The following PJM manual change was approved by the Markets and Reliability Committee on Feb. 28, 2013, effective March 1, 2013. For more information, contact PJM Member Relations.

Manual 40: Training and Certification Requirements – verification of operators performing reliability functions

Reason for Change: FERC Order 742 (issued Nov. 18, 2010) ratified NERC Reliability Standard PER 005 (System Personnel Training) to ensure the qualifications of system operators performing real-time, reliability-related tasks. Most requirements are effective April 1, 2013.

Impact: The changes require that all applicable operators be verified on the reliability-related tasks assigned to them (both common terminal tasks and company-specific functions) before the operator assumes independent shift duties. Creates a Systematic Approach to Training (SAT), as developed by the Dispatcher Training Subcommittee.

• Operators must be re-verified on any modified tasks within six months of the modifications. Verification may include direct observation in a real-time or simulated environment or completion of relevant training and certification and verbal questioning.
• All task verifications must be entered into a new Task Tracking Module of the PJM Learning Management System (LMS).
• The one-year grace period for completion of Initial Training Program was eliminated for TO operators. (A similar provision for certification had already been removed to comply with NERC requirements.) A new initial training program is being created (using SAT). The course can be completed either online or in person.

PJM Contacts: Glen D. Boyle, manager, system operator training; Michael J. Sitarchyk, manager, state and member training.