Pending Nodal Protocol Revision Requests (NPRRs)
# Title Description Date Posted Sponsor Urgent Protocol Sections Current Status Next Group Next Step
NPRR190 Clarification of Resource Definitions and Resource Registration of Self-Serve Generators for Reliability Purposes This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) adds language to acknowledge the existence of Generation Resources that have no or minimal injection onto the ERCOT System that qualify either as distributed generation or are registered with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) according to P.U.C. Subst. R. 25.109, Registration of Power Generation Companies and Self-Generators, as a self-generator but yet are required to participate with ERCOT for reliability purposes. 07/24/2009  ERCOT No 2.1, 2.2, 3.1.3.2, 3.1.4.5, 3.1.4.6, 3.1.4.8, 3.1.6, 3.1.6.1, 3.10.7.2, 3.10.7.3, 6.5.1, 6.5.5.2, 6.5.7, 6.5.7.8, 6.5.8, 6.5.9, 6.6.3.2, 16.5, 16.5.1.1 Pending PRS PRS language consideration
NPRR340 Introduction and Definition of Duration-Limited Resources (formerly “Unannounced HSL test for Duration-Limited Resources”) This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) defines Duration-Limited Resource and amends the General Capacity Testing Requirements to reflect operational characteristics of this type of Resource. 03/21/2011  Praveen Kathpalon on behalf of AES Yes 2.1, 3.17.2, 3.17.3, 8.1.1.2 Pending TAC TAC consideration
NPRR385 Security Violation Analysis and Reporting and Negative Price Floor This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) adds review, analysis and reporting requirements to the Network Security Analysis (NSA) process to provide Market Participants with information related to the causes of recurring security violations and possible solutions developed by ERCOT to address those violations.  Additionally, this NPRR adds an administrative Real-Time Settlement Point Price floor of negative $251/MWh for Resource Nodes and Hubs. 06/14/2011  Luminant Energy Company LLC No 3.5.2.1, 3.5.2.2, 3.5.2.3, 3.5.2.4, 3.5.2.6, 6.5.7.1.10, 6.6.1.1, 6.6.1.2, 6.6.1.4, 6.6.1.5, 6.6.3.1 Pending PRS PRS Impact Analysis review
NPRR416 Creation of the RUC Resource Buyback Provision (formerly “Removal of the RUC Clawback Charge for Resources Other than RMR Units”) This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) adds a buyback provision for Resources committed by ERCOT’s Reliability Unit Commitment (RUC) process that allows all RUC Clawback Charges associated with the RUC commitment to be waived and RUC Make-Whole Payments to be forfeited. 09/21/2011  Exelon, Calpine No 2.1, 3.9.1, 5.5.2, 5.7.2, 5.7.6, 6.4.6 Pending PRS PRS Impact Analysis review
NPRR425 Creation of a Wind Resource Group for GREDP and Base Point Deviation Evaluation This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) provides that Wind-powered Generation Resources (WGRs) meeting registration requirements will be evaluated for Generation Resource Energy Deployment Performance (GREDP) and Base Point Deviation as groups of WGRs rather than individual WGRs. 11/02/2011  ERCOT No 2.1, 6.6.5.2, 8.1.1.4.1 Pending PRS PRS Impact Analysis review
NPRR429 HASL Offset Provision This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) creates a High Ancillary Service Limit (HASL) Offset option that allows Qualified Scheduling Entities (QSEs) to move their HASL to a lower MW value if desired.  The HASL Offset is added to other Ancillary Services being provided by the Resource to develop the HASL change. 11/22/2011  Morgan Stanley No 2.1, 3.9,  3.9.1, 6.5.7.2, Pending PRS PRS consideration
NPRR436 Clarify the Use of the Defined Term Season and Its Derivatives This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) deletes the reference to the Operating Guides in paragraph (6) of Section 3.7, and capitalizes uses of the word “Season” and its derivatives where applicable to the definition in Section 2.1, Definitions. 01/17/2012  Operations Working Group (OWG) No 2.1, 3.1.4.8, 3.7, 5.6.1.2, 6.6.9, 8.1.1.2, 11.4.3.2, 16.11.4.1, 18.7.1.2 Pending PRS PRS for Impact Analysis review.
NPRR438 Additional Minimum Counter-Party Qualification Requirements, Including Risk Management Capability Requirements

