At Proven Compliance Solutions Inc. (PCS), we offer our clients an extensive range of consulting services to help them comply with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Reliability Standards requirements. Having staff that has been in the industry for several decades has helped us gain extensive knowledge and expertise to offer the best compliance solutions. Our clients appreciate our unique approach to developing and successfully implementing Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and Operations & Planning (O&P) NERC compliance programs at affordable prices.
Our team of industry experts, former compliance program managers, and former NERC & WECC CIP auditors have contributed to forming a great company and helped us achieve an enviable reputation in the industry.
The NERC Reliability Standards focus the security and reliability of the Bulk Power System (BPS). Since the NERC Reliability Standards are developed and revised on a continuous basis, entities that are required to comply with the Standards face many challenges such as:
To assist our clients with the many challenges associated with NERC Reliability Standards compliance, PCS offers an array of services and innovative solutions, including the Standards Compliance Intelligence Portal (SCIP) for tracking NERC Standards development. Based on our clients’ unique requirements, we develop NERC O&P and CIP high/medium/low impact compliance programs. In addition, we offer mock audits, gap analyses, and audit support activities to name a few.
Want to know more about PCS and how we can help you with NERC compliance? Contact us now.
…is a team of highly qualified subject
matter experts, former regulators,
compliance officers/managers,
software and IT specialists.
…offers extensive and diverse electric
utility experience in both O&P and CIP
and who are passionate about helping
entities manage the ever-increasing burden
of regulatory Reliability Compliance.
…assists organizations with reducing
the complexity and cutting the cost
of compliance.
O&P and CIP Expertise
"I have been using PCS to help manage my NERC Program since 2017. PCS has always been extremely responsive to the stations changing needs since then. The level of knowledge is of great comfort to me as I have full trust that the task at hand will be handled professionally and correctly every time"
Jeffrey R. Marrs
Plant Engineer, Salem Harbor Station
"Provo Power has greatly benefited from our long relationship with PCS. As our compliance needs have grown and changed, PCS has been there to guide us through them. Having a strong working relationship with our compliance partners gives us the peace of mind to know that we are never alone, and nothing is out of reach."
Michal Czarnecki
Provo Power
"They been extremely helpful, thorough and patient. Their availability is top notch and very accommodating. Very knowledgeable and if unsure of something they research to find the correct answer or action needed. I’m very satisfied with their services and would like to continue the relationship for next year.”
Confidential Client
NERC CIP audits are typically conducted every three years. However, some organizations may be audited more frequently, depending on their risk profile. For example, organizations that have been found to be non-compliant with NERC CIP standards in the past may be audited more frequently.
NERC CIP (North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection) audit is a comprehensive assessment conducted by NERC to ensure organizations within the electricity utility sector are in compliance with CIP standards.
The scope of a NERC CIP audit will vary depending on the size and complexity of the organization being audited. However, all audits typically cover the following areas:
To be NERC compliant, organizations must have documented compliance programs that address the following areas:
Organizations must also have a process for self-assessing compliance and reporting any non-compliance to NERC.
A NERC compliance exception in a non-compliance program is not pursued through enforcement because it poses a minimal risk to the bulk electric system. It is granted on a case-by-case basis by NERC. Organizations that receive compliance exceptions must still report the non-compliance to NERC and take steps to correct it. However, they will not be subject to fines or other penalties.
NERC standards are mandatory for all organizations that own, operate, or control bulk power system assets in the United States and Canada.
Organizations that are found to be non-compliant with NERC CIP standards will be required to develop and implement a corrective action plan. The corrective action plan must be approved by NERC before the organization can be considered compliant. NERC also has the authority to suspend or revoke the operating licenses of repeatedly non-compliant organizations.