By Jessie Mitchell, MRO Chief of Staff

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) Modernization of Standards Processes and Procedures Task Force (MSPPTF) has entered the implementation phase following formal acceptance of its final recommendations by the NERC Board of Trustees in February 2026.

This initiative is designed to accelerate and modernize the development of Reliability Standards in response to emerging bulk power system risks, including inverter-based resources, large load interconnections, and evolving grid reliability challenges.

The MSPPTF’s recommendations call for structural changes to NERC’s standards development framework, including a semiannual standards prioritization process, expanded use of stakeholder subject matter expert pools, and a streamlined balloting structure intended to reduce development timelines. The task force also proposed expedited pathways for urgent regulatory or reliability-driven standards projects.

NERC staff are now leading implementation activities, with the MSPPTF continuing in an advisory capacity. An informal comment period has been opened between May 18 and June 17 to gather stakeholder feedback on proposed revisions to the NERC Rules of Procedure and Standing Committee charters as part of the MSPP implementation.

Upcoming Q&A Event:

An MSPP Rules of Procedure and Charter Revision Q&A Webinar is scheduled for June 5, 2026, from 11:30 am to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time to provide an opportunity for questions.

Visit NERC’s MSPP Initiative webpage for the latest updates on this project.