Align Update

Summary:

Align Release 4.0 now contains enhancements to the Audit and Scheduling functions implemented in Release 3. A new Release 4.5 contains the Inherent Risk Assessment (IRA) and Compliance Oversight Plan (COP) functions. The target for Release 4.0 implementation is Q2 2022, with Release 4.5 implementation in Q4 2022. Meanwhile, testing on these releases continues. The Align project team continues to conduct outreach to keep industry informed about the Align project through updates in the NERC News and Align newsletters, as well as regional outreach. NERC’s training site provides training and materials on a variety of topics for Align and other tools used by NERC, Regional Entity, and registered entity staffs. Your Primary Compliance Contact is the designated Access Approver for Align for your company.

Additional Discussion:

• Single, common portal for registered entities, enabling consistency of experience
• Real-time access to information, eliminating delays and manual communications
• Improved capability to support the Risk-Based Compliance Oversight Framework
• Enhanced quality assurance and oversight, enabling consistent application of the CMEP
• Improved analytics, including visibility into compliance and reliability risks
• Increased capability to implement audit best practices and processes (planning, fieldwork, reporting, quality assurance)
• Standardization and implementation of common business processes and workflows, enabling increased productivity (estimated 15 percent gain for ERO Enterprise CMEP staff)

Link to Align Training