This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) establishes minimum requirements for Counter-Parties to participate in the ERCOT markets.  These requirements are in addition to other requirements currently defined in the Protocols.  Specifically, Counter-Parties must certify that they:

 (1)      Have appropriate expertise in markets;

 

(2)       Have appropriate market operational capabilities;

 

(3)       Meet minimum capitalization requirements; and

 

(4)       Have risk management capabilities with respect to operating in the ERCOT markets.

 

In addition, this NPRR will require ERCOT to verify the risk management framework for specified Counter-Parties.

01/24/2012  ERCOT No 1.3.1.1, 16.11.4.1,  16.16, (new) 16.16.1, (new) 16.16.2, (new) 16.16.3, (new) Attachment J, (new) Pending PRS PRS consider the IA
NPRR443 Removal of Switchable Generation Resource Plans from Protected Information This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) will remove the unavailability plans for Switchable Generation from the list of items considered to be Protected Information under the Protocols.  This information will be reflected in the Annual Planning Models. 02/07/2012  ERCOT No 1.3.1.1, 16.5.4 Pending TAC TAC consideration
NPRR444 Supplemental Reliability Deployments Generation and Load Resources deployed for reliability purposes often result in market distortions that artificially lower prices when market conditions would call for prices to be at a higher level.  This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) works to remove those influences from the market for more accurate price formation. 02/22/2012  Morgan Stanley Capital Group Yes 4.4.9.3, 4.4.9.3.1, 4.4.11, 6.3, 6.5.1.2, 6.5.7.3, 6.6.12 (new), 6.6.12.1 (new), 6.6.12.1.1 (new), 6.6.12.1.2 (new), 6.6.12.1.3 (new), 6.6.12.1.4 (new), 6.6.12.2 (new), 6.6.12.2.1 (new), 6.6.12.2.2 (new) Pending PRS PRS consideration of NPRR444
NPRR445 DC Tie Load Zone Price Clarification This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) clarifies that the Real-Time Settlement Point Price at a Direct Current Tie (DC Tie) Load Zone is not weighted by the State Estimator Load value, which includes inadvertent energy. 02/27/2012  ERCOT No 6.6.1.2 Pending TAC TAC consideration of NPRR445
NPRR446 Correction of Non-Spin Ancillary Service Schedule Telemetry for Standing Non-Spin Deployment This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) corrects the language that describes how Qualified Scheduling Entities (QSEs) will update the Non-Spinning Reserve (Non-Spin) Ancillary Service Schedule value in telemetry as introduced in NPRR426, Standing Non-Spin Deployment in the Operating Hour for Generation Resources Providing On-Line Non-Spin, which was approved by the ERCOT Board on December 12, 2011. 02/29/2012  ERCOT No 6.5.7.6.2.3 Pending TAC TAC for consideration.
NPRR447 Remove Day- Ahead QSE Requested Decommit Language This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) removes eligibility rule language from Section 6.4.6 which conflicts with Section 4.6.2.3, Day-Ahead Make-Whole Settlements; thereby allowing the eligibility rules in Section 4.6.2.3 to determine appropriate startup and energy compensation.   03/05/2012  ERCOT No 6.4.6 Pending TAC TAC consideration
NPRR452 Clarification of Reactive Power Requirements This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) clarifies the Reactive Power requirement for Generation Resources required to provide Voltage Support Service (VSS). 03/23/2012  John Adams on behalf of the NPRR366 Workshop No 3.15 Pending TAC TAC Consideration
NPRR453 Separation of Year 1 and Year 2 of the Annual CRR Auctions by Timing

This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) outlines the Protocol changes needed to allow ERCOT to execute each year of the two-year annual Congestion Revenue Right (CRR) Auctions in separate bid and credit windows for each year to relieve market credit and improve the ability of ERCOT to efficiently execute and analyze the results.

