80 FR 37606 - Electric Grid Resilience Self-Assessment Tool for Distribution System

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 126 (July 1, 2015)

Page Range		37606-37607
FR Document		2015-16186

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) is seeking comments and information from interested parties to inform the development of a pilot project concerning an interactive self-assessment tool to understand the relative resilience level of national electric grid distribution systems to extreme weather events. An interactive tool could be used by distribution utilities to identify opportunities for enhancing resilience with new technologies and/or procedures to support investment planning and related tariff filings. The focus of this Request for Information (RFI) is on the design and implementation of the interactive self-assessment resilience tool.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 126 (Wednesday, July 1, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37606-37607]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16186]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Electric Grid Resilience Self-Assessment Tool for Distribution 
System

AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, U.S. 
Department of Energy.

ACTION: Request for Information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery 
and Energy Reliability (OE) is seeking comments and information from 
interested parties to inform the development of a pilot project 
concerning an interactive self-assessment tool to understand the 
relative resilience level of national electric grid distribution 
systems to extreme weather events. An interactive tool could be used by 
distribution utilities to identify opportunities for enhancing 
resilience with new technologies and/or procedures to support 
investment planning and related tariff filings. The focus of this 
Request for Information (RFI) is on the design and implementation of 
the interactive self-assessment resilience tool.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 17, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments can be submitted by any of the following methods 
and must be identified by ``EGRtool''. By email: [email protected] . 
Include ``EGRtool'' in the subject line of the message. By mail: Dan 
Ton, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 6E-092, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585. Note: Delivery of the 
U.S. Postal Service mail to DOE may be delayed by several weeks due to 
security screening. DOE, therefore, encourages those wishing to comment 
to submit comments electronically by email.
    For additional information, please contact Dan Ton, Office of 
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, U.S. Department of Energy, 
1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585; Telephone: (202) 586-
4618; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    With the release of Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), the 
nation has started to focus in earnest on the resilience of our 
critical infrastructure. In the face of the increasing extreme weather 
events and other stresses or disturbances, the resilience of critical 
infrastructure, especially the energy infrastructure, has become 
paramount. Building upon the insights that have been gained through the 
development of the Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model, the 
Electricity Subsector Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model, and the 
Smart Grid Maturity Model, DOE-OE would like to build a complementary 
capability regarding the resilience of electric distribution 
infrastructure.
    For the purposes of this RFI, the definition of resilience is ``the 
ability of an entity--e.g., asset, organization, community, region--to 
anticipate, resist, absorb, respond to, adapt to, and recover from a 
disturbance.'' \1\
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    \1\ Carlson, L., et al., 2012, Resilience Theory and 
Applications, Argonne National Laboratory, Decision and Information 
Sciences Division, ANL/DIS-12-1, Argonne, Ill, USA, available at 
http://www.dis.anl.gov/pubs/72218.pdf (accessed April 9, 2015).
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    This definition provides the framework for four domains that can be 
used to understand the current level of resilience of distribution 
system infrastructure. Through these domains, distribution utilities 
will be able to make informed decisions on strengthening resiliency, 
based on identifiable areas where future investments in new 
technologies and operating procedures could be made. The four domains 
are:
    Preparedness: Activities undertaken by an entity in anticipation of 
the threats/hazards, and the possible consequences, to which it is 
subject.
    Mitigation Measures: Characterize the facility's capabilities to 
resist a threat/hazard or to absorb the consequences from the threat/
hazard.
    Response Capabilities: Immediate and ongoing activities, tasks, 
programs, and systems that have been undertaken or developed to respond 
and adapt to the adverse effects of an event.
    Recovery Mechanisms: Activities and programs designed to be 
effective and efficient in returning operating conditions to a level 
that is acceptable to the entity.

[[Page 37607]]

    Underneath all four domains lie questions that contains specific 
information for each of the domains. Examples of questions that can be 
asked with specific reference to resilience are:

--What procedures are included in your emergency action plan? 
[Preparedness]
--To date, what smart grid technologies have you incorporated into your 
distribution system? [Mitigation Measures]
--Does the control and dispatch center use a distribution management 
system? [Response Capabilities]
--What service restoration method(s) does the utility use? [Recovery 
Mechanisms]
    For each of these questions there will be a set of distinct 
answers. This method of construction allows consistent, objective 
information collection for all entities interested in using the model. 
In cooperation with the utility industry, a working group will be 
created to assist in determining the direction of the program.

