NERC Practice Exam | Actual Questions and Answers Latest
Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
•
What percentage of load gives a 1 Hz change in an island condition?
- ✔✔6-10% (Think 6-10 day island vacation)
•
If ACE is Zero but system Hz is off, what should a system operator do?
- ✔✔Nothing! ACE bias and interchange schedule will improve frequency
•
If ACE is Zero, why not adjust generation to help frequency?
- ✔✔Could overload equipment, this is a NERC violation
•
When restoring from blackout condition, what should be done with load?
- ✔✔All load breakers should be opened, load should be restored in a controlled manner not
to exceed 5% of current available gen
•
What's the point of COM-001?
- ✔✔Each TO, BA, RC and NERCNet Use Orgs need to have good comms
•
Where do they need to have comms?
- ✔✔Internal, Between RC, TO and BA, Other RC, TO, BA and authorities
•
Where applicable comms should be ______ and _______ routed.
- ✔✔Redundant and Diversely routed, just in case something fails
•
How do we know comms will be good?
- ✔✔They will manage, alarm, test and/or actively monitor, especially emergency comm
facilities and equipment (non-routine equipment)
•
When can languages other than English be used?
- ✔✔Only for internal operation, Operation of the BES requires comms in English
•
What is required so operation during a loss of comms will be ensured?
- ✔✔Written operating instructions and procedures
,•
What is the point of COM-002?
- ✔✔Ensure BA, TO, GO, and RC have comms and capability to use them for addressing
emergency and that operators are trained to use them
•
Who should a BA or TO notify if they are aware of any condition that could threaten area reliability or
when shedding load?
- ✔✔Notify their RC and any other potentially affected BA or TO
•
How should directives be issued by an RC, TO or BA?
- ✔✔In a clear, concise and definitive manner, using 3 part(way) communications
•
Who is required to create a blackstart restoration plan? Who approves it?
- ✔✔Transmission Operators; Its RC
•
When is the blackstart condition finished?
- ✔✔When the choice of the next load to be restored is not driven by frequency and voltage
control
•
Who directs the procedure for restoring interconnection between Tos?
- ✔✔RC
•
What must be done prior to implementing changes in a restoration plan?
- ✔✔The parties invloved must be told of changes to their role and specific tasks prior to
implementation.
•
How often must the plan be confirmed given no changes were made?
- ✔✔TO annually review the plan and report to RC
•
After a system modification is made, how long does the TO have to update restoration plans?
- ✔✔90 days
•
Where is a copy of the restoration plan required to be kept?
- ✔✔Main and backup control rooms
•
What must be done on the restoration plan every five years?
, - ✔✔Analyze the plan through actual events, steady state and dynamic simulations or
testing that the plan can work as intended.
•
How often must a Blackstart Resource verify it can meet real and reactive power requirements of its
cranking path and intial load?
- ✔✔Every 5 years
•
How often must the location of loads required to control voltage and Hz in a blackstart be verified within
operating limits?
- ✔✔Every 5 years
•
How often is the capability of generating resources required to control voltage and Hz in a blackstart
condition verified?
- ✔✔Every 5 years
•
What should a TO use if the restoration plan cannot be executed?
- ✔✔Use its restoration strategies
•
Under what conditions can a TO resynchronize with its neighboring TO?
- ✔✔Only with RC approval or with the established procedures of the RC
•
What is the point of Blackstart Resource testing?
- ✔✔To ensure the resource is capable of me4eting the requirements of the restoration plan
•
How often must a Blackstart Resource be verified at a minimum?
- ✔✔Once every 3 years
•
Name two requirements when testing a Blackstart Resource:
- ✔✔Ability to start with no BES support and remain energized without the rest of the
system; The ability to energize a bus
•
What is the frequency that system restoration training for operators is required?
- ✔✔Annually
•
What is the purpose of annual operator system restoration training?
