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Program Overview
In Course 110: Electric Reliability, participants will receive an introduction to the regulatory regime governing electric reliability in the United States. The course will start with a technical overview of the electric grid. Participants will then learn about the history of Section 215 of the Federal Power Act – the key reliability regulatory provision. Our faculty will also provide an overview of the chief reliability regulator – the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) – including a brief history lesson on the genesis of NERC, an overview of the structure of NERC, and insights on the relationship between NERC, the reliability regions, and regulated entities. The program will include instruction on the process for drafting and adopting the mandatory and enforceability Reliability Standards, and our faculty will cover compliance and enforcement in the reliability space. Our program will conclude with a review of special topics, including cyber and physical security.
Thank you to our co-Marketing Sponsor:
D.C. Bar Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Community
PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Wednesday, June 24
12:00 PM: Webinar Open
12:30 - 12:45 PM: Welcome & Opening Remarks
Speaker: Dan Frank, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland
12:45 - 1:30 PM: Grid 101 (Technical/Operational Overview)
Speaker: James Hanson, Senior Engineer, Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
1:30 - 2:15 PM:
EPAct 2005 / FPA § 215 (Overview)
- Genesis / History Leading to Federal Reliability Role
- Statutory Provisions / Directives
- “Bulk-Power System” vs. “BES”
Speaker: Jonathan First, Special Reliability Counsel, Office of General Counsel, FERC
2:15 - 2:30 PM: Break
2:30 - 3:30 PM:
NERC (Overview)
- Genesis / History of NERC
- Structure – NERC & Regional Entities
- Respective Roles
- Relationship Between
- Registered Entities
- Who Must Be Registered
- Process to Challenge Registration
Speaker: Bill Edwards, Assistant General Counsel, Ethics & Compliance, Exelon Corporation
3:30 - 5:00 PM: Reliability Standards
3:30 - 4:15 PM:
- NERC Drafting of Standards
- NERC’s Role, Rules & Procedures / Processes
- Standards Drafting Process
Speaker: Bill Edwards, Assistant General Counsel, Ethics & Compliance, Exelon Coporation
4:15 - 5:00 PM:
- FERC Review of Standards
- FERC’s Role
- Standards Approval / Remand Process
Speaker: Matt Vlissides, Supervisory Attorney - Advisor (Reliability), Officer of General Counsel, FERC
5:00 - 5:30 PM: Keynote Speech – FERC’s priorities, etc.
Speaker: Andrew Dodge, Director, Office of Electric Reliability, FERC
THURSDAY, June 25
12:00 PM: Open Webinar
12:00 - 12:15 PM: Recap, Logistics, etc.
Speaker: Dan Frank, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland
12:15 - 2:30: Compliance / Enforcement
12:15 - 12:45 PM:
Speaker: James Hanson, Senior Engineer, Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
12:45 - 1:15 PM:
- Compliance Monitoring Process (Audits, Inherent Risk Assessments and Controls, etc.)
