1. Mission & Purpose
Each WICF Focus Group is established to provide a collaborative platform for members to exchange information, share best practices, and collectively develop guidance to address compliance, reliability, and security issues related to a specific subject of reliability of the Bulk Electric System. The Focus Groups are central to WICF’s purpose to provide an open forum for members to share compliance lessons learned and effective ways to implement industry practices through practitioner-driven dialogue and resource sharing.
2. Structure
Focus Groups are organized around key compliance and reliability topics and consist of a Chair, Vice Chair, Steering Committee Sponsor, and an optional Development Team. The Chair and Vice Chair are responsible for managing the group’s direction, activities, and meetings, ensuring that each group remains active, relevant, and aligned with its purpose. The Steering Committee Sponsor provides strategic oversight, accountability, and support to these leadership roles, and may step in if both Chair and Vice Chair are unavailable to ensure continuity and smooth operation. The optional Development Team, which is established by the Chair, assists with content development, meeting material preparation, and facilitation as needed. Consultants and vendors may participate as Development Team members to offer their subject matter expertise but may not hold leadership positions or engage in promotional activities.
3. Leadership Terms and Selection
Leadership roles for Chair and Vice Chair are structured as one-year terms, with an annual confirmation to ensure continued dedication and effective guidance for the Focus Group. There are no formal term limits, allowing for continuity and flexibility if a group benefits from consistent leadership. Each year, the leadership roles are reviewed, and adjustments may be made based on member engagement, performance, and group needs. The Steering Committee Sponsor is responsible for recommending candidates for Chair and Vice Chair, and Steering Committee Officers make the final appointments, considering input from the broader Steering Committee when appropriate. Steering Committee members may serve as either Chair or Vice Chair, or as Sponsor, but not in both capacities for the same Focus Group.
4. Roles and Responsibilities
The Chair leads the Focus Group by setting meeting dates, developing agendas, and directing discussions. The Chair also determines whether a Development Team is necessary, selects its members, and is ultimately responsible for ensuring the Focus Group’s activities and priorities are in line with its stated mission. The Vice Chair supports all aspects of the Chair’s responsibilities, assists with coordination and facilitation of meetings, and acts as a backup during leadership transitions or when the Chair is unavailable.
The Steering Committee Sponsor plays a critical role by overseeing feedback mechanisms and member engagement, which includes conducting surveys and evaluating meeting effectiveness, topic relevance, and speaker value. The Sponsor works closely with the Chair and Vice Chair to identify areas for improvement, ensure responsiveness to member input, and support operational continuity. Additional responsibilities include participating in meetings, helping identify relevant discussion topics, coordinating outreach and speaker participation, and reporting Focus Group activities to the Steering Committee when necessary. If both Chair and Vice Chair are unavailable, the Sponsor is authorized to step in and facilitate meetings.
The Development Team, if established, supports the preparation and execution of meetings, assists with agenda and topic development, and helps manage content and discussion materials, operating flexibly according to the Chair’s needs.
5. Participation Guidelines
Membership in Focus Groups is open to all active WICF members, with guests and non-WICF members allowed to participate at the discretion of the Chair and Steering Committee Sponsor. All members are encouraged to participate actively and propose topics of interest for discussion. Consultants and vendors may join the Development Team to provide expertise and support but are not eligible for leadership roles. Promotional activity is not permitted in Focus Group settings.
6. Member Engagement & Feedback
To continually enhance effectiveness and value, Focus Groups regularly collect feedback from members through surveys and other mechanisms led by the Chair or Sponsor. Feedback may also be obtained through WICF Steering Committee surveys of membership that include questions related to Focus Group activities and effectiveness. Feedback is used to assess the overall effectiveness of meetings, the relevance of topics, the quality of member engagement, and the value of speakers and content. The Sponsor reviews survey results with the group leadership and oversees implementation of necessary improvements or adjustments.
7. Activities and Duties
Focus Groups actively identify and analyze applicable reliability standards that are subject to compliance monitoring. They assess and communicate areas of concern, share new developments, and establish and disseminate industry best practices, tools, methodologies, and lessons learned. Regular communication with NERC, WECC, and other relevant industry bodies facilitates information sharing and feedback. Focus Groups also support WICF initiatives, develop and review templates and guidance documents, coordinate presentations and events, and foster communication between related groups as appropriate. These activities are carried out in accordance with the overarching goal of consensus decision-making where possible and are documented for member benefit.
8. Meetings & Communication
Focus Groups meet regularly, either in person or through conference calls, webinars, and electronic communications, as determined by group needs and member availability. Materials and resources developed or shared are archived for ongoing member reference, and updates on Focus Group activities are provided at WICF meetings and peer-sharing events.
9. Decision-Making & Reporting
Decision-making within Focus Groups is grounded in consensus among participating members. Meeting summaries and action items are documented and shared with all members. The Focus Group, via its Chair or Sponsor, provides updates and reports to the WICF Steering Committee as required.
10. Charter Revision & Version History
Focus Groups are responsible for reviewing and proposing amendments to this charter annually or as needed, with final approval by the Steering Committee. The charter’s revision history is maintained to ensure accurate records of changes.
| Version | Action | Date |
| 1.0 | New unified Focus Group charter to be used by all WICF Focus Groups. | 08/06/2026 |