System Configuration Summary
This article concerns FERC 881 compliance and focuses on the system configuration step. The goal is to provide configuration and implementation for all functions related to the requirements upon approval. The system configuration involves identifying facilities and significant objects, configuring rating configurations, element rating sources, and rating calculations. The final output is a system configured and running with representative data to simulate interface data related to a definition of done.
High-Level Architecture Review:
Last week, we discussed high-level architecture and project design. We primarily discussed understanding data sources and data locations to ensure compliance with FERC 881 standards. We also touched on the importance of the network model and how it relates to the project’s overall success.
System Configuration Details
Configuration is essential to ensure compliance with the FERC Order 881, not just the immediate steps of the project creation but over time, even when changes to the order may occur. Secondly, this configuration must be able to accept replacement components as those objects will be replaced or updated for system efficiency. In our compliance project, we have a well-defined plan, allowing us to focus on details.
Meanwhile, as part of our hypothetical nine-month implementation, we have allotted fifty-five work days for this step. Understanding the high-level architecture and the design decisions are interdependent with system configuration and must work together to ensure compliance with the requirements of FERC Order 881. Therefore, it is vital to complete the system configuration step. To this end, we should have several things ready to analyze in further depth.
Configuration and Implementation
The primary goal is to provide configuration and implementation for all functions related to the approved requirements. Each approved requirement may be completed separately using an agile/lean methodology. Furthermore, we can halt or resume the process multiple times to adapt to changing circumstances.
Tasks within the system configuration include:
- Facilities:
- Configure facilities
- Configure significant objects
- Rating Configurations
- For each facility, configure normal and, when needed, abnormal configurations
- Configure components and groups for facility ratings report creation
- Select calculations for the facility ratings report
- Element Rating Sources
- Identify the primary rating source
- Define more as needed for each component
- Rating Calculations
- Configure all variables for each rating type
- Choose selection criteria for each rating type defined in previous steps
- Provide feedback for Testing Each Work Package
- Provide feedback for Training each Work Package
- Update Implementation and Integration to Testing
- Update Implementation and Integration to Production Systems
Success is in the Details
The success of the entire process lies in paying attention to details. First, tasks within the system configuration should include identifying and configuring facilities and significant objects, such as line and connected stations, and normal and abnormal configurations for each facility, such as bypass, transfer, and outage derates. Additionally, we should select the calculations we want to use for the Facility Ratings Report. IPS®AFRM, designed for your FERC Order 881 project, enables easy selection of reports on the facility or object. Just Right-click and choose the report option.
In addition, we need to identify the primary rating source and then define more, if required, for each component. Further, the outputs are a system configured/implemented and running with representative data. This simulates interface data related to a definition of done. Also, the definition of done and input for unit, integration, and UAT use cases delivered. Finally, each system configuration gives a bit more of what the result compliance to FERC Order 881 will look like.
Next week, we will focus on Integration and Data load.