II. Request for Information

    In order to develop this pilot project, DOE would like input from 
resilience experts in the electric distribution industry to gauge the 
interest and usefulness of the proposed decision support tool. This RFI 
provides the public and industry stakeholders with the opportunity to 
provide their view on the development of a resilience tool. The intent 
of this RFI is to solicit information pertinent to the need and 
viability of the resilience assessment tool. The information obtained 
is meant to be used by DOE for tool design and strategy development 
purposes. In your comments, please reference the question(s) to which 
you are responding, as well as provide other pertinent information.

A. Resilience Assessment Tool Need

    (1) Would a resilience assessment tool be of interest for electric 
distribution utilities?
    (2) What would you like to see in such a model should it exist 
(i.e., functionality, presentation, accessibility?)

B. Resilience Tool Criteria/Domains

    There are four key domains proposed for resilience: preparedness, 
mitigation measures, response and recovery. Each of these components 
has subcomponents as detailed below:
    a. Preparedness: Awareness and Planning.
    b. Mitigation Measures: Extreme Weather Mitigation, Utility 
Mitigation, and Dependencies Mitigation.
    c. Response Capabilities: Internal Capabilities and External 
Capabilities.
    d. Recovery Mechanisms: Resource Restoration Agreements and Utility 
Service Restoration.
    (3) Do these components and subcomponents make sense as 
contributors to electric distribution system resilience?
    (4) What is missing, or should be taken away?

C. Data Protection

    (5) What are your concerns about data protection if asked to submit 
anonymous aggregate data for a national average for electric 
distribution resilience?
    (6) Data protection is recognized as an important consideration for 
utility participation in such an assessment model. What are your 
opinions and recommendations on data protection?

D. Working Group Participation

    (7) Would your utility be willing to participate in a working group 
intent on constructing the relative importance of the different 
components and subcomponents to the overall resilience of the system? 
Who would be the appropriate person within your utility to participate 
in such a working group?
    (8) Are there others who you would suggest to provide early 
feedback on tool development?
    (9) Is your utility interested in being part of a demonstration or 
pilot during early testing?

E. Other Feedback

    Additional comments that may not be captured in replies these 
questions, but are considered relevant by respondents are highly 
encouraged.

    Authority: Presidential Policy Directive-21.

    Issued at Washington, DC, on June 25, 2015.
Patricia A. Hoffman,
Assistant Secretary, Department of Energy, Office of Electricity 
Delivery and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2015-16186 Filed 6-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

37606 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 126 / Wednesday, July 1, 2015 / Notices