Speaker: Adina Kruppa, Managing Consultant - Risk, Compliance, and Security, Guidehouse
1:15 - 2:00 PM:
- Enforcement & Penalty Process
- Practice Pointers
Speaker: Patrick O’Connor, Counsel, ReliabilityFirst Corporation
2:00 - 2:30 PM:
- FERC
- FERC’s Role in Compliance & Enforcement
- Enforcement & Penalty Process
Speaker: Heather Polzin, Attorney Advisor, FERC
2:30 - 2:45 PM: Break
2:45 - 4:45 PM: Special Topics
2:45 - 3:15 PM:
- Cyber and Physical Security
- Geomagnetic Disturbances (GMDs)
Speaker: Matt Vlissides, Supervisory Attorney - Advisor (Reliability), Officer of General Counsel, FERC
3:15 - 3:45 PM:
Speaker: Dan Frank, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland
3:45 - 4:45 PM: Ask the General Counsel
Speaker: Sonia Mendonca, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, NERC
4:45 - 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks & Adjourn
Speaker: Dan Frank, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland








Andrew Dodge, Director, Office of Electric Reliability, FERC
Bill Edwards, Assistant General Counsel, Ethics & Compliance, Exelon Coporation
Jonathan First, Special Reliability Counsel, Office of General Counsel, FERC
Dan Frank, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland
James Hanson, Senior Engineer, Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
Adina Kruppa, Managing Consultant - Risk, Compliance, and Security, Guidehouse
Sonia Mendonca, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, NERC
Heather Polzin, Attorney Advisor, FERC
Patrick O’Connor, Counsel, ReliabilityFirst Corporation
Matt Vlissides, Supervisory Attorney - Advisor (Reliability), Officer of General Counsel, FERC
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE):
Approved: for 8 hours PA, CA
Pending for 8 hours: VA. NY
Each state has its own rules and regulations regarding "CLE". For questions on CLE email EBA-CLE@eba-net.org. To assure accreditation, you MUST include your BAR # AND STATE with your registration. ONLY REGISTERED ATTENDEES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CLE
REGISTRATION FEES:
Register Online Registration Form
Type |
Member Rate |
Non-Member Rate |
Attorney/Energy Professional |
$300 |
$350 |
Young Lawyer |
$300 |
$350 |
Government- Attorney/ EP/Academic |
$300 |
$350 |
Solo Attorney/Small Firm |
$300 |
$350 |
Student |
$95 |
$350 |
Multi-Registration Discount (4th person and beyond) |
$275 |
NA |
*For firms registering 4 people or more, at the same time, EBA will provide you a group discounted registration rate of $275 per person for the 4th person and beyond. Applies to Private and Energy Professional members only. All attendees in the group must be members. Contact mmfrank@eba-net.org for more information.
THREE WAYS TO REGISTER
1. Online: Register Online
2. Fax your completed Registration Form with payment to EBA: (202) 833-5596
3. Mail your Registration Form and payment to EBA, 2000 M St. NW, Suite 715, Washington, DC 20036
policies
To learn more, please contact EBA, (202) 223-5625 or by email at EBA@eba-net.org.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Refunds will be given to registrants who submit written cancellation to the address shown on the registration form by 6/19/2020, less a $50 administrative fee. The cancellation policy also applies to registration forms that are received and accepted after the deadline date. No refunds will be given after 6/19/2020. If a cancellation is requested after the deadline and accepted, there will be a $100 administrative fee. Substitutions are acceptable by 6/19/2020 (non-members substituting for members will be charged the difference between the member and non-member fees). Please note that regardless of the date the cancellation notice is received, no refunds will be processed until after the program. Confirmations will be sent to registrants via email if an address is provided.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Persons in need of special accommodation should inquire with Lisa Levine, Chief Executive Officer, llevine@eba-net.org at the EBA office.
EBA HARDSHIP POLICY
EBA offers eligible student, government, and academic members’ discounts on the rates for most EBA programs which carry CLE credits, including EBA’s Annual and Mid-Year meetings. EBA will, on a case-by-case basis, consider requests from members to attend EBA programs at discounted rates. Discount requests must be made to EBA’s office at least fifteen days prior to the close of regular registration for the program in question. Requests will be considered by EBA if timely and complete. Discount requests must demonstrate a substantial financial hardship. Please submit your request to llevine@eba-net.org.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
The Energy Bar Association (“EBA”) is committed to the goals of fostering an inclusive and diverse membership and increasing diversity across all levels of the Association. Attorneys and energy professionals in the energy field are welcome to join our ranks, regardless of race, creed, color, gender (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientation, family and marital status (including pregnancy), family responsibilities, religion, national origin, age, personal appearance, political affiliation, veterans status, disability, source of income (government, solo, corporate, firm practice), or place of residence or business (geographic diversity) and are encouraged to become active participants in the Association’s activities.
PHOTOGRAPHS:
By registering for this program, you authorize EBA to use any photographs taken of you during the event. Photographs may be used in promotional materials or stories that appear in professional publications and websites.