Super Bowl 2013 Blackout ‘Abnormality’?

Did anyone else find this ‘abnormality’ interesting? Embarrassing? Weakness on display?    Neglected infrastructure?  A 34 minute “Black Eye” of agonizing worldwide public scrutiny for this New Orleans based utility!  A piece of electrical equipment that is designed to monitor electrical load sensed an ‘abnormality’ in the system.  The sensing equipment operated as designed and opened a breaker, causing power to be partially cut to the Superdome in order to isolate the abnormality or fault.

Our society is built on complex, interlocking systems.  For huge pop culture moments broadcast worldwide, you want those systems to work flawlessly.

The abnormality everyone is talking about is a relay.  A relay is an electrically operated switch.  They play a very important role in providing safe critical logic.  Relays are essential for automation systems and for controlling loads.

NERC Standard PRC-023-2 states:  Protective relay settings shall not limit transmission loadability; not interfere with system operators’ ability to take remedial action to protect system reliability and; be set to reliably detect all fault conditions and protect the electrical network from these faults.

NERC Standard CIP-011-1 Cyber Security Protection states:  Each Responsible Entity shall implement, in a manner that identifies, assesses, and corrects deficiencies to prevent unauthorized access to Bulk Electric System (BES) Cyber system information.  Requirements support the protection of the BES Cyber systems against comprises that could lead to misoperation or instability in the Bulk Electric System.

These NERC Standards recognize the differing roles of each entity in the operation of the Bulk Electric System, the criticality and vulnerability of the assets needed to manage Bulk Electric System’s reliability and the risks to which they are exposed.

360Factors has a solution that will enable you to avoid that dreaded Black Eye caused by a Black Out or NERC Audit.  It can help you skip right through Compliance.  It can help you manage your Black Eyes before they happen!  There are easier ways to manage all your NERC Standards, Compliance to these standards, practices, and procedures, Gap Analysis, RSAW, NERC Audits, and Job Task Analysis.

My friends I have just the company:  360Factors Inc.  PREDICT360 is state of the art unique NERC Compliance software which has a regulatory application tool that helps identify which standards and regulations apply to each specific type of utility.  I strongly believe this regulatory knowledge base would be a valuable tool which would enable you to take corrective and preventative actions!  PREDICT360 is the Solution to NERC’s risk based audits.