2023 Summer Regional Meeting Pig Primer

THE HISTORY

Since the beginning, the time of the PR is mid-August, the second weekend to be exact. Only three times has this date been waived. This date, however, is becoming more difficult to maintain. Several interconnection meetings that are held periodically are scheduled just prior to this date. Outsiders have some difficulty with the vocabulary. Maybe a glossary would be helpful! VST, VAST, RRS, SERC. No, it's not a secret CIA gathering; it's a legitimate series of meetings involving planning personnel of the subregions of the SERC Reliability Corporation, previously known as Southeast Electric Reliability Council. Originally it was only VACAR/Southern/TVA, but the attendees were soon expanded to include the companies of the Florida Peninsula, and others involved with interconnections such as PJM, ECAR, and SPP. In 1996, the Florida Peninsula companies formed a new NERC Region (FRCC). Several of these companies have chosen to remain with SERC, and all FRCC personnel are included (invited) to continue participation in the Pig Roast. In 1998, companies of the Entergy Subregion joined SERC and personnel representing these entities were added to the invitation list. The most recent addition to SERC is the Gateway Subregion. This action was effective January 1, 2006, and included a number of organizations from MAIN. In 2009, Southern became Southeastern, TVA became Central, and Entergy became Delta. It should be no surprise that a group of planning types would so delicately and precisely develop and dissect the procedures for establishing this annual social. While none of the procedures are life and death affecting, they are taken seriously and are not casually changed. Steps are often waived, but never ignored. To violate a sacred trust would be less than keeping the faith. The date, the schedule, the equipment, the assignments, the entire process is steeped in tradition and thus will be revered as history continues to be written. In keeping with deregulation, industry restruct ure, and “open” attendance, more operating personnel have been participating in the events. The planning process for next year begins almost simultaneously with the end of the current year's roast. No stone is left unturned. No detail overlooked. NASA, with its checkpoints and balances, can only stand in awe as the PR process rolls into high gear and is launched into action. The VACAR, Southern (now Southeastern) and TVA (now Central) subregions, traditionally hosted the event every third year. The Entergy Subregion (now Delta) was added to the rotation, hosting its first roast in 2001 in New Orleans, and later, its second in Branson. In 2009 Gateway hosted its first roast in St. Louis. Birmingham and Chattanooga are the routine cities for Southern (Southeastern) and TVA (Central) with specific sites changing from time to time. In 1997, Southern added Atlanta to its list. The VACAR cities through 2005 have been Charlotte and Columbia (three and five times respectively) and once each at Richmond, Charleston, and Pinehurst. Lake Murray, Lake Norman, Lake Wylie, and Lake Pinehurst in VACAR; Twin Pines, Oak Mountain, Chattahoochee Recreational Center (National Park), Stone Mountain, and Springville in Southern; and CERA and Camp Columbus in TVA are included in the choice sites selected for the roast. (See the Appendix for a complete listing of PR locations.)

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