ERCOT Public Web Site to Receive Facelift

The ERCOT market services group will be launching an effort aimed at improving the image and usability of ERCOT's public Web site, www.ercot.com.  The objectives of the project (set to begin RFP activity in September, with actual work slated to begin in November) include: launch of a search engine, implementation of a content management program, and improvement to navigation through human factors engineering. The need to overhaul ERCOT’s public website was first identified earlier in the year by the market services department as a priority project. The initiative was given momentum as a project for enhancement after the results of a recent market survey found that market participants’ needs were not being met by the current site. Specifically, survey results noted lack of satisfaction in the following categories:

• Navigation – website is cumbersome and difficult to navigate
• Information – extremely difficult to locate specific information on Web site
• Search Engine & Content Manager – the layout of the Web site is not intuitive or user friendly

Over the next two months, market services will be working with the PMO, IT operations, procurement, and the legal departments in ERCOT to select a vendor to provide the information architecture, content organization, human factors, and development to work in cooperation with ERCOT internal teams.  Additionally, the ERCOT project team will be meeting with all business and IT units at ERCOT to establish communication channels for questions and to set expectations regarding what can be anticipated during and after the project life cycle.  The team will also begin the process of communications with market participants to provide assurance that ERCOT is taking action to meet or exceed their expectations.  The ERCOT project team is estimating project completion at the end of Q1 '05 or in the beginning of Q2 '05.

* For more information contact Dave Odle at x3957

2005 ERCOT Budget Process Schedule

In a public meeting held on September 1, 2004, ERCOT staff detailed the 2005 ERCOT budget process.  In addition to the revised schedule (below), the presentation addressed major budget assumptions, organizational structure, debt service, MWH trends, the annual project prioritization process and major projects for 2005.

• September 1 - Public Meeting on 2005 Budget - Input from Public
• September 20 - Finance and Audit Committee meeting to review preliminary budget (Special meeting)
• September 23 - Financial Briefing with PUCT Staff (Tentative)
• October 7 - Finance and Audit Committee meeting to review draft budget (Special meeting)
• October 12 - Public Meeting on Proposed 2005 Budget
• October 14 - Meeting with PUCT staff on Proposed 2005 Budget (Tentative)
• October 19 - Finance and Audit Committee Recommendation to Board at monthly meeting
• November 16 - Board Approval of 2005 Budget
• November 23 - Preliminary PUCT Filing Review (if needed)
• November 30 - PUCT Filing

The complete presentation is posted as a supplement to the meeting under Reports and Presentations 2004.

* For more information, please contact Mike Petterson x7013

Congestion and Renewable Credits Group Initiates Development of Software Enhancements to Texas REC Trading Program

The congestion and renewable credits group has begun development of software enhancements to the existing Texas Renewable Energy Credit Trading Program (REC) in order to accommodate rule changes recently brought forth by the PUCT.

The PUCT adopted three changes to substantive rule 25.173 (relating to the goal for renewable energy), in response to concerns about compliance difficulties for individual competitive retailers (CRs) (taking into account settled corrections to retail sales). The Commission amended the rule so that each CR’s final REC requirement for a compliance period is increased to recapture the total usable offsets. In addition, program administrators will recalculate the final REC requirements for the previous compliance period, taking into account settled corrections to retail sales. Finally, the Commission amended the rule to allow the program administrator to request an adjustment to the deadlines set forth in substantive rule 25.173(1) in subsequent compliance periods, if changes to the ERCOT settlement calendar affect the availability of reliable sales data.

Development of the enhancements will be completed by the end of 2004 and ready for the first REC Mandate Requirements calculations in 2005.

* For more information, contact Roy McCoy at x3131. 

ERCOT Projects Approximately $2.5 Billion in Transmission Projects for the Next Eight Years

System planning recently completed the quarterly update of the Transmission Project Information Tracking (TPIT) workbook as part of its coordination and open communication of their continuing planning efforts. These projects represent approximately $2.5 billion dollars in future transmission projects planned for the next eight years within the ERCOT region. In addition to the workbook, updates were provided for the corresponding Steady State Power Flow Base Cases, (mathematical model representations of the ERCOT power grid into the future), that provides a representation of these projects on power flow. This was a significant effort by transmission owners and ERCOT staff and will be useful to market participants, stakeholders and consumer representatives.

* For more information, contact Ken Donohoo at x3003.

Powerworld Improvements

ERCOT operations planning and ERCOT EMMS production staff have successfully loaded and tested the new PowerWorld 345kV and 138kV displays.  The displays are used for voltage monitoring, line flow monitoring and SCADA quality checking on the ERCOT transmission operations floor.  Thanks to these new tools, operations criteria violations will now be shown on the displays simultaneously (maximum delay is 30 seconds).  Other uses for these displays are being found as well.  Additionally, the Find a Bus feature in the PowerWorld 138 display is helping to quickly locate the bus when a new contingency pops up on RTCA.

* For more information, please contact Ricson Chai at x3128

Texas Nodal Rule Changes

At its September 2 open meeting, the PUCT approved for publication proposed changes to the Texas Nodal rule that would change the timeline for consideration of the Texas Nodal market design. In the current rule, ERCOT is required to file proposed Texas Nodal Protocols, cost benefit analysis, and proposed energy load zones by November 1, 2004. Under the proposed changes, by November 1, 2004, ERCOT would file the cost benefit analysis (for Texas Nodal and other wholesale market alternatives) and load zones developed by the Texas Nodal Team (TNT).  The full proposed Texas Nodal Protocols, developed by the TNT, would be filed by March 1, 2005.  The Commission would observe a review period through the end of May to evaluate the filed information and hold formal proceedings, if needed, beginning in June 2005.  The proposed implementation date of October 1, 2006, would remain unchanged.  The proposed rule amendments will be published for public comment prior to adoption.  [See PUCT Project 30160.]

* For more information, please contact Mark Walker at x7076

PUCT Rule on ERCOT Oversight

Also at the September 2 meeting, the PUCT approved for publication two proposed changes to PUCT rules on the oversight of ERCOT.  One change would provide requirements and procedures for ERCOT to notify the PUCT Executive Director of circumstances that present threats to reliability or other ERCOT responsibilities.  The other change would eliminate a presumption the ERCOT fee changes would go into effect automatically if the PUCT took no action on a fee change request.  The proposed rule changes will be published for public comment prior to consideration for adoption.  [See PUCT Project 29855.]

* For more information, please contact Mark Walker at x7076

ERCOT Meetings

• September 8, 2004, TNT General Session, ERCOT Austin 206, 9:00am – 4:00pm
• September 9, 2004, TAC, ERCOT Austin 206, 9:30am – 4:00pm

ERCOT at a Glance is an electronic summary of the timely and topical events going on within the organization. ERCOT at a Glance will update employees on the newsworthy and noteworthy events and accomplishments related to the business of ERCOT. We are seeking milestones, accomplishments and everyday news. If you’ve got important stories or information to share with us, please provide us with your news in electronic summary format, after first coordinating with the managers and directors in your area. We welcome your summaries (due by 5 p.m. on Thursday of each week) and look forward to hearing from you. If you have questions, please contact Heather Tindall at 512-225-7023 or htindall@ercot.com.