- ✔✔To assure proper execution of its restoration plan
Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
•
What percentage of load gives a 1 Hz change in an island condition?
- ✔✔6-10% (Think 6-10 day island vacation)
•
If ACE is Zero but system Hz is off, what should a system operator do?
- ✔✔Nothing! ACE bias and interchange schedule will improve frequency
•
If ACE is Zero, why not adjust generation to help frequency?
- ✔✔Could overload equipment, this is a NERC violation
•
When restoring from blackout condition, what should be done with load?
- ✔✔All load breakers should be opened, load should be restored in a controlled manner not
to exceed 5% of current available gen
•
What's the point of COM-001?
- ✔✔Each TO, BA, RC and NERCNet Use Orgs need to have good comms
•
Where do they need to have comms?
- ✔✔Internal, Between RC, TO and BA, Other RC, TO, BA and authorities
•
Where applicable comms should be ______ and _______ routed.
- ✔✔Redundant and Diversely routed, just in case something fails
•
How do we know comms will be good?
- ✔✔They will manage, alarm, test and/or actively monitor, especially emergency comm
facilities and equipment (non-routine equipment)
•
When can languages other than English be used?
- ✔✔Only for internal operation, Operation of the BES requires comms in English
•
What is required so operation during a loss of comms will be ensured?
- ✔✔Written operating instructions and procedures
,•
What is the point of COM-002?
- ✔✔Ensure BA, TO, GO, and RC have comms and capability to use them for addressing
emergency and that operators are trained to use them
•
Who should a BA or TO notify if they are aware of any condition that could threaten area reliability or
when shedding load?
- ✔✔Notify their RC and any other potentially affected BA or TO
•
How should directives be issued by an RC, TO or BA?
- ✔✔In a clear, concise and definitive manner, using 3 part(way) communications
•
Who is required to create a blackstart restoration plan? Who approves it?
- ✔✔Transmission Operators; Its RC
•
When is the blackstart condition finished?
- ✔✔When the choice of the next load to be restored is not driven by frequency and voltage
control
•
Who directs the procedure for restoring interconnection between Tos?
- ✔✔RC
•
What must be done prior to implementing changes in a restoration plan?
- ✔✔The parties invloved must be told of changes to their role and specific tasks prior to
implementation.
•
How often must the plan be confirmed given no changes were made?
- ✔✔TO annually review the plan and report to RC
•
After a system modification is made, how long does the TO have to update restoration plans?
- ✔✔90 days
•
Where is a copy of the restoration plan required to be kept?
- ✔✔Main and backup control rooms
•
What must be done on the restoration plan every five years?
, - ✔✔Analyze the plan through actual events, steady state and dynamic simulations or
testing that the plan can work as intended.
•
How often must a Blackstart Resource verify it can meet real and reactive power requirements of its
cranking path and intial load?
- ✔✔Every 5 years
•
How often must the location of loads required to control voltage and Hz in a blackstart be verified within
operating limits?
- ✔✔Every 5 years
•
How often is the capability of generating resources required to control voltage and Hz in a blackstart
condition verified?
- ✔✔Every 5 years
•
What should a TO use if the restoration plan cannot be executed?
- ✔✔Use its restoration strategies
•
Under what conditions can a TO resynchronize with its neighboring TO?
- ✔✔Only with RC approval or with the established procedures of the RC
•
What is the point of Blackstart Resource testing?
- ✔✔To ensure the resource is capable of me4eting the requirements of the restoration plan
•
How often must a Blackstart Resource be verified at a minimum?
- ✔✔Once every 3 years
•
Name two requirements when testing a Blackstart Resource:
- ✔✔Ability to start with no BES support and remain energized without the rest of the
system; The ability to energize a bus
•
What is the frequency that system restoration training for operators is required?
- ✔✔Annually
•
What is the purpose of annual operator system restoration training?
- ✔✔To assure proper execution of its restoration plan
