Von Pinho, Frederico2009-09-162011-08-242009-09-162011-08-242009-09-16January 20http://hdl.handle.net/10106/1828In response to historical reliability issues of the past and following the evolution of newly developing power system markets, NERC has created new standards for maintaining and enforcing power system reliability. Entities are still reviewing the standards and finding ways to comply with the same. Non-compliance can result in financial penalties that can add-up to $1M per day per violation.The aim of this thesis is to propose a procedure to be followed by entities wishing to comply with NERC's reliability requirements for a preliminary determination/understanding of the current reliability situation of the system and therefore foresee any difficulties might appear in complying. As a second criterion, the thesis aimed in develops modules that use power system tools that are part of a transmission system's planner daily activity, such as: power flow analysis, contingency analysis, etc.In lieu of validating the concept developed within this thesis, the PJM system was used as test bed.ENM.S.