rules change

The Rules Change Committee (RCC) is inviting all WESM Members and interested parties to submit comments to PEMC's Proposed General Amendments on Enforcement Proceedings and Compliance Guidelines (ORCP-WR-WM-26-01).

The proposed amendments aim to enhance procedural clarity, align rule references with current regulatory frameworks, and integrate enforcement practices that reflect operational realities. Key revisions include: 

• Jurisdictional Clarification. Investigations may now cover entities that were WESM Members during the two-year prescriptive period, regardless of subsequent changes in membership status or facility ownership.
• Streamlined Investigation Timelines. The prescribed period for completing formal investigations is reduced from 24 months to 150 business days, reckoned from the issuance of the Notice of Investigation, not from receipt of the Request for Investigation.
• Refined Process Flow. Clear distinction is established between the initiation of investigation (triggering events) and the formal commencement (issuance of notice), with a five-day verification period introduced prior to formal proceedings.
• Clarified Filing Authority and Standardized Protocols. The Manual now specifies eligible filers—WESM Members, Governance Committees, Market and System Operators—and limits filings to Market Rule or Manual violations. Terminology was streamlined, and notification procedures for decisions and enforcement outcomes were formalized.
• Enhanced Provisions on Remedial Measures. Provisions were added to ensure effective implementation of remedial actions, especially when other entities must be involved. Confidentiality safeguards were introduced to protect case integrity.
• Integration of Reconsideration and Appeal Procedures. Reconsideration and appeal mechanisms previously housed in the Penalty Manual are now incorporated into the EC Manual, with revised timelines and procedural safeguards to reflect actual enforcement practices.