This year’s annual Black Start Training covers applied system restoration principles, incorporating simulation components relevant to ERCOT’s system restoration strategy. Current entity-specific Black Start plans will be executed during the simulation exercises allowing participants to perform their expected roles and functions. Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to identify the roles of ERCOT, TOPs, QSEs, and Generation Operators.

Continuing Education Hour Information

• NERC Certified System Operator (NCSO) may receive up to 16 CEHs for annual Black Start Training, including 12 simulation CEHs, credited toward maintenance of their NERC System Operator Certificate. All-day attendance and participation is mandatory.

Schedule

Registration Qualifications:

All Transmission Operators (TOs), Qualified Scheduling Entity (QSE) operators identified in a Black Start restoration plan, Resource Entities that represent Black Start Resources, and other Entities who are notified by ERCOT that their participation is required. ERCOT is notifying the QSEs and Resource Entities that attendance at Black Start Training is limited to TOs, QSE operators identified in a Black Start restoration plan, Resource Entities that represent Black Start Resources, ERCOT staff, Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), Reliability Monitor, or other Entities deemed by ERCOT to have a legitimate reliability reason to attend. No QSEs or Resource Entities with only renewable resources are expected to attend as those parties are not identified in Black Start Restoration Plans.

Do not register if you are a Renewable Entity.

Do not register support personnel. Due to the scope of the training (market notice intended audience/operating guides) – applicable to your entity, ERCOT Black Start Training is only open to those individuals performing in the roles mentioned above. This specific training is not geared towards support personnel. There will be restoration training available in the annual seminar that would be more appropriate to those support roles.

Registrants shall only register under their entity type. I.e. Transmission Operator= TO/DO, QSE or Generator= QSE/GEN, ERCOT Employee Operator= ERCOT SO, ERCOT Employee Instructor= ERCOTIns,

Early Registration opens March 9, 2021 and ends on April 12, 2021. The cost to attend is $400/person.

Regular Registration opens April 13, 2021 at $500/person. 

The Pilot Session is April 21-22, 2021. 

Session Schedule:

The ERCOT Black Start Training is recognized by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation as an approved learning activity for which NERC CE hours can be awarded, and that the provider adheres to NERC Continuing Education Program criteria.

The prerequisite LMS course 2021 Black Start Training Prerequisite Course Modules must be completed before registrants attend their scheduled simulation session. The direct course link can be found here under key documents.

NERC continuing education hours are available for this class. If you are a NERC certificate holder and complete the criteria requirements for the Annual Black Start Training you will be awarded 16 CE hours in the category of Operating Topics as well as 12 hours of Emergency Operations Simulation.