TOPICS:

• New Control Room Simulator Runs First Exercise
• ERCOT Expects Adequate Generation This Summer
• 185 Generation Requests Under Review
• Annual Report Available on Web Site
• New Centralized Source for ISOs/RTOs Available

NEW CONTROL ROOM SIMULATOR RUNS FIRST EXERCISE

The new control center simulator system at ERCOT’s Taylor facility successfully completed its first training scenario June 20, including a simulation of a Rio Grande Valley voltage collapse. 

The operator training simulator went “live” last month following a year of implementation work by ERCOT staff and Washington State-based Areva.  The simulator allows operators to receive hands-on training without any impact to the grid.   The system replicates the ERCOT control center computer systems and also includes a power system model to mimic the behavior of power systems and a subsystem to create events under various operating conditions.  The system incorporates real-time market data in parallel with the normal real-time operation of the ERCOT system.  In addition, operations and notifications of energy scheduling entities are included to simulate their expected actions.   

ERCOT has a total of 48 system operators staffing two control centers, one primary and one backup facility. The control rooms run two shifts all day, every day, with eight individuals on every shift.  A training shift was added in 2005 which allows each operator to receive more than 120 hours of training per year.  Federal reliability standards require that grid operators receive continuing training (depending on the operator’s responsibilities) for operator re-certification, which occurs every three years. ERCOT operators hold the highest level of certification, which requires 200 hours of continuing training. The certification standard also requires that a minimum of 30 hours of simulation training is included.  

ERCOT EXPECTS ADEQUATE GENERATION THIS SUMMER

Power supplies are adequate to meet this summer’s peak demand projections in the ERCOT region, according to the annual summer assessment. 

The 2007 peak demand forecast of 63,794 megawatts (MW) is 2.3 percent higher than last year’s peak demand, 62,339 MW, reflecting the continuing strong economy and population growth in Texas. 

This summer’s reserve margin stands at 14.6 percent, slightly above the 12.5 percent minimum needed to ensure reliability for extreme temperatures and unexpected major outages.   

Approximately 1,252 MW of generation (other than wind) has been added since last summer, including 726 MW of “mothballed” generation returning to service. Over 1,200 MW of additional new wind generation is expected to be available by summer.   

In addition, this year’s assessment reflects a change in the methodology for calculating the percent of wind generation expected to be available at the time of summer peak – increasing it from 2.6 percent of installed capacity to 8.7 percent. 

185 GENERATION REQUESTS UNDER REVIEW

The system planning division is currently tracking 185 active generation interconnection requests totaling over 80,000 MW, including more than 28,000 MW of wind generation, according to the May System Planning Report.   

Other highlights from the monthly status report include:

• 1,088 MW of new generation began commercial operations in May
• Regional planning group is reviewing proposed transmission improvements with a total cost ranging from $231 million to $284 million.  

ANNUAL REPORT AVAILABLE ON WEB SITE

ERCOT’s 2006 Annual Report is available on www.ercot.com in the News / Reports and Presentations section.  The publication includes the financial statements and report of independent auditors and an overview of 2006. 

NEW CENTRALIZED SOURCE FOR ISO’S/RTO’S AVAILABLE

The ISO/RTO Council (IRC) today announced the launch of its new Web site, designed to provide electric industry representatives, government officials, and electricity consumers a one-stop, information resource about the IRC and its members. The IRC is an industry organization comprised of the 10 independent system operators (ISOs) and regional transmission organizations (RTOs) in the United States and Canada. These ISOs and RTOs deliver two-thirds of the electricity consumed in North America to two-thirds of its population.  

IRC members include the Alberta Electric System Operator, California ISO, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Independent Electricity System Operator (Ontario), ISO New England, Midwest Independent System Operator, New Brunswick System Operator, New York Independent System Operator, PJM Interconnection, and Southwest Power Pool. 

“The IRC was established in 2003 by representatives of the North American ISOs and RTOs,” said Gordon van Welie, Chairman of the IRC and CEO of ISO New England Inc. “Its purpose is to work collaboratively to develop effective processes and methods for improving competitive wholesale electricity markets across North America. The launch of the IRC Web site today provides a centralized location where interested parties can get information about IRC efforts.”  

The site serves as a repository for information about the IRC and includes links to the Web sites of individual ISO and RTO members. Some of the other features include:

• Newsroom
• Reports and other documents, including, The Value of Independent Grid Operators
• Links to bulk power grid conditions in the IRC regions

The URL of the ISO/RTO Council Web site is http://www.iso-rto.org