and transparent results
5. Reward entities that have demonstrated the ability to effectively identify, assess and correct potential noncompliances with the Reliability Standards