Updates
January 11, 2021
Epidemic/Pandemic Resource Supplemented with Safety and Work-Environment Considerations
The Epidemic/Pandemic Response Plan Resource has recently been updated to include information on personal protective equipment use, a tertiary control center strategy, and configuration options for control centers and office space.
The resource—which focuses on planning/preparedness, response, and recovery activities for a severe epidemic/pandemic—was jointly developed by the NATF, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to help utilities create, update, or formalize their epidemic/pandemic plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 30, 2020
NATF is hosting an Industry Organizations webinar for suppliers!
This webinar will be provided twice, on December 1 and January 12, to help suppliers understand the requests they are receiving from entities and how they can be prepared to provide entities will responses. The webinar will cover the NATF Criteria and Questionnaire, as well as how suppliers can work directly with entities and with solution providers. Just as the IO Team is working to converge industry on what information is necessary to obtain from suppliers, the Team is also working with suppliers so they will have the information you need readily available. The invitation to attend this webinar is provided on the Industry Organizations webpage. Click HERE for the Supplier Communication Webinar Invitation.
Many entities and solution providers involved in the Industry Organizations collaboration effort have agreed to distribute the letter invitation to their suppliers. We are also asking that you, as you are able, distribute the letter invitation to your organization’s suppliers.
You are also welcome to attend these webinars. Registration is required to join this event. If you plan to attend and have not registered, please do so now.
Click HERE to register for the December 1, 2020 webinar
Click HERE to register for the January 12, 2021 webinar
October 08, 2020
October 2020 Newsletter Posted
The NATF's latest external newsletter, now available on our newsletters page, highlights the following topics:
- Transmission Resilience Maturity Model: Helps Utilities Improve Resilience
- Virtual Peer Reviews
- NATF Posts Revision Process for Supply Chain Criteria and Questionnaire
- Coordination and Support Aspects Added to Epidemic/Pandemic Resource
- Redacted Operating Experience Reports
October 08, 2020
Transmission Resilience Maturity Model Developed to Help Utilities Improve Resilience
The inaugural version (1.0) of the Transmission Resilience Maturity Model (TRMM) was released publicly this week on the TRMM website. In addition to access to the TRMM tool, the website provides overview and background information, FAQs, a suite of supporting documentation, and more.
The TRMM (developed jointly by the NATF, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the Department of Energy) is a free, easy-to-use tool, with supporting documentation, designed for electric transmission system utilities to evaluate and benchmark the relative maturity of their transmission resilience programs. The model can help identify gaps and prioritize actions and investments to improve the resilience of transmission systems.
The draft model was piloted by five NATF member companies in 2020, and improvements based on lessons learned were incorporated into version 1.0. The NATF envisions incorporating aspects of the TRMM as additional service offerings for members, including facilitated self-assessments, metrics, and targeted assistance.
To obtain a passphrase for the tool, please register here. Contact us at trmm@natf.net with any questions.
September 23, 2020
NATF Posts Revision Process for Supply Chain Criteria and Questionnaire
The NATF has posted the "Revision Process for the Energy Sector Supply Chain Risk Questionnaire and NATF Cyber Security Criteria for Suppliers" for industry use.
The purpose of this process is to facilitate periodic reviews and modifications of the NATF “Energy Sector Supply Chain Risk Questionnaire” (Questionnaire) and the “NATF Cyber Security Criteria for Suppliers” (Criteria), which were developed for industry-wide use to drive consistency of information obtained from suppliers of bulk power system hardware, software, and services.
Consistent with the NATF’s open, collaborative, and consensus-based approach, modifications via this process will be made with consideration of input from across industry and will include adding, deleting, or modifying individual questions in the Questionnaire or individual criterion in the Criteria as well as adding, deleting, or modifying mappings to security frameworks (e.g., SOC2, ISO27001, etc.).
The process is available on the NATF Supply Chain Cyber Security Industry Coordination page.
August 14, 2020
Epidemic/Pandemic Response Plan Resource Updated to Include Coordination and Support Aspects
The Epidemic/Pandemic Response Plan Resource has been updated to include details on cross-sector coordination, prioritized requests for government support, and misinformation.
