Reliability News No. 5
Evolution of the mandatory standards framework in Québec

The blackout that left over 50 million customers without electricity in the U.S. Northeast and Midwest and in Ontario on August 14, 2003, had very little impact in Québec. Nevertheless, in 2006 the Québec government developed a new energy strategy in which it recognized the importance of transmission reliability and confirmed its intention to implement mandatory reliability standards for power transmission in Québec. It also signalled that it intended to give the Régie de l’énergie the powers needed to enforce such standards.

Bill 52

On December 13, 2006, the Québec government followed up on its energy strategy by enacting Bill 52, which gives the Régie de l’énergie new watchdog powers for enforcing mandatory reliability standards for power transmission systems. Thus, the Régie is empowered to:

  • Ensure that power transmission in Québec is in accordance with the reliability standards it adopts
  • Designate, on the conditions it sets, a Reliability Coordinator for Québec
  • Request the Reliability Coordinator modify a standard or submit a new one, on the conditions it sets
  • Adopt reliability standards and set the date of their coming into force
  • Determine there has been a reliability standard noncompliance and impose a sanction of up to $500,000 a day per noncompliance, if applicable

Reliability Coordinator for Québec

On February 28, 2007, Hydro-Québec applied to the Régie to have its Direction – Contrôle des mouvements d’énergie (DCME) designated as the Reliability Coordinator for Québec. The designation was granted on August 14, 2007, in Régie decision D-2007-95; this was the first step in building the foundation for the new mandatory reliability standards framework in Québec. In December 2016, following organizational changes, Hydro-Québec applied to the Régie to have the Direction principale – Contrôle des mouvements d’énergie et exploitation du réseau (DPCMEER) designated as Reliability Coordinator for Québec.

The Reliability Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the reliable operation of the main transmission system in Québec, balancing generation and load, and managing interchanges with neighboring systems and control areas. It must also:

  • Fulfil the duties devolved to it under a reliability standard adopted by the Régie de l’énergie
  • Issue operating instructions under a standard adopted by the Régie de l’énergie
  • File with the Régie de l’énergie the NERC reliability standards, as well as any variant or other standard it considers necessary
  • File an assessment of the relevance and impact of the standards filed
  • File with Régie de l’énergie for approval a register of entities (owners or operators of power generation, transmission or distribution facilities) that are subject to the reliability standards adopted by the Régie de l’énergie

References