soliciting comments on the proposed college-related outcomes (i.e., college Department of Energy, 1000
information collection request (ICR) that enrollment and FAFSA completion). Independence Ave. SW., Washington,
is described below. The Department of The second report will be available in DC 20585; Telephone: (202) 586–4618;
Education is especially interested in early 2020, and will investigate college email: EGRtool@hq.doe.gov.
public comment addressing the persistence. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
following issues: (1) Is this collection Dated: June 25, 2015.
necessary to the proper functions of the I. Background
Stephanie Valentine,
Department; (2) will this information be With the release of Presidential Policy
Acting Director, Information Collection
processed and used in a timely manner; Directive 21 (PPD–21), the nation has
Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate; Officer, Office of Management. started to focus in earnest on the
(4) how might the Department enhance resilience of our critical infrastructure.
[FR Doc. 2015–16107 Filed 6–30–15; 8:45 am]
the quality, utility, and clarity of the In the face of the increasing extreme
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
information to be collected; and (5) how weather events and other stresses or
might the Department minimize the disturbances, the resilience of critical
burden of this collection on the infrastructure, especially the energy
respondents, including through the use DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
infrastructure, has become paramount.
of information technology. Please note Building upon the insights that have
that written comments received in Electric Grid Resilience Self-
Assessment Tool for Distribution been gained through the development of
response to this notice will be the Cybersecurity Capability Maturity
considered public records. System
Model, the Electricity Subsector
Title of Collection: Student Messaging AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery Cybersecurity Capability Maturity
in GEAR UP Demonstration. and Energy Reliability, U.S. Department Model, and the Smart Grid Maturity
OMB Control Number: 1850–NEW. of Energy. Model, DOE–OE would like to build a
Type of Review: A new information
ACTION: Request for Information. complementary capability regarding the
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: resilience of electric distribution
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy infrastructure.
Individuals or Households. (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery and
Total Estimated Number of Annual For the purposes of this RFI, the
Energy Reliability (OE) is seeking definition of resilience is ‘‘the ability of
Responses: 5,360. comments and information from
Total Estimated Number of Annual an entity—e.g., asset, organization,
interested parties to inform the community, region—to anticipate,
Burden Hours: 1,386.
Abstract: The Student Messaging in development of a pilot project resist, absorb, respond to, adapt to, and
GEAR UP Demonstration, sponsored by concerning an interactive self- recover from a disturbance.’’ 1
the Institute of Education Sciences assessment tool to understand the This definition provides the
(IES), U.S. Department of Education relative resilience level of national framework for four domains that can be
(ED), is being conducted to test the electric grid distribution systems to used to understand the current level of
effectiveness of a promising strategy to extreme weather events. An interactive resilience of distribution system
improve college-related outcomes in the tool could be used by distribution infrastructure. Through these domains,
federal college access program Gaining utilities to identify opportunities for distribution utilities will be able to
Early Awareness and Readiness for enhancing resilience with new make informed decisions on
Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). technologies and/or procedures to strengthening resiliency, based on
The demonstration will use a support investment planning and identifiable areas where future
randomized controlled trial (RCT) related tariff filings. The focus of this investments in new technologies and
design to test the effectiveness of Request for Information (RFI) is on the operating procedures could be made.
sending customized messaging to design and implementation of the The four domains are:
students, first during the summer after interactive self-assessment resilience Preparedness: Activities undertaken
high school graduation, and then in the tool. by an entity in anticipation of the
fall and spring of their expected first DATES: Comments must be received on threats/hazards, and the possible
year of college. Students within high or before August 17, 2015. consequences, to which it is subject.
schools that volunteer for the ADDRESSES: Comments can be submitted Mitigation Measures: Characterize the
demonstration will be randomly by any of the following methods and facility’s capabilities to resist a threat/
assigned to either receive the messages must be identified by ‘‘EGRtool’’. By hazard or to absorb the consequences
or not. This ICR requests clearance for email: EGRtool@hq.doe.gov . Include from the threat/hazard.
the collection of GEAR UP student ‘‘EGRtool’’ in the subject line of the Response Capabilities: Immediate and
rosters and administration of a baseline message. By mail: Dan Ton, Office of ongoing activities, tasks, programs, and
survey. In addition to the baseline Electricity Delivery and Energy systems that have been undertaken or
survey data that will be collected from Reliability, U.S. Department of Energy, developed to respond and adapt to the
students, college-related outcome data Forrestal Building, Room 6E–092, 1000 adverse effects of an event.
will be extracted from national datasets Independence Avenue SW., Recovery Mechanisms: Activities and
(National Student Clearinghouse Data Washington, DC 20585. Note: Delivery programs designed to be effective and
(NSC) and the Federal Student Aid of the U.S. Postal Service mail to DOE efficient in returning operating
(FSA) database). Impact and descriptive may be delayed by several weeks due to conditions to a level that is acceptable
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

analyses will be conducted to answer security screening. DOE, therefore, to the entity.
the study research questions. The encourages those wishing to comment to
evaluation plans call for two reports. submit comments electronically by 1 Carlson, L., et al., 2012, Resilience Theory and

The first, published in summer 2018, email. Applications, Argonne National Laboratory,
Decision and Information Sciences Division, ANL/
will be based on data collected through For additional information, please DIS–12–1, Argonne, Ill, USA, available at http://
2017 that will look at college advising contact Dan Ton, Office of Electricity www.dis.anl.gov/pubs/72218.pdf (accessed April 9,
received in high school and early Delivery and Energy Reliability, U.S. 2015).

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 126 / Wednesday, July 1, 2015 / Notices 37607

