Modules · Compliance studies · Module 019
TOP-003-7 BA/TOP Data Specification
Data provided to the Balancing Authority and Transmission Operator per their specifications, tracked and evidenced per plant.
About this module
What this module covers.
This module develops your compliance procedure for NERC TOP-003-7 and applies it at each applicable plant. TOP-003-7 requires each Transmission Operator and Balancing Authority to maintain and distribute a documented specification of the data and information it needs for its analyses, Real-time monitoring and assessments (Requirements R1 to R4), including notification of Bulk Electric System generating unit operating limitations during local forecasted cold weather, and requires each Generator Owner and Generator Operator that receives a specification to satisfy its obligations (R5). TOP-003-7 took effect October 1, 2026.
Module: 019
Kind: Compliance studies
Governing body: NERC
Applies to: Operating plants
Typical time: About one week, all in
Support services
What GridStrong does inside this module.
Task 1: Develop Compliance Procedure
- Create an audit-ready compliance procedure for meeting the TOP-003-7 requirements, working collaboratively across engineering and compliance departments. This includes:
- Identifying applicable assets, functions, subject matter experts (SMEs), roles, responsibilities, and ownership
- Determining specific actions and evidence to demonstrate compliance with specific requirements and measures
- Conduct a gap analysis comparing current practices versus the standard's requirements, identifying missing processes, incomplete documentation, any staff training needed, etc.
- Develop clear step-by-step procedures for the standard, along with internal controls and documentation policies
- Establish compliance timelines for any corrective actions the gap analysis identifies
- Define and determine specific compliance evidence required per site
Task 2: Implementation of Compliance Procedure at each plant
- Gather all applicable documentation, models, data, etc. for each plant
- Conduct a thorough review of all existing plant documentation and compare against standard requirements and associated compliance procedures
- Recommend changes needed to meet NERC TOP-003-7 requirements
- Identify and explain the compliance timelines needed to implement recommended changes
Final deliverables
- Task 1: Compliance Procedure for TOP-003-7.
- Task 2: Compliance report for each plant describing the compliance methodology, findings, conclusions and recommendations, as well as timelines to implement the necessary modifications where applicable.
Assumptions and considerations
How the scope is bounded.
Other modules
Every module runs on the same record.
Run this module on one site.
Tell us the plant and the deadline. An engineer confirms the inputs, the schedule and what the Dashboard needs from you.