Protection Workshop
2026-08-05 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
ReliabilityFirst is hosting a virtual Protection Workshop on Aug. 5, 2026, focused on the practical challenges and emerging trends shaping protection and control of the Bulk Electric System.
This interactive session brings together industry experts to share real-world insights, lessons learned, and applied approaches that participants can leverage in their day-to-day work. Topics include transformer protection challenges, advanced line differential schemes, impacts of inverter-based resources, recent international blackout events, and high-speed system monitoring techniques.
Designed for both early-career and experienced professionals, the workshop provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen core protection fundamentals, explore evolving system conditions, and connect with peers across the industry.
Click here to register!
Intended Audience
The ideas, suggestions and stories shared during this highly interactive, free event are especially relevant for:

Protection Systems and Communications engineers
Relay & Control, and Design engineers
Commissioning engineers
Substation maintenance personnel

Agenda

Presentation
Presenter
Time (Eastern)

Welcome and introductions
Thomas Teafatiller, RF
9:00-9:10 AM

Case study: Detection of turn-to-turn faults in load tap changer mechanism
Zachary Summerford, Austin Burfield, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL)
9:10-9:40 AM

Blackouts in Brazil and Spain: What we can learn
Ricardo Abboud, SEL
9:40-10:25 AM

Break 5 minutes

Milliseconds matter: Monitoring fast load changes in modern power systems
Richard Kirby, SEL
10:30-11:00 AM

Dependable and secure line current differential protection over packet-based wide-area networks with parallel redundancy protocol (PRP)
Motaz Elshafi, SEL
11:00-11:30 AM

Break 5 minutes

The effects of renewables and inverter-based resources on effective protection and control of the electric power system
Ellery Blood, SEL
11:35 AM -12:20 PM

Transformer differential tripping on inrush currents
Daniel Zhang, Pacific Gas & Electric
12:20-12:50 PM

Wrap-up and closing remarks
Thomas Teafatiller, RF
12:50-1:00 PM

Planning Workshop
2026-08-06 09:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
ReliabilityFirst is hosting a Planning Workshop on August 6, 2026, designed specifically for transmission planning engineers. This engaging session will cover a range of topics relevant to today’s planning environment, supporting the continued development of both foundational and advanced skillsets.
The workshop will feature a mix of content tailored to both early-career and experienced professionals, offering practical insights into planning methodologies, analytical approaches, and effective use of industry tools. Attendees will gain valuable tips, techniques, and real-world perspectives to enhance their ability to perform a variety of transmission planning analyses.
Whether you are looking to strengthen core capabilities or refine advanced techniques, this workshop provides a valuable opportunity to expand your expertise and connect with peers across the profession.
Click here to register!
Intended Audience
The ideas, suggestions and stories shared during this highly interactive, free event are especially relevant for:

Engineers that perform steady-state or dynamic analysis
Transmission Planning Engineers
Transmission Operational Planning Engineers
Operations Control Rooms, including tools support personnel for EMS, SCADA, etc.

Agenda

Presentation
Presenter
Time (Eastern)

Welcome and Introductions
John Idzior, ReliabilityFirst
9:00 – 9:05 AM

Case Preparation for Study

Data Checking
Error/Warnings

Paul Simoneaux, SERC
9:05 – 9:35 AM

Contingency File Creation – Best Practices
Kerry Marinan, ATC
Jason Hitt, Duquesne
Carter Leatherman, Duquesne
Will Sayers, SPP
9:35 – 10:20 AM

Basic Steady State Analysis

N-1

John Idzior, ReliabilityFirst
Brian Hallett, ReliabilityFirst
10:20 – 10:35 AM

CON Screening Process for PV Analysis
John Wiggins, SERC
10:35 – 11:05 AM

5 Minute Break

11:05 – 11:10 AM

Basic Steady State Analysis

FCITC
Cascade
PV/QV

Brian Hallett, ReliabilityFirst
John Idzior, ReliabilityFirst
11:10 AM – 11:40 AM

Dynamic Model In-Take Process
Tao He, PJM
11:40 AM – 12:25 PM

Basic Dynamic Analysis

Basic File Set-up
Initialize Case
Disturbance and Plot Review

Parimal Saraf, ReliabilityFirst
12:25 PM – 1:00 PM

Closing Remarks

John Idzior, ReliabilityFirst
1:00 PM

Please contact John Idzior, Principal Engineer, Engineering & System Performance, or Johnny Gest, Manager, Engineering & System Performance, with any questions.

Technical Talk with RF
2026-08-17 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-10-26 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-11-16 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-12-14 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual (Webex)
ReliabilityFirst (RF) offers a regularly scheduled monthly call to provide entities and stakeholders with a forum for addressing topics and questions relevant to reliability, resilience and security.
While RF Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will provide presentations and updates, they will not address entity-specific questions and issues. These types of questions can be handled offline by using the RF Assist Visit program. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mike Hughes, Entity Engagement Manager, 216-503-0617.
