Quality Assurance Initiative Launched in Market Operations

Market Operations has launched a focused quality assurance (QA) initiative to support and ensure ERCOT’s commitment to quality service.  The former IT delivery department has been changed to the QA projects department and has been reorganized to provide for the autonomy of operation required for successful QA activities.  The focus of the quality assurance department will be on the development of quality assurance and performance improvement programs and reporting, such as:

• Development of service level agreements (SLAs)
• Coordination of recommendations to improve SDLC process
• Establishment of software development defect reporting and monitoring
• Reporting of the proportional use of emergency procedures versus normal procedures for making changes to software and IT environments
• Reporting of the extent of follow up SIRs or other unanticipated system changes created by a project or SIR implementation
• Activities related to the development of performance metrics reporting, activity metrics reporting and continuous process improvement.

* For more information, contact Victoria Johnson, x3965.

Retail Transactions for Choice Top 11 Million

Retail transactions for provider choice topped 11 million Friday, Oct. 8.  The 11,000,262 number marks the number of transactions completed since the opening of the retail market pilot program on June 1, 2001. Customer choice was extended to all investor-owned utility service areas on January 1, 2002.  (Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives are not required to opt in to competition but may choose to do so at any time.)

ERCOT serves as the central hub for switch requests when customers decide they want to change to a new electricity provider.  As of September 2004, 19 percent of residential customer load had switched to competitive providers.  In addition, 54 percent of small non-residential and 67 percent of large non-residential load had switched to competitive retail providers.

* For more information, contact Mike McCarty, x3927.

Public Hearing on 2005 Budget Slated for October 12

ERCOT’s proposed 2005 budget will be presented for public input in a public meeting at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 12, at the William B. Travis Building, 1701 Congress, in room 100.  This will be the final meeting on the budget before it goes to the ERCOT board of directors for review at its Oct. 19 meeting.

The proposed budget maintains all fee levels at the same rate, including the current administrative fee of $0.44 per MWH.  The budget does not incorporate resources necessary for implementation of the Texas Nodal market or for an increased market monitoring role, as recommended by the Sunset Commission, since both are awaiting decisions from the PUC and the Texas Legislature.

ERCOT officers presented an overview of the budget to the board’s finance and audit committee last week and answered committee members’ questions for more detail in several areas, including justification of additional staff and evidence of efficient use of resources.

Many of the additional staff proposed in the 2005 budget will be applied to reducing ERCOT’s dependence on consultants.  Last year, 25 percent of ERCOT’s labor came from outside services.  That figure would be reduced to 14 percent under the proposed budget.

Goals used in building the budget were to maintain the fee levels, improve the efficient use of resources, and to review staff and functionality for cost-saving opportunities.

* For more information, contact Mike Petterson at x7013.

ERCOT CEO Meets with North Texas Market Participants

ERCOT CEO Tom Schrader met with approximately 40 managers and executives from several North Texas market participants last week in Dallas.  Schrader met with a similar group in Houston in September as part of a series of “meet & greet” stakeholder breakfasts.  He finishes his breakfast meetings in San Antonio on Oct. 20.

* For more information, contact Paul Wattles at x7242.

ERCOT Directors AND Managers Engage for Leadership Training

More than 20 ERCOT directors and managers will participate in Pass the Baton and Delta Plus leadership training at the Williamson Conference Center in Round Rock October 12 – 15.  The Pass the Baton workshop, developed by CCG, Inc., addresses managing organizational change – from rapid growth and a changing company culture, to supporting fast track employees and increasing efficiency – and is designed to develop an organization’s leadership force.  Delta Plus is a follow-up session to Delta, also a CCG, Inc. program, in which graduates build on what they learned three months prior in a five-day session and have since put into practice. The Delta programs integrate scientific evidence and practical business and leadership models and methods in developing high performance and effective leadership.

* For more information, contact Gary Stroud x7016

ERCOT Meetings

• Tuesday, October 12: ROS – ERCOT Austin 206 – 9am-4pm
• Tuesday, October 12: Public Meeting on Proposed ERCOT 2005 Budget – Travis Building Room 1-100, 1:30pm-4:30pm
• Wednesday, October 13: PUCT Open Meeting – Travis Building 7th Floor, 9:30am
• Thursday, October 14: TNT Market Mitigation (ECI) – PUCT Commissioner’s HR, 9:30am-3:30pm
• Thursday, October 14: RMS – ERCOT Austin 206, 9:30am-4pm
• Friday, October 15: Energy Regulatory Commission of the Philippines (Host: Bill Bojorquez) – ERCOT Austin 209, noon-5pm

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.