What are the four main functional areas covered by NERC standards?

The four main functional areas covered by NERC standards are reliability, security, operations, and planning.

Reliability pertains to the ability of the power system to operate under expected conditions and maintain continuous service to consumers.

Security focuses on protecting the power grid from malicious acts or disruptions, ensuring that systems can withstand and recover from security threats.

Operations involves the day-to-day activities required to maintain the electric grid’s stability and functionality. This includes monitoring and managing the grid to ensure optimal performance and responding to real-time conditions.

Planning addresses the long-term strategies and considerations needed to ensure that the electric grid can meet future demand and integrate new technologies or resources effectively.

These functional areas are critical in maintaining a robust and resilient electric power system that can provide reliable service while managing risks effectively. The other options, while they may involve important aspects of the electric power industry, do not specifically embody the framework that NERC standards aim to establish for ensuring maximum reliability and security within the grid.