NOTICE DATE: May 18, 2022

NOTICE TYPE: W-A051822-01 Operations

SHORT DESCRIPTION: Implementation of encryption on the ERCOT WAN

INTENDED AUDIENCE:  ERCOT Wide Area Network (WAN) Participants and NERC-Registered Transmission Owners (TOs), Transmission Operators (TOPs), Generator Owners (GOs), and Generator Operators (GOPs)

DAYS AFFECTED: May 18, 2022

LONG DESCRIPTION: NERC Reliability Standard CIP-012-1, Communications between Control Centers, requires the development and implementation of protection against unauthorized disclosure or modification of Real-time Assessment and Real-time Monitoring data transmitted between Bulk Electric System Control Centers. The effective date of CIP-012-1 is July 1, 2022.

To comply with CIP-012-1, ERCOT deployed encryption for data sent across the ERCOT WAN. Encryption is now enabled between ERCOT's Control Centers and each WAN router located at WAN Participant sites.

As a further measure to achieve compliance with CIP-012-1, ERCOT submitted Nodal Operating Guide Revision Request (NOGRR) 239, WAN Data Protection Responsibilities, which revised Nodal Operating Guide Section 7.1 to clarify that the “handoff” of data transmitted between ERCOT and each WAN Participant occurs at each ERCOT-managed router located at the WAN Participant’s WAN demarcation point. NOGRR239 was approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on May 12, 2022.

ACTION REQUIRED: Each NERC-registered TO/TOP/GO/GOP subject to CIP-012-1 is responsible for providing appropriate security protection for data transmitted from the handoff point at each ERCOT-managed router to its Control Center(s), as applicable.

CONTACT: If you have any questions, please contact your ERCOT Account Manager. You may also call the general ERCOT Client Services phone number at (512) 248-3900 or contact ERCOT Client Services via email at [log in to unmask].

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