Current Nodal OS Design

1. Current Nodal OS Design • The NMMS database will have an OWNER and an OPERATOR designation for each piece of equipment in the model.  The OWNER and OPERATOR designation will be used to determine what company can submit a NOMCR for a particular piece of equipment.  The OWNER designation will not have an application in the Outage Scheduler.  • The Nodal Outage Scheduler will receive only the OPERATOR designation from NMMS.  The OPERATOR designation is used to determine what shows up in the equipment list for each OPERATOR.  For example, if TSP X wants to enter an outage on a piece of equipment that it operates it would look in the TSP X equipment list.   TSPs will also be able to see all equipment in the Outage Scheduler, not just the equipment for which they have been designated as an OPERATOR.  A piece of equipment may have multiple OPERATORS; so more than one company could have the same piece of equipment in their equipment list.   TSPs designated as OPERATORS (should be all TSPs) will be the only ones capable of entering outages on transmission equipment.  • A RE/QSE will only be able to view and schedule outages for the generating units for which it is designated as the OPERATOR.    A RE/QSE will not be able to view or request outages on any transmission equipment.  • RE/QSE-owned transmission equipment (i.e. a bus breaker in a generator switch yard) that does not have a TSP designated as an OPERATOR will not show up in the Outage Scheduler Equipment list and will not be available for an outage request.  In order to make the equipment eligible for an outage request in the Nodal Outage Scheduler, the RE/QSE must designate a TSP to schedule outages for those pieces of equipment. • NPRR101 excludes generator breaker outages from needing to be entered in the Nodal Outage Scheduler.  http://nodal.ercot.com/protocols/nprr/101-125/101/keydocs/101NPRR-12_Board_Action_Report_041508.doc

2. Transmission Service Provider (TSP)  -- An Entity under jurisdiction of the PUCT that owns or operates Transmission Facilities used for transmission of electricity and provides Transmission Service in the ERCOT Transmission Grid. A Qualified Scheduling Entity (QSE) -- A Market Participant that is qualified by ERCOT in accordance with Section 16, Registration and Qualification of Market Participants, for communication with ERCOT for Resource Entities and Load Serving Entities and for settling payments and charges with ERCOT. Section 3.1 Outage Coordination “Outage Coordination” is the management of Transmission Facilities Outages and Resource Outages in the ERCOT System. Facility owners are solely and directly responsible for the performance of all maintenance, repair, and construction work, whether on energized or de-energized facilities, including all activities related to providing a safe working environment. Section 3.1.3.1 Transmission Facilities (1)        Each TSP shall provide to ERCOT a Planned Outage or Maintenance Outage plan in an ERCOT-provided format for the next 12 months updated monthly.  Planned Outage or Maintenance Outage scheduling data for Transmission Facilities must be kept current.  Updates must identify all changes to any previously proposed Planned Outages or Maintenance Outages and any additional Planned Outages or maintenance Outage anticipated over the next 12 months.  ERCOT shall coordinate in-depth reviews of the 12-month plan with each TSP at least twice per year.

3. Section 3.1.3.2 Resources (1)        Each Resource Entity shall provide to ERCOT a Planned Outage and Maintenance Outage plan in an ERCOT-provided format for the next 12-months updated monthly.  Planned Outage and Maintenance Outage scheduling data for Resource Facilities must be kept current.  Updates, through an electronic interface as specified by ERCOT, must identify any changes to previously proposed Planned Outages or Maintenance Outages and any additional Planned Outages or Maintenance Outages anticipated over the next 12 months. Section 3.1.4.1 Single Point of Contact (1)        All communications concerning a Planned Outage or Maintenance Outage must be between ERCOT and the designated “Single Point of Contact” for each TSP or Resource Entity.  All nonverbal communications concerning Planned Outages must be conveyed through an electronic interface as specified by ERCOT.  The TSP or Resource Entity shall identify, in its initial request or response, the Single Point of Contact, with primary and alternate means of communication.  The Resource Entity or TSP shall submit a Notice of Change of Information (NCI) form when changes occur to a Single Point of Contact.  This identification must be confirmed in all communications with ERCOT regarding Planned Outage or Maintenance Outage requests. (2)        The Single Point of Contact must be either a person or a position available seven days per week and 24 hours per day for each Resource Entity and TSP.  The Resource Entity shall designate its QSE as its Single Point of Contact.  The Single Point of Contact for the TSP must be designated under the ERCOT Operating Guides.

4. NPRR101 • Comment AuthorComment SummaryLuminant 021108Added generator output breakers to the “exception list” for equipment operations that are subject to the provisions described in Section 3.10.7.5.1(3). • (3) Unless there is an emergency condition, a TSP or QSE must obtain approval from ERCOT to purposely open a breaker or switch unless that breaker or switch is shown in a Planned Outage in the Outage Scheduler, or the device will return to its previous state within 60 minutes, or the device is a generator output circuit breaker. Also, a TSP or QSE must obtain approval from ERCOT before closing any breaker or switch, except in response to a Forced Outage, or an emergency, or the device will return to its previous state within 60 minutes or the device is a generator output circuit breaker.