Annual CRR Auction processes and systems are already separated in terms of credit lock, modeling, bidding and auction optimization.  These changes simply separate the two annual CRR Auctions to run sequentially during the year, rather than simultaneously, to eliminate overlapping annual credit lock exposure.

04/02/2012  ERCOT No 7.3, 7.4.2, 7.5.1, 7.5.3 Pending TAC TAC consideration of NPRR453
NPRR454 Removal of Unfunded Project List Language This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) removes language regarding the Unfunded Project List to bring the Protocols in line with the current planning and budgeting process for the ERCOT project portfolio.  To facilitate budget and resource forecasting beyond the current year, ERCOT recently created a multiple year project view in the Project Priority List (PPL).  Since a project now has a target year for funding within the multi-year PPL, there is no longer a need for an Unfunded Project List review concept as future year projects are regularly considered as new projects are prioritized within the multi-year PPL. 04/04/2012  ERCOT No 21.1,  21.4.6, 21.4.8, 21.4.9,.21.4.10, 21.7, Pending TAC TAC consideration
NPRR455 CRR Shift Factors Report This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) creates a report on the Market Information System (MIS) Secure Area that provides Shift Factors for any binding constraints in a Congestion Revenue Right (CRR) Auction. 04/04/2012  Jackie Ashbaugh on behalf of MIS User Group (MISUG) No 7.5.3.1 Pending PRS PRS for Impact Analysis review.
NPRR456 Clarification of Definition of Electrically Similar Settlement Points and Heuristic Pricing Posting This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) removes the rating requirement in the current definition for Electrically Similar Settlement Points and introduces a daily public report to post the heuristic pricing associations for Day-Ahead Market (DAM) and Real-Time Market (RTM) price calculations. 04/04/2012  ERCOT No 2.1, 4.2.3.1 Pending TAC TAC for consideration.
NPRR457 Daily Update of New ESI IDs and AMS Meter and Switch Hold Indicators Changes (formerly Conditional TDSP ESIID Attribute Information for 814_20 Transactions) This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) provides for the addition of Electric Service Identifier (ESI ID) attribute information for conditions in which the transaction type of 814_20, ESI ID Maintenance Request, is submitted that creates an ESI ID or makes changes to an existing ESI ID’s Advanced Metering System (AMS) or switch hold indicator flags utilizing the create or maintain option when submitting the 814_20 transaction. 04/04/2012  Jackie Ashbaugh on behalf of MIS User Group (MISUG) No 15.2 Pending TAC TAC for consideration.
NPRR458 Establishment of ERCOT’s Central Counterparty Role This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) establishes ERCOT as the central counterparty to all transactions in the ERCOT market, except those involving bilateral trades or self-arranged services.  The changes introduced by this NPRR do not alter ERCOT’s functions as the Independent System Operator for the ERCOT Region.  Rather, the changes are being proposed to establish mutuality between ERCOT and buyers and sellers in the ERCOT markets.  The mutuality established by the proposed changes is intended to facilitate ERCOT’s ability to effectuate set-off in bankruptcy proceedings related to a Market Participant default.  This, in turn, is intended to mitigate uplift to Market Participants that may result from monies owed to ERCOT that may not otherwise be recovered in such bankruptcy proceedings due to a lack of mutuality. Consistent with the establishment of ERCOT as the central counterparty, the NPRR deletes all references to ERCOT acting “as agent for” or “on behalf of” a Qualified Scheduling Entity (QSE) when it purchases energy or Ancillary Services.  04/04/2012  ERCOT No 1.2, 2.1, .4.7.1, 4.4.7.1.1, 4.6.4,  6.5.7.5, 22A, 22B, 22D,  22F, Pending PRS PRS review IA
NPRR459 Better Matching Forward Collateralization with Forward Risk in the Real-Time Market

This proposal more appropriately collateralizes for forward risk in the Real-Time Market.  In NRG’s experience, ERCOT under-collateralized the risks associated with February and August of 2011, and over-collateralized the rest of the year since the multiplier is currently always 1.5.  When prices have the potential to be $3,000 (or $6,000 or $9,000 or any future revised system wide offer caps) then 1.5 times the current prices is insufficient.  At the same time, 1.5 is usually too high when forward prices are stable and less volatile.