Underneath all four domains lie c. Response Capabilities: Internal States to Canada pursuant to section
questions that contains specific Capabilities and External Capabilities. 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.
information for each of the domains. d. Recovery Mechanisms: Resource DATES: Comments, protests, or motions
Examples of questions that can be asked Restoration Agreements and Utility to intervene must be submitted on or
with specific reference to resilience are: Service Restoration. before July 31, 2015.
—What procedures are included in your (3) Do these components and ADDRESSES: Comments, protests,
emergency action plan? subcomponents make sense as motions to intervene, or requests for
[Preparedness] contributors to electric distribution more information should be addressed
—To date, what smart grid technologies system resilience? to: Office of Electricity Delivery and
have you incorporated into your (4) What is missing, or should be
Energy Reliability, Mail Code: OE–20,
distribution system? [Mitigation taken away?
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Measures] C. Data Protection Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
—Does the control and dispatch center DC 20585–0350. Because of delays in
use a distribution management (5) What are your concerns about data
protection if asked to submit handling conventional mail, it is
system? [Response Capabilities] recommended that documents be
—What service restoration method(s) anonymous aggregate data for a national
average for electric distribution transmitted by overnight mail, by
does the utility use? [Recovery electronic mail to Electricity.Exports@
Mechanisms] resilience?
(6) Data protection is recognized as an hq.doe.gov, or by facsimile to 202–586–
For each of these questions there will 8008.
be a set of distinct answers. This important consideration for utility
participation in such an assessment SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of
method of construction allows
model. What are your opinions and electricity from the United States to a
consistent, objective information
recommendations on data protection? foreign country are regulated by the
collection for all entities interested in
Department of Energy (DOE) pursuant to
using the model. In cooperation with D. Working Group Participation sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the
the utility industry, a working group
(7) Would your utility be willing to Department of Energy Organization Act
will be created to assist in determining
participate in a working group intent on (42 U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f)) and require
the direction of the program.
constructing the relative importance of authorization under section 202(e) of
II. Request for Information the different components and the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C.
In order to develop this pilot project, subcomponents to the overall resilience 824a(e)).
DOE would like input from resilience of the system? Who would be the On May 29, 2015, DOE received an
experts in the electric distribution appropriate person within your utility application from Targray for authority to
industry to gauge the interest and to participate in such a working group? transmit electric energy from the United
usefulness of the proposed decision (8) Are there others who you would States to Canada as a power marketer for
support tool. This RFI provides the suggest to provide early feedback on five years using existing international
public and industry stakeholders with tool development? transmission facilities.
(9) Is your utility interested in being In its application, Targray states that
the opportunity to provide their view on
part of a demonstration or pilot during it does not own or control any electric
the development of a resilience tool.
early testing? generation or transmission facilities,
The intent of this RFI is to solicit
information pertinent to the need and and it does not have a franchised service
E. Other Feedback
viability of the resilience assessment area. Targray states that it has applied
Additional comments that may not be for market-based rate authority from the
tool. The information obtained is meant captured in replies these questions, but
to be used by DOE for tool design and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
are considered relevant by respondents (FERC) to engage in the sale and
strategy development purposes. In your are highly encouraged.
comments, please reference the purchase of electric energy to and from
question(s) to which you are Authority: Presidential Policy Directive-21. Independent System Operators and
responding, as well as provide other Issued at Washington, DC, on June 25,
Regional Transmission Organizations.
pertinent information. 2015. As such, the electric energy that Targray
Patricia A. Hoffman,
proposes to export to Canada would be
A. Resilience Assessment Tool Need surplus energy purchased from third
Assistant Secretary, Department of Energy,
(1) Would a resilience assessment tool Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
parties such as power marketers,
be of interest for electric distribution Reliability. independent power producers, electric
utilities? [FR Doc. 2015–16186 Filed 6–30–15; 8:45 am]
utilities, and Federal power marketing
(2) What would you like to see in agencies pursuant to voluntary
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
such a model should it exist (i.e., agreements. The existing international
functionality, presentation, transmission facilities to be utilized by
accessibility?) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Targray have previously been
authorized by Presidential permits
B. Resilience Tool Criteria/Domains [OE Docket No. EA–411] issued pursuant to Executive Order
There are four key domains proposed 10485, as amended, and are appropriate
Application to Export Electric Energy; for open access transmission by third
for resilience: preparedness, mitigation
Targray Americas Inc. parties.
measures, response and recovery. Each
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

of these components has AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery Procedural Matters: Any person
subcomponents as detailed below: and Energy Reliability, DOE. desiring to be heard in this proceeding
a. Preparedness: Awareness and ACTION: Notice of application. should file a comment or protest to the
Planning. application at the address provided
b. Mitigation Measures: Extreme SUMMARY: Targray Americas Inc. above. Protests should be filed in
Weather Mitigation, Utility Mitigation, (Targray) has applied for authority to accordance with Rule 211 of the Federal
and Dependencies Mitigation. transmit electric energy from the United Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC)

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 13:19:24
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 13:19:24

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Request for Information.
Dates		Comments must be received on or before August 17, 2015.
FR Citation		80 FR 37606