Meeting Summary - 05/09 PRS Meeting

2 - Approval of Minutes - Vote - Diana Coleman

2.1 - April 5, 2024

• Meeting minutes to be included on the combo ballot at the end of the agenda

3 - TAC Update - Diana Coleman

• ERCOT sent NPRR1212 for review and approval by TAC.
• TAC approved NPRR1212, which clarifies the distribution service providers' obligation to provide an ESI ID.
• TAC also approved ERCOT's 2024 PRS goals.
• TAC approved NPRR1212 and companion PGRR114.

4 - Project Update - Troy Anderson

• New securitization report to be posted on June 1st.
• NPRR1186 release pushed back to June 27th to allow for more testing.
• With the exception of SCR819 and NPRRR1111, June releases will go live on June 30th, in R5.
• Market notice on SCR819 goes live on May 30th.
• The more external facing components of the forecast presentation platform will move to R8 in August.
• NPRR1131, Controllable Load Resource Participation in Non-Spin, release target pushed to September
• NPRR1058, resource offer modernization, may be paired with NPRR1131
• NPRR1023 go-live target declared TBD due to CRR engine performance issues.
• MPIM effort redesign approach is ahead of schedule

4.1 - Review of Aging Projects

• Reduced the number of aging projects from 66 to 62, detailing specific tracking changes.
• Reviewed individual projects such as SCR821 and NPRR1145 and discussed their resource allocation and target start dates.
• The team analyzed the merge of projects NPRR1171 and NPRR1213, considering the impact on resource allocation and potential disruptions to deployment dates.
• Further evaluation was planned for NPRR1006 and NPRR1128 to determine their priority and impact.
• Members expressed support for the prioritization of NPRR1006, emphasizing its relevance to the ERCