This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) adds notification requirements for ERCOT to follow when ERCOT has determined that additional capacity is needed to prevent an imminent Emergency Condition or to restore the ERCOT Transmission Grid to a secure state in the event of an ERCOT Transmission Grid Emergency Condition. Under the revisions, ERCOT would notify the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) when it has made such a determination and would also notify the PUCT prior to entering into any contract for additional capacity. This NPRR also extends the study horizon for evaluating and potentially contracting for capacity to prevent anticipated Load shed events. ERCOT proposes this study horizon extend up to two years instead of just the current or next Season. This NPRR also expands the set of eligible Resources that can respond to the “Requests for Proposal” (RFPs) to include new Resources and not be limited to existing Resources. Additionally, these revisions explain that an eligible Resource could be a Resource that is already planned to be interconnected and that, in such a case, if ERCOT is paying for an acceleration of such a Resource to interconnect, ERCOT must be provided with a detailed explanation that demonstrates that any payments to accelerate planned capacity is justifiable and reasonable, and that the acceleration would not have occurred otherwise. Finally, this NPRR also proposes a provision allowing ERCOT to potentially accept an Incentive Factor for a Resource contracted under Section 6.5.1.1 to be a value other than 10%. The Incentive Factor can differ from that described for Reliability Must-Run (RMR) Resources in Section 3.14.1.17, Incentive Factor, as long as it is reasonably justified, and may be reduced based on specific performance metrics of the Resource.
