WICF was developed as a resource to registered entities in the western interconnection who are facing
mandatory reliability compliance. It is a private forum for sharing of information and best practices
WICF Charter
History
The Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC) has recognized a need for active interaction between
WECC’s Compliance Staff and entities that are subject to WECC’s compliance enforcement authority, as
delegated by the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). In an effort to meet that need, WECC established
the Compliance Users Group (CUG) with a mission to provide an open forum for the exchange of
information regarding the WECC Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program (CMEP) for mandatory
and enforceable Reliability Standards in the Western Interconnection. Many entities in the Western
Interconnection, however, continued to express the need for a forum independent of the WECC CUG. As a
result of these discussions the Western Interconnection Compliance Forum (WICF) emerged as a new
organization within the Western Interconnection that is run by and on behalf of entities that are subject to
WECC and NERC Reliability Standards. A WICF Steering Committee has been formed that is comprised of
volunteers representing various entities in the WICF membership.
Vision Statement
WICF provides entities that are subjected to compliance and enforcement within the Western
Interconnection a venue to share knowledge and lessons learned regarding compliance matters and ideas
to promote best practices that help ensure the reliable operation of the Bulk Electric System.
Purpose
The purpose of WICF is to:
Membership
Both voting and non-voting WICF members are allowed to attend and participate in meetings, as well as
access and supplement the organization’s website. In those WECC jurisdictions where a registry is held
separate from NERC, that region’s registry will be considered the equivalent of the NERC Registry.
Voting members may vote on official WICF actions and are eligible to run for a position on the WICF Steering
Committee. Voting members meet one of the following criteria:
Non-Voting members are not eligible to vote or to run for a position on the WICF Steering Committee. Non-
voting membership can be granted to:
If an individual ends their employment or contract with that NERC Registered Entity, they are responsible to
notify WICF upon the end of their affiliation. If that individual desires to continue their personal membership
in WICF they must become either an employee of or contractor for another NERC Registered Entity that
operates within the Western Interconnection and which must sponsor their membership.
Access to both the WICF meetings and website is granted to professionals who are seeking information in
their efforts to improve the mandatory reliability compliance industry but not for direct financial benefit. Any
member who is determined to be directly soliciting business from the WICF membership through its forum
and/or benefiting financially from membership may have their membership revoked by a majority vote of the
Steering Committee. WICF members concerned with the activity or behavior of any member may file a
complaint with a WICF Steering Committee member.
Access to WICF meetings or website is not intended for individuals that perform a monitoring or
enforcement role in any Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program that relates to the NERC
Reliability Standards.
It is the intention of WICF Steering Committee that all material discussed at WICF meetings and on the
website should be treated as confidential and proprietary and is restricted to internal use only within the
WICF membership. However, the WICF Steering Committee cannot ensure all information is protected as
confidential and accordingly members must use at their own risk. Information is not intended to be released
to the public, media, individuals that perform a monitoring or enforcement role, or other personnel who do
not have a valid need to know.
Structure and Operation
Officers: WICF officers shall consist of a Chair, a Vice Chair and a Secretary each serving 1 year terms, with
no limit to the number of total terms. WICF Officers will be nominated and voted on by the WICF Steering
Committee with the majority vote prevailing. Elections will be completed by January 15 of each calendar
year. Term of the WICF Officers must commence February 1. To be eligible to serve as a WICF Officer a
Steering Committee member must have served one year.
The Steering Committee responsibilities, under the direction of the WICF Officers, may include, but are not
limited to, coordination of any meetings, developing meeting agendas, communication on compliance
matters, and actions undertaken by WICF members that are consistent with the scope set forth in this
charter.
WICF Officers, or their designee, must be able to attend open sessions of the WECC Board Meetings, and
WECC Joint Operating Committee and Planning Coordination Committee, if appropriate.
The WICF Steering Committee: The WICF Steering Committee is intended to represent the diversity of the
registered entities wherever possible. The Steering Committee shall be composed of voting members of
WICF, self-nominated and elected by receiving the largest number of votes from the membership. Steering
Committee members shall not exceed 14 members. Terms are for a period of three (3) years, with no limit
of total terms, with no more than one-third turnover of the Steering Committee at any given election. Each
registered entity is limited to one (1) member on the Steering Committee. The WICF Steering Committee
may choose to appoint a representative from either WECC or NERC to act as a liaison to the Steering
Committee.
Approved by the Members of the Western Interconnection Compliance Forum October 18, 2011
mandatory reliability compliance. It is a private forum for sharing of information and best practices
WICF Charter
History
The Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC) has recognized a need for active interaction between
WECC’s Compliance Staff and entities that are subject to WECC’s compliance enforcement authority, as
delegated by the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). In an effort to meet that need, WECC established
the Compliance Users Group (CUG) with a mission to provide an open forum for the exchange of
information regarding the WECC Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program (CMEP) for mandatory
and enforceable Reliability Standards in the Western Interconnection. Many entities in the Western
Interconnection, however, continued to express the need for a forum independent of the WECC CUG. As a
result of these discussions the Western Interconnection Compliance Forum (WICF) emerged as a new
organization within the Western Interconnection that is run by and on behalf of entities that are subject to
WECC and NERC Reliability Standards. A WICF Steering Committee has been formed that is comprised of
volunteers representing various entities in the WICF membership.
