<![CDATA[NEETRAC Examines Implications of IEEE Entity Standards for North American Utilities]]>

690226 external_news 1778516258 1778516356 <![CDATA[NEETRAC Examines Implications of IEEE Entity Standards for North American Utilities]]> A quiet but consequential shift is underway in how technical standards are produced for the global electric power industry. Through the IEEE’s “entity” standards development process, organizations, rather than individual engineers, can write and ballot standards that may ultimately be treated as globally applicable. While this method is common in some sectors, it is relatively new in the power and energy space, where standards have historically been shaped by North American utilities, manufacturers, and technical committees. As entity standards proliferate, utilities are being encouraged to scrutinize applicability more closely to avoid unintended system, regulatory, or interoperability risks.

In this statement from NEETRAC, the organization outlines how these changes within IEEE’s standards development processes could affect utilities that rely on IEEE documents for equipment design, procurement, and operations. The commentary notes that the IEEE’s entity development pathway—now widely used outside North America—has enabled the publication of standards that reflect foreign grid practices and priorities. NEETRAC’s membership believes that these standards deserve closer technical review before being adopted or referenced in North American applications.