Midwest Reliability Organization Inc

ENSURE THE RELIABILITY OF THE BULK POWER SYSTEM IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PART OF NORTH AMERICA. THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS ASSESSING COMPLIANCE WITH RELIABILITY STANDARDS ON ENTITIES THAT OWN, OPERATE OR USE THE BULK POWER SYSTEM ("BPS"), PERFORMING ASSESSMENTS OF THE BPS, AND TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF MATTERS IMPACTING THE RELIABILITY OF THE BES IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PART OF NORTH AMERICA.

COMPLIANCE MONITORING ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM: THE MRO STAFF WILL MONITOR, ASSESS, AND ENFORCE COMPLIANCE OF RELIABILITY STANDARDS FOR EACH REGISTRANT (ALSO KNOWN AS REGISTERED ENTITY) THAT HAS COMPLIANCE RESPONSIBILITIES AS DEFINED IN THE MRO REGISTRY IN A NON-DISCRIMINATORY MANNER WITH THE APPROPRIATE DUE PROCESS. IN THE UNITED STATES, MRO ENFORCES RELIABILITY STANDARDS ACCORDING TO COMMISSION-APPROVED RULES (COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM OR "CMEP"). IN SASKATCHEWAN, MRO CARRIES OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES ACCORDING TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITY. IN MANITOBA, MRO CARRIES OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES ACCORDING TO THE APPLICABLE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK IN THE PROVINCE.

RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT:THE MRO ANALYZES, ASSESSES, AND REPORTS ON RELIABILITY AND ADEQUACY IN THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. THIS INCLUDES THE LONG-TERM AND SEASONAL ASSESSMENTS DEVELOPED BY THE RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE ("RAC") AND ITS SUBCOMMITTEES AS REQUIRED BY THE RDA. IN 2008, NERC ADDED A FOURTH ASSESSMENT, CALLED THE SCENARIO ASSESSMENT, TO ITS REQUIREMENTS.THIS FOURTH ASSESSMENT WILL BE PERFORMED EVERY ONE TO TWO YEARS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LONG-TERM ASSESSMENT.

RELIABILITY STANDARDS, REGISTRATION, AND CERTIFICATION:MRO RELIABILITY STANDARDS PERSONNEL SUPPORT NERC'S STAKEHOLDER-DRIVEN PROCESSES TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN RISK-RESPONSIVE RELIABILITY STANDARDS BY PROVIDING FEEDBACK INTO THE NERC PROCESS, CONDUCTING OUTREACH DURING STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT, AND PROVIDING CLARITY TO INDUSTRY ON ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, MRO APPROPRIATELY REGISTERS OWNERS, OPERATORS, AND USERS OF THE BULK POWER SYSTEM SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE WITH NERC RELIABILITY STANDARDS. THE PROGRAM ENSURES THAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLY FOR REGISTRATION OR ARE REGISTERED TO PERFORM THE RELIABILITY COORDINATOR, BALANCING AUTHORITY, AND TRANSMISSION OPERATOR RELIABILITY FUNCTIONS MEET OR EXCEED MINIMUM CRITERIA DEMONSTRATING THEIR CAPABILITY TO PERFORM THEIR INCUMBENT TASKS.

MRO IS ACCOUNTABLE TO REGULATORS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA FOR THE CONDUCT OF ITS WORK AND MUST SUBMIT PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS ON A PERIODIC BASIS AND ITS BUDGET IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC AND ULTIMATELY APPROVED BY US REGULATORY AUTHORITIES.