Vision Statement
WICF provides entities that are subjected to compliance and enforcement within the Western
Interconnection a venue to share knowledge and lessons learned regarding compliance matters and ideas
to promote best practices that help ensure the reliable operation of the Bulk Electric System.
Purpose
The purpose of WICF is to:
- Provide an open forum for members to share compliance lessons learned and effective ways to
implement the reliability standards.
Promote consistent application of the NERC/WECC CMEP within the Western Interconnection.
Identify and communicate issues that may impact the ability of Registered Entities to comply or
effectively meet the Requirements of the NERC Reliability Standards.
Foster a collaborative relationship between the registered entities and WECC and NERC where the
collective voice of the WICF membership can be heard in an effort to promote a cost effective,
efficient, and reasonable implementation of the NERC/WECC CMEP.
Membership
Both voting and non-voting WICF members are allowed to attend and participate in meetings, as well as
access and supplement the organization’s website. In those WECC jurisdictions where a registry is held
separate from NERC, that region’s registry will be considered the equivalent of the NERC Registry.
Voting members may vote on official WICF actions and are eligible to run for a position on the WICF Steering
Committee. Voting members meet one of the following criteria:
- Currently employed by: a NERC Registered Entity operating in the Western Interconnection.
Currently employed by a company which has received written confirmation from WECC of a pending
NERC registration.
Non-Voting members are not eligible to vote or to run for a position on the WICF Steering Committee. Non-
voting membership can be granted to:
- Anyone under contract by a NERC Registered Entity to perform work related to NERC compliance for
that Registered Entity.
Members of industry organizations or trade associations whose membership in WICF is determined
to be beneficial to the membership. Industry organization and trade association memberships will
be approved by the WICF Steering Committee. A list of industry organizations and trade associations
with membership will be subject to review at any time and will be provided to a member upon
request.
If an individual ends their employment or contract with that NERC Registered Entity, they are responsible to
notify WICF upon the end of their affiliation. If that individual desires to continue their personal membership
in WICF they must become either an employee of or contractor for another NERC Registered Entity that
operates within the Western Interconnection and which must sponsor their membership.
Access to both the WICF meetings and website is granted to professionals who are seeking information in
their efforts to improve the mandatory reliability compliance industry but not for direct financial benefit. Any
member who is determined to be directly soliciting business from the WICF membership through its forum
and/or benefiting financially from membership may have their membership revoked by a majority vote of the
Steering Committee. WICF members concerned with the activity or behavior of any member may file a
complaint with a WICF Steering Committee member.
Access to WICF meetings or website is not intended for individuals that perform a monitoring or
enforcement role in any Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program that relates to the NERC
Reliability Standards.
It is the intention of WICF Steering Committee that all material discussed at WICF meetings and on the
website should be treated as confidential and proprietary and is restricted to internal use only within the
WICF membership. However, the WICF Steering Committee cannot ensure all information is protected as
confidential and accordingly members must use at their own risk. Information is not intended to be released
to the public, media, individuals that perform a monitoring or enforcement role, or other personnel who do
not have a valid need to know.
Structure and Operation
Officers: WICF officers shall consist of a Chair, a Vice Chair and a Secretary each serving 1 year terms, with
no limit to the number of total terms. WICF Officers will be nominated and voted on by the WICF Steering
Committee with the majority vote prevailing. Elections will be completed by January 15 of each calendar
year. Term of the WICF Officers must commence February 1. To be eligible to serve as a WICF Officer a
Steering Committee member must have served one year.
The Steering Committee responsibilities, under the direction of the WICF Officers, may include, but are not
limited to, coordination of any meetings, developing meeting agendas, communication on compliance
matters, and actions undertaken by WICF members that are consistent with the scope set forth in this
charter.
WICF Officers, or their designee, must be able to attend open sessions of the WECC Board Meetings, and
WECC Joint Operating Committee and Planning Coordination Committee, if appropriate.
The WICF Steering Committee: The WICF Steering Committee is intended to represent the diversity of the
registered entities wherever possible. The Steering Committee shall be composed of voting members of
WICF, self-nominated and elected by receiving the largest number of votes from the membership. Steering
Committee members shall not exceed 14 members. Terms are for a period of three (3) years, with no limit
of total terms, with no more than one-third turnover of the Steering Committee at any given election. Each
registered entity is limited to one (1) member on the Steering Committee. The WICF Steering Committee
may choose to appoint a representative from either WECC or NERC to act as a liaison to the Steering
Committee.
- • Meetings: The Steering Committee shall meet in person or via teleconference as necessary to fulfill
its duties but not less than quarterly. The WICF membership shall endeavor to meet at least two
times per calendar year. The date and time for the meetings shall be established by the Steering
Committee.
• Voting: Any official action of WICF shall require a vote of its membership to formally approve the
matter. Official actions of WICF may include but are not limited to amendments to the Charter,
election of Steering Committee members, agenda items or administrative details of meetings and
issues relating to the content and administration of the WICF website. Votes may occur either by
secret ballot, at a regularly scheduled WICF meeting or via electronic balloting. A simple majority
vote of those members voting rules.
Approved by the Members of the Western Interconnection Compliance Forum October 18, 2011
WICF Charter
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |  | |  | |  |
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(a)
(b)
(b)
(a)
(b)
(b)