PRR837

Title:	Load Used in RMR Studies
Next Group:
Next Step:
Status:	Approved on 03/23/2010
Effective Date:	04/01/2010
Related Issue:	NPRR198

Date	Gov Body	Next Steps
03/23/2010	Board of Directors	Approved
02/04/2010	TAC	Recommended for Approval	ERCOT Board consideration of PRR837
01/21/2010	PRS	Recommended for Approval	TAC consideration of PRR837
12/17/2009	PRS	Recommended for Approval	PRS Impact Analysis review
11/19/2009	PRS	Deferred/Tabled	PRS language consideration

Date	Gov Body	Motion	Result	Against	Abstentions
03/23/2010	Board of Directors	To approve PRR837 as recommended by TAC in the 2/4/10 TAC Report and as amended by the 3/10/10 ERCOT comments.	Passed
02/04/2010	TAC	To recommend approval of PRR837 as recommended by PRS in the 1/21/10 PRS Report and as revised by TAC.	Passed	0	0
01/21/2010	PRS	To endorse and forward the 12/17/09 PRS Recommendation Report and Impact Analysis for PRR837 to TAC.	Passed	0	0
12/17/2009	PRS	To recommend approval of PRR837 as amended by the 11/12/09 PSEG TX comments.	Passed	0	1 IOU
11/19/2009	PRS	To table PRR837.	Passed	0	0

Status:	Approved
Date Posted:	10/16/2009
Sponsor:	PSEG TX
Urgent:	No
Sections:	6.5.9.1
Description:	This Protocol Revision Request (PRR) would provide guidance to ERCOT to use the peak Load forecast posted pursuant to P.U.C. Subst. R. 25.505, Resource Adequacy in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas Power Region, for the next 12 months for the Reliability Must-Run (RMR) study, except with respect to the Load in the RMR local area. This aligns the Load forecast period with the RMR contract period and ensures that the Load forecast used for the analysis is one with a reasonable probability of occurrence. This PRR also proposes non-substantive administrative changes, such as correcting acronym and defined term usage and section references.
Reason:	The current process around how RMR studies are conducted is not defined in the Protocols. Providing guidance for the Load forecast used in the process ensures that a Load level that ERCOT actually anticipates will be used for the RMR study. Presently, ERCOT typically uses the aggregate non-coincident peak Loads provided by the transmission owners that are used to develop the five-year Steady State Working Group (SSWG) planning cases. Because these Loads are both peak and non-coincident, they tend to overestimate actual Load during any single period. Employing a process that uses a Load forecast that ERCOT actually anticipates to occur in the next 12 months will ensure that RMR is procured only when needed to serve load that will likely occur. The present process of using a Load forecast that significantly overestimates Load could result in procuring RMR when it is not needed. Procuring RMR when it is not needed increases costs to Load and undermines opportunities for competitive generation in ERCOT’s energy-only market.