Department of Energy September 22, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved, on an interim basis, Rate Schedules CBR-1-H, CSI-1-H, CEK-1-H, CM-1-H, CC-1- I, CK-1-H, CTV-1-H, CTVI-1-A, and Replacement-3. The rates were approved on an interim basis through September 30, 2013. The new rates take effect on October 1, 2011, and are subject to confirmation and approval on a final basis by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission).

Under section 215 of the Federal Power Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) proposes to approve eight modified Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Reliability Standards, CIP- 002-4 through CIP-009-4, developed and submitted to the Commission for approval by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Electric Reliability Organization certified by the Commission. In general, the CIP Reliability Standards provide a cybersecurity framework for the identification and protection of ``Critical Cyber Assets'' to support the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System. Proposed Reliability Standard CIP-002-4 requires the identification and documentation of Critical Cyber Assets associated with Critical Assets that support the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System. The ``Version 4'' CIP Reliability Standards propose to modify CIP-002-4 to include ``bright line'' criteria for the identification of Critical Assets. The proposed Version 4 CIP Reliability Standards would replace the currently effective Version 3 CIP Reliability Standards. The Commission also proposes to approve the related Violation Risk Factors and Violation Severity Levels with modifications, the implementation plan, and effective date proposed by NERC.