Can End-to-End testing satisfy NERC/FERC?

The paper discusses the typical utility approach to End-to-End testing and the suitability of using those results and documentation to satisfy the current revised NERC/FERC reliability standard PRC-005-2. This testing method provides great operational and economic advantages and analyzing problem areas in a protection scheme. Proper end to end testing techniques can greatly reduce the chances of wide area blackouts due to improper relay system coordination, operation, and application. The paper provides examples where some End-to-End test cases may not be adequate to cover the requirements of the standard and what improvements should be considered. It focuses on areas where the fault clearing system can be verified using proper End-to-End test cases while avoiding invasive tests that require changing the commissioned status of the system devices - making the overall testing process more economical and beneficial. The paper later describes the engineering reasons why this testing should be "up front" when the fault clearing system is designed or re-designed. Further, new industry standards are discussed that will impact not only the testing of these systems but also the test equipment being used.