Regional Variance is just and reasonable ”); and section 6(a) (“[Regional Entity] shall enforce . . . Regional Variances ”). section 215, there may be exceptions from continent-wide uniformity in a reliability standard. In Order No. 672, the Commission explained that “as a general matter, we will accept the following two types of regional differences, provided they are otherwise just, reasonable, not unduly discriminatory or preferential and in the public interest, as required under the statute: (i) a regional difference that is more stringent than the continent-wide Reliability Standard, including a regional difference that addresses matters that the continent-wide Reliability Standard does not; and (ii) a regional Reliability Standard that is necessitated by a physical difference in the Bulk-Power System.”117
Regional Variance. “Regional Variance” shall mean an aspect of a Reliability Standard that applies only within a particular Regional Entity or group of Regional Entities. A Regional Variance may be used to qualify how a particular Regional Entity or Regional Entities achieves the objectives of a Reliability Standard or may establish different measures or performance criteria as necessary to achieve reliability within the particular Regional Entity or group of Regional Entities. A Regional Variance may not be inconsistent with any Reliability Standard as it would otherwise exist without the Regional Variance. Such a Regional Variance may be proposed by a Regional Entity and, if adopted by NERC and approved by the Commission, shall be enforced within the applicable Regional Entity or Regional Entities pursuant to delegated authority.
