COM-001-AB-3, COM-002-AB-4, COM-002-AB1-2a & COM-001-AB1-1.1

Purpose

Consultation Letter to address typographical errors in the approved COM-001-AB-3 and COM-002-AB-4.

Background

Since 2018, the AESO has been working with Stakeholders to update and consolidate the requirements for voice and messaging telecommunication capabilities. Following extensive consultations, the AESO proposed to adopt the new COM-001-AB-3, COM-002-AB-4, and the definition of the term “emergency” for reliability standards. On March 7, 2023, the Commission approved the adoption of all three, to be effective April 1, 2024.

Consultation Letter materials

• Blackline and clean copy of proposed amended COM-002-AB-4 [Posted: Feb. 22, 2024]
• Blackline and clean copy of proposed amended COM-001-AB-3 [Posted: Feb. 22, 2024]
• Consultation Letter [Posted: Feb. 22, 2024]

Background and Purpose

In 2018, the AESO initiated Stakeholder engagement to modify the existing requirements in COM-001-AB1-1.1, COM-002-AB1-2a, and Section 502.4. The objective of these existing authoritative documents is to ensure that the AESO and each applicable market participant have adequate and reliable voice and message telecommunication facilities, both internally and with others, for the exchange of connection and operating information necessary to maintain reliability.

The purpose of the Communication ISO Rule and Reliability Standards is to: (i) align the voice and message telecommunication facilities requirements with the latest NERC communication reliability standards; (ii) eliminate overlapping requirements in current AESO authoritative documents; and (iii) improve the clarity and organization of the voice communication, Automated Dispatch and Messaging System (“ADaMS”), and operating personnel communication protocol requirements within relevant AESO authoritative documents.

AESO Reply to Stakeholder Comments

On August 26, 2022, the AESO posted written comments from Stakeholders on the Communication ISO Rule and Reliability Standards. The AESO replies to comments, including the rationale or basis for the AESO’s position, are set out in the attached Stakeholder Comment and AESO Replies Matrix.

The AESO has made further amendments to COM-001-AB-3, COM-002-AB-4, and proposed amended ID# 2012-001RS and the proposed implementation timeline in response to comments received, including better alignment with NERC and to address grammatical errors. No comments were received from Stakeholders on Section 502.4, proposed new ID #2022-001 and proposed amended ID #2017-006R that warranted further amendments.

Consultation Letter materials

• Proposed new “emergency” definition [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• Blackline and clean copies of ID #2012-001RS [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• COM-002-AB-4 comparison matrix [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• COM-001-AB-3 comparison matrix [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• COM-002-AB-4 Clean [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• COM-002-AB-4 Blackline – Consultation to Final [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• COM-002-AB-4 Blackline – Effective to Final [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• COM-001-AB-3 Clean [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• COM-001-AB-3 Blackline – Consultation to Final [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• COM-001-AB-3 Blackline – Effective to Final [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• Reply Matrix [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• Reply Letter [Posted: Dec. 15, 2022]
• Stakeholder Comments [Posted: Aug. 26, 2022]
• Proposed new ID #2022-001, Operating Personnel Communications Protocols [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]
• Proposed amended ID #2017-006R, Automated Dispatch and Messaging System Requirements [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]
• Proposed amended ID #2012-001RS, Communications [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]
• Comparison Rationale Matrix for proposed new COM-002-AB-4 [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]
• Blackline and clean copy of Comparison Rationale Matrix for proposed new COM-001-AB-3 [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]
• Blackline and clean copy of proposed amended Section 502.4 [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]
• Copy of existing COM-002-AB1-2a [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]
• Copy of existing COM-001-AB1-1.1 [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]
• Clean copy of proposed new COM-002-AB-4 [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]
• Clean copy of proposed new COM-001-AB-3 [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]
• Stakeholder Comment Matrix [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]
• Consultation Letter [Posted: Jul. 27, 2022]

The AESO held a virtual stakeholder consultation session on May 10, 2022 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the communication ISO rules and reliability standards.

Purpose

The Development of the following Proposed New and Amended ISO Rules and Reliability Standards:

• Proposed amendments to Section 502.4 of the ISO rules, Automated Dispatch and Messaging System and Voice Communication System Requirements (“Section 502.4”), to include only Automated Dispatch and Messaging System requirements;
• Proposed new reliability standard COM-001-AB-3, Communications (“COM-001-AB-3”), to include all voice communication system technical and operating requirements, including those previously proposed in proposed new Section 502.17 of the ISO rules, Voice Communication System Requirements; and
• Proposed new Alberta Reliability Standard COM-002-AB-4, Operating Personnel Communication Protocols (“COM-002-AB-4”), to include new operating personnel communication protocols.

This consultation session will solicit feedback from Stakeholders on the requirements of the Communication ISO Rules and Reliability Standards, including the AESO’s proposed approach to the organization of the Communication ISO Rules and Reliability Standards requirements which is described in the invitation.  Along with the invitation, the AESO has posted clean and blacklines copies of draft communication ISO rules and reliability standards, comparison matrices, and related draft information documents.

Notice of Stakeholder Consultation Session and related materials

The Notice of Stakeholder Consultation Session - Webinar Information states that the AESO posted related material with the Invitation on March 29, 2022, including the draft proposed Communication ISO rules and Reliability Standards and draft amended AESO information documents. Stakeholders are asked to review the related material prior to the consultation session and prepare any questions and comments for discussion.

Session 3 materials

• Session Minutes [Posted Jun. 20, 2022]
• Presentation [Posted May 3, 2022]
• Notice of Stakeholder Consultation Session - Webinar Information [Posted: Apr. 19, 2022]
• Proposed Amended Information Document #2012-001RS, Communications [Posted Mar. 29, 2022]
• Proposed Amended Information Document #2017-006R, Automated Dispatch and Messaging System Requirements [Posted Mar. 29, 2022]
• Comparison Rationale Matrix for proposed new COM-002-AB-4 [Posted Mar. 29, 2022]
• Comparison Rationale Matrix for proposed new COM-001-AB-3 [Posted Mar. 29, 2022]
• Blackline copy of proposed new COM-002-AB-4 [Posted Mar. 29, 2022]
• Clean copy of proposed new COM-002-AB-4 [Posted Mar. 29, 2022]
• Blackline copy of proposed new COM-001-AB-3 [Posted Mar. 29, 2022]
• Clean copy of proposed new COM-001-AB-3 [Posted Mar. 29, 2022]
• Blackline copy of proposed amended Section 502.4 [Posted Mar. 29, 2022]
• Clean copy of proposed amended Section 502.4 [Posted Mar. 29, 2022]
• Invitation [Posted Mar. 29, 2022]
• Save the Date [Posted: Mar. 15, 2022]

The AESO held an in-person stakeholder consultation session on the communication ISO rules and reliability standards noted below on July 20, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Purpose

As per the Invitation and Notice of Stakeholder Consultation Session, this session will focus on the development of the following Proposed New and Amended ISO Rules and Reliability Standards:

1. Proposed amendments to Section 502.4 of the ISO rules, Automated Dispatch and Messaging System and Voice Communication System Requirements (“Section 502.4”);
2. Proposed new Section 502.17 of the ISO rules, Voice Communication System Requirements (“Section 502.17”);
3. Proposed new Alberta Reliability Standard COM-001-3, Communications (“COM-001-AB-3”); and
4. Proposed new Alberta Reliability Standard COM-002-AB-4, Operating Personnel Communication Protocols (“COM-002-AB-4”),

collectively referred to as the (“communication ISO rules and reliability standards”).

Stakeholder comments

The AESO would like to use this opportunity to thank all Stakeholders who participated in this part of the ISO rules and reliability standards comment process. All written comments received will be taken into consideration during the AESO’s development of the proposed new and amended communication ISO rules and reliability standards and can be found in the materials below.

Session 1 materials

• Stakeholder Comments [Posted: Aug. 26, 2020]
• Comment Matrix [Posted: July 28, 2020]
• Request for Feedback [Posted: July 28, 2020]
• Presentation [Posted: July 16, 2020] 
• Clean | Proposed Amended Section 502.4 [Posted: July 16, 2020] 
• Blackline | Proposed Amended Section 502.4 [Posted: July 16, 2020] 
• Clean | Proposed New Section 502.17 [Posted: July 16, 2020] 
• Clean | Proposed New COM-001-AB-3 [Posted: July 16, 2020] 
• Notice of Consultation Session [Posted: July 2, 2020]
• Draft Agenda [Posted: July 2, 2020]
• Invitation [Posted: July 2, 2020]
• Save the Date [Posted: June 17, 2020]

Purpose

Consultation Letter for the following:

1. New Alberta Reliability Standard:

a) Proposed new Alberta Reliability Standard COM-002-AB-4, Operating Personnel
Communication Protocols (“new COM-002-AB-4”);

2. Retirement of Existing Alberta Reliability Standards:

a) Proposed retirement of existing Alberta Reliability Standard COM-002-AB1-2a,
Communications and Coordination (“existing COM-002-AB1-2a”);

b) Proposed retirement of existing Alberta Reliability Standard COM-001-AB1-1.1,
Telecommunications (“existing COM-001-AB1-1.1”); and

3. Recommendation to Reject for Adoption North American Electric Reliability Corporation
(“NERC”) Reliability Standard:

a) COM-001-3, Communications (“NERC COM-001-3”)

collectively referred to as “COM Standards”

Stakeholder comments

Thank you to all stakeholders who participated in this consultation. All written comments received will be considered in the AESO’s finalization of the proposed COM Standards and can be found in the materials below.

Consultation letter materials

• Update on AESO Consultation [Posted: Nov. 28, 2019]
• AESO Replies to Stakeholder Comments [Posted: April 30, 2019]
• Stakeholder Comments [Posted: April 9, 2019]
• Comment Matrix | Proposed New COM-002-AB-4 [Posted: March 19, 2019]
• Copy | Proposed New COM-002-AB-4 [Posted: March 19, 2019]
• Comment Matrix | Proposed Retirement of COM-001-AB1-1.1 [Posted: March 19, 2019]
• Copy | Proposed Retirement of COM-001-AB1-1.1 [Posted: March 19, 2019]
• Comment Matrix | Proposed Removal of COM-002-AB1-2a [Posted: March 19, 2019]
• Copy | Proposed Removal of COM-002-AB1-2a [Posted: March 19, 2019]
• Consultation Letter [Posted: March 19, 2019]