North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC)

Setting standards for the reliable operation and planning of the bulk electric system
Monitoring, assessing, and enforcing compliance with reliability standards
Auditing bulk electric system operators
Accreditation of operator training programs and certification of system operators and operating organizations
Providing education and training resources
Analyzing and reporting on bulk electric system adequacy and performance
Providing leadership and coordination for the protection of electricity sector critical infrastructure
Investigating major bulk electric system disturbances
Facilitating communication and coordination among reliability service organizations.
Administering procedures for appeals and conflict resolution for reliability standards development, certification, compliance, and other reliability-related matters

ERO (Electric Reliability Organization): The Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorized the creation of the self-regulatory ERO and makes compliance with standards mandatory and enforceable. The ERO will function throughout the US and Canada. NERC applied to operate as the ERO in April 2006.

Nonprofit corporation
Eight regional reliability councils and all segments of the electric industry are represented
Princeton, NJ

Year: 1968 (After the northeast blackout of November 9, 1965)
By: Electric utilities
Action: Created voluntarily to promote the reliability of the electricity supply for North America