ERCOT Region Operators Plan Winter Preparedness Drill

Thirteen qualified scheduling entities (QSEs) and eight transmission operators (TOs) from across the ERCOT region will be participating in the first ERCOT-wide winter preparedness drill Wednesday, Nov. 10.  The purpose of the voluntary drill, which will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., is to better prepare for system emergencies.  ERCOT will coordinate the drill from its backup control room in Austin.  Communications with connecting TOs and QSEs, plus communication with ERCOT, will be tested during the drill.  The Operations Task Force, which originated the idea for the drill, plans to ask participants for a summary of lessons learned from the exercise to be shared with the whole group.  The task force may make the winter drill an annual event and is considering adding a summer preparedness drill for next year to test readiness for high loads and storms.

PUC Approves Revised Timeline for Nodal Market Design

The Public Utility Commission voted to extend the deadline for filing the nodal market cost-benefit analysis to Dec. 31, 2004, in the commission’s open meeting last Thursday.  ERCOT requested the extension because of problems encountered in the system modeling needed for the analysis and to give adequate time for the stakeholders to review the results.  In addition, the PUC also agreed to ERCOT’s request to extend the filing deadline for the draft energy load zones to coincide with the March 18, 2005 deadline for filing the draft protocols.  This change was requested because design changes resulting from the economists’ comments might prompt reconsideration of the current load zone philosophy.

TAC Subcommittee Reviewing Administration Fee Allocation Options

A subgroup of TAC is working to develop potential options to the structure of the ERCOT administration fee.  The board has charged TAC with bringing forward options to be considered for future submission to the PUC for approval.  This issue may also become the subject of a PUC rulemaking.  ERCOT has committed to gathering employee timekeeping data to help evaluate potential options for fee design.  Timekeeping activities are also planned for 2005 as a management tool for ERCOT.

North American ISO/RTO Settlement Operations Directors Visit ERCOT

ERCOT hosted the North American Settlement Managers Roundtable on October 26.  Managers and directors of settlement operations at other ISO/RTOs meet quarterly to discuss current events, experiences and issues that are prevalent in today's deregulated energy markets.  ERCOT provided a summary of the current status of the Texas Nodal process and engaged a discussion with markets that are running nodal markets and with markets currently transitioning to nodal markets.  Representatives from the New England ISO, New York ISO, PJM, Midwest ISO, California ISO, the Ontario IMO and the Alberta Energy System Operator were in attendance.  Ken Ragsdale and Jim Galvin hosted the event.

ERCOT Meeting Dates

• Wednesday, November 3 – TNT CRR Allocation and Co-Optimization Discussion, ERCOT Austin 206, 8:30am-5 pm
• Thursday, November 4 – TAC, ERCOT Austin 206, 9:30am-4pm

ERCOT at a Glance is an electronic summary of the timely and topical events going on within the organization.  ERCOT at a Glance updates employees on the newsworthy and noteworthy events and accomplishments related to the business of ERCOT.  We seek milestones, accomplishments and everyday news.  If you have important stories or information, please provide us with your news in electronic summary format, after first coordinating with the manager and directors in your area.  We welcome your summaries (due by 5 pm 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