The resource—which focuses on planning/preparedness, response, and recovery activities for a severe epidemic/pandemic—was jointly developed by the North American Transmission Forum, North American Electric Reliability Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to help utilities create, update, or formalize their epidemic/pandemic-response plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 02, 2020
July 2020 Newsletter Posted
The NATF's latest external newsletter, now available on our newsletters page, highlights the following topics:
- Resource Developed to Help Organizations Update Pandemic Response Plans
- NATF Continues Monitoring COVID-19 and Implementing Virtual Activities
- Energy Sector Supply Chain Risk Questionnaire
- Transmission Resilience Maturity Model (TRMM)
- Redacted Operating Experience Reports
June 19, 2020
Testing and Contact Tracing Information Added to Epidemic/Pandemic Response Plan Resource
The Epidemic/Pandemic Response Plan Resource has been updated to include more information on testing and an overview of contact tracing.
The resource—which focuses on planning/preparedness, response, and recovery activities for a severe epidemic/pandemic—was jointly developed by the North American Transmission Forum, North American Electric Reliability Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to help utilities create, update, or formalize their epidemic/pandemic-response plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 18, 2020
NATF Posts Energy Sector Supply Chain Risk Questionnaire
The NATF has posted the "Energy Sector Supply Chain Risk Questionnaire" for industry use.
This questionnaire, developed by a group of more than 20 U.S. energy companies, is designed to provide utilities with a set of supplier- and equipment-focused questions to obtain better information on a supplier’s security posture. The questionnaire works in conjunction with the "NATF Criteria," and together these complementary tools can help our industry drive convergence on information that is needed from suppliers.
The questionnaire denotes where questions directly align or will provide key supporting information regarding a supplier’s adherence to each of the NATF Criteria, and the information obtained through other questions will provide additional insight. Further, in light of the May 1 Executive Order, both the questionnaire and the NATF Criteria gather information regarding a supplier’s sourcing, activities, and staffing in other countries.
Two versions of the questionnaire are available on the Supply Chain Cyber Security Industry Coordination page of the NATF public website. The first includes a series of macros to provide a self-contained tool that can be used by utilities and suppliers. The second version provides a text-only version for easy incorporation into various toolsets or existing company spreadsheets.
May 14, 2020
Resource Developed to Help Organizations Update Pandemic Response Plans
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented challenges for utility planning, operations, and response, prompting organizations to review existing or create epidemic/pandemic-response plans. To assist in these efforts, the North American Transmission Forum, North American Electric Reliability Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission jointly developed a resource to help utilities create, update, or formalize their plans.
The Epidemic/Pandemic Response Plan Resource focuses on planning/preparedness, response, and recovery activities for a severe epidemic/pandemic.
News Release | Resource DocumentApril 27, 2020
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Web Page
The NATF has organized information regarding its response to the pandemic on a
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) page under the “Industry Initiatives” section of the site.
April 02, 2020
April 2020 Newsletter Posted
The NATF's latest external newsletter, now available on our newsletters page, highlights the following topics:
- Coronavirus Planning and Response
- NATF's 100th Peer Review
- NATF Begins Pilot Collaborations with NERC, RF, and SERC
- NATF Leads Industry Coordination and Alignment on Supply Chain Cyber Security
- Protection System Misoperations Analysis Annual Report
- NATF and EPRI Team Up for Equipment Reliability
- Redacted Operating Experience Reports
March 31, 2020
Coronavirus Planning and Response
At the NATF, our top priority is the health and safety of our staff and members. To help inform our decisions during this coronavirus pandemic, we have been working closely with our members and tracking updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local authorities. In response, the NATF has taken specific actions to limit potential exposure for staff and members and has initiated specific coordination and information-sharing mechanisms to assist member planning and response.
Member Support
NATF member companies are evaluating and implementing their pandemic plans and taking actions to limit potential exposure for their employees. The NATF is facilitating information-exchange mechanisms to assist the membership in this regard, such as the following:
- Weekly webinars hosted by our System Operations Practices Group
- Sharing of information, approaches, and practices
- Topics have included response plans, operator staffing (safety/health, shift rotation, location, etc.), family support, and coordination of field personnel
- Page on our member site
- Discussion boards
- Member practices
- Resource links
External Coordination
The NATF has been in close contact with industry partners during this time to discuss potential coordination, reduce duplication of effort, and deconflict pandemic-response webinars.
Office and Travel
The NATF office is closed until further notice, and all staff are working from home. NATF travel is cancelled through at least May 1.
Meeting and Events
We have postponed our near-term events (listed below). We will work with members and our industry partners to reschedule when appropriate.
- NATF-EPRI-NERC Transmission Resiliency Summit
- Peer Review (April)
- Risk Controls Compliance and Security Workshops
- Peer Review (May)
- System Protection Practices Group Workshop
- Metrics Face-to-Face Meeting
- NATF-NERC-EPRI Planning and Modeling Workshop
Our regularly scheduled webinars will continue as planned. The NATF membership is adept at exchanging information and sharing lessons learned during virtual meetings, and these interactions will be even more valuable as we deal with current circumstances.
The NATF will continue to support members and the industry in whatever capacity possible.February 03, 2020
NATF Launches Industry Coordination Webpage
Today, the NATF launched the “Supply Chain Cyber Security Industry Coordination” web page under a new “Industry Initiatives” section of the site. The supply chain cyber security industry coordination page provides information on the collaborative work conducted by NATF subject-matter experts, industry organizations (including trade and forums), key suppliers, and third-party assessors on this important topic.
January 13, 2020
January 2020 Newsletter Posted
The NATF's latest external newsletter, now available on our newsletters page, highlights the following topics:
- NATF Marks Tenth Anniversary as an Independent Corporation
- Cyber Security and Supply Chain Guidance Posted
- Equipment Problem Coding Document Posted
- NATF Adds New Equipment-Sharing Program
- Workshops and Meetings
- Redacted Operating Experience Reports
January 01, 2020
NATF Marks Tenth Anniversary as an Independent Corporation
Following the August 2003 blackout that impacted systems in the midwestern and northeastern United States and Ontario, Canada, several major transmission owners and operators met to discuss ways to improve reliability. Other organizations joined the original group to form the Transmission Owners and Operators Forum within the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to “…improve the reliability and security of the bulk power system by facilitating the pursuit of operational excellence through a forum where transmission owners and operators can identify and exchange information on best practices for reliable operations, evaluate their own performances against those best practices, disseminate lessons learned from disturbances and near misses, and facilitate the utilization of such information in a timely manner, among other things.”
To promote increased candor and opportunities for peer challenge, members decided to become independent from NERC and, on January 1, 2010, began operating as the North American Transmission Forum, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization. Since 2010, the NATF has grown to over 160 members and affiliate organizations representing about 80% of the transmission circuit miles rated at 200 kV and above in the United States and Canada.
Today, the NATF is a leader in the transmission industry through its programs to enable member collaboration and information sharing for continuous improvement and its work—both independently and through numerous partnerships—to address emerging industry risks and challenges.December 20, 2019
Cyber Security and Supply Chain Guidance Posted
The “NATF Transient Cyber Asset Guidance” and “NATF Vendor Remote Access Guidance” documents have been posted to the NATF public website for industry use.
“NATF Transient Cyber Asset Guidance” describes practices and provides examples of approaches for using transient cyber assets in compliance with CIP-010 R4. “NATF Vendor Remote Access Guidance” describes practices and provides examples for determining and disabling active vendor remote access sessions, which can serve as considerations and potential approaches for implementing the requirements in CIP-005-6 R2 parts 2.4 and 2.5.
Both documents have been submitted to NERC for consideration as Implementation Guidance as approaches to comply with the related standards.December 20, 2019
Equipment Problem Coding Document Posted
The “NATF Equipment Problem Coding Process Reference Document” has been posted to the NATF public website for industry use.
The document provides a standard framework for coding the nature of field-observed equipment failures and problems of in-service equipment. Standardized recording of equipment issues enables better analysis and data sharing and maximizes the usefulness of historical data.
October 22, 2019
NATF Job Opening: Program Manager
The North American Transmission Forum (NATF) has posted an opening for a program manager - practices.
Please see the following link for the job description: Program Manager - Practices
To apply, please send your resume to info@natf.net.
October 10, 2019
October 2019 Newsletter Posted
The NATF's latest external newsletter, now available on our newsletters page, highlights the following topics:
- NATF Grid Security Emergency Work
- NATF Role in Mitigating Supply Chain Cyber Security Risks
- Workshops and Meetings
- Redacted Operating Experience Reports