 

In addition, this instructs that ERCOT should exercise its judgment to remove operating days from credit calculations when the use of those operating days is leading to unreasonable results based on expected forward market outcomes.  This occurs because ERCOT looks at the maximum operating day over the previous 60 days, which isn’t always appropriate.    
05/01/2012  NRG Yes 16.11.4.3, 16.11.4.4 Pending PRS PRS consideration
NPRR460 WGR Ramp Rate Limitations This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) increases the Wind-powered Generation Resource (WGR) ramp rate limitation from 10% per minute of nameplate rating to 20% per minute of nameplate rating. 05/02/2012  E.ON Climate & Renewables No 6.5.7.10 Pending PRS PRS Language Consideration
NPRR461 Energy Storage Settlements Consistent With PUCT Project 39917 This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) modifies the Protocols to implement the process for Settlement of Energy Storage Resources (ESR) consistent with Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) Project No. 39917, Rulemaking on Energy Storage Issues. 05/02/2012  ERCOT No 2.1, 2.2, 3.4, 6.6.3.1, 9.17.1, 10.2.3, 10.3.2.3, 11.4.6, 11.5.1, 11.5.2.2 Pending PRS PRS for consideration.
NPRR462 Removal of Consumer Benefit Test from the ERCOT Planning Criteria This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) removes the consumer benefit test from the ERCOT planning criteria consistent with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) Project 39537, Rulemaking to Implement HB 971, Relating to Economic Criteria for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for an Electric Transmission Project. 05/02/2012  ERCOT No 3.11.2 Pending
NPRR463 CRR Auction Structure Enhancements This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) replaces the annual Congestion Revenue Right (CRR) Auction with a semi-annual sequence of four consecutive six-month CRR Auctions selling CRRs up to two years in the future, scheduled according to a TAC-approved calendar.  A proposed initial calendar for TAC consideration will be discussed in parallel to this NPRR. 05/07/2012  DC Energy Texas LLC Yes 2.1, 7.3, 7.4.2, 7.5.1, 7.5.2, 7.5.2.1, 7.5.2.2, 7.5.2.3, 7.5.3, 7.5.3.2, 7.5.5.3, 7.5.5.4, 7.5.6.3, 7.8, 16.11.4.6.1 Pending TAC TAC consideration of NPRR463
NPRR464 SASM Procurement Reporting This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) will require ERCOT to notify Qualified Scheduling Entities (QSEs) whose Ancillary Service capacity was deemed undeliverable, or who failed to provide their required Ancillary Service capacity, details of the Ancillary Services procured on their behalf during a Supplemental Ancillary Services Market (SASM). 05/15/2012  NRG Texas Power LLC No 6.4.8.2, 6.4.8.2.3 Pending PRS PRS language consideration
NPRR465 Transmission Planning Analysis to Minimize the Need for RMR Units The Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) modifies provisions that relate to Reliability Must-Run (RMR) analysis to require that transmission planning analysis is performed to ensure reliability while minimizing the need for RMR Units. 05/18/2012  Paul Rocha on behalf of CenterPoint Energy No 3.14.1, 3.14.1.2 Pending
NPRR466 Asset Depreciation Schedule for Capital Contributions This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) creates an appropriate asset depreciation schedule to apply to the capital contribution repayment obligation for Resources contracted to provide capacity pursuant to Section 6.5.1.1. 05/24/2012  RCWG No 6.5.1.1 Pending PRS PRS language consideration