NOTICE DATE: March 23, 2026

NOTICE TYPE: M-A032326-01 Operations

SHORT DESCRIPTION: Access and familiarization of the Real- Time Operation Communications (RTOC) tool

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Transmission Operators (TOs) and Qualified Scheduling Entities (QSEs) with Resources (limited testing)

DAYS AFFECTED: March 30, 2026, through April 06, 2026

LONG DESCRIPTION: System Change Request (SCR 820) enhances the ERCOT Hotline communication process by introducing a web based platform to support Real-Time bi-directional communication. This new RTOC tool is designed to facilitate communication between ERCOT, TOs, and QSEs with Resources during normal and emergency operations. The RTOC tool will have the ability to comply with three-part communications and keep Market Participants aware of system changes during normal and emergency periods. Below is the TOs testing and parallel operations schedule. QSE access will be established after successful TO onboarding.

• 03/30/2026 - Begins the soft launch of the RTOC tool, allowing TOs to submit initial access and become familiar with RTOC displays in preparation for testing.
• 04/06/2026 - 06/12/2026 - TO's testing window. During this period, TO's can login, receive communication from ERCOT, acknowledge those messages, and provide replies within RTOC. At the end of the testing phase, test data requests will be deleted from the RTOC system.
• If onboarding for TO's progresses smoothly during testing, ERCOT will begin QSE initial access and commence testing. If there are any changes to QSE testing timelines, subsequent Market Notice(s) will include updated timelines.
• 06/17/2026 - 07/17/2026 - Window of parallel operations. TOs are to continue communicating outages (RTU, ICCP, Relay) using existing processes, and monitoring SOL exceedances via current GridGeo or CDR XML format. Simultaneously, TO's will use RTOC to acknowledge and respond to ERCOT communications, and monitoring of SOL exceedances will be available through RTOC during parallel operations. To help manage operator workloads during times of high activity, TO's may continue using established processes in tandem with RTOC as needed.
• 07/18/2026 - Dates for TO's final cutover will be announced in another Market Notice.
• QSEs parallel operations and final cutover dates will be announced through another Market Notice.

RTOC user interface (UI) issues identified during testing and parallel operations will be prioritized and resolved prior to the full cutover.

RTOC platform is tested and supported on Google Chrome web browser.

During the parallel operation phase, TO's are expected to utilize RTOC as a primary tool.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: All TO's are to reach out to their Client Representative on steps for requesting the initial access. A limited inclusion of select QSE's with Resources will be notified for access testing and initial training as well. The slow rollout to QSE's is to minimize access issues due to the number of participants in that group. When available, the Technology Working Group (TWG) meetings will have discussion points about the tool with demo features when available. Navigate to the ERCOT.com website to locate the TWG meetings (https://www.ercot.com/committees/other/twg) on the calendar to find when the next meeting(s) will occur.

CONTACT: If you have any questions, please contact your ERCOT Account Manager. You may also call the general ERCOT Client Services phone number at (512) 248-3900 or contact ERCOT Client Services via email at ClientServices@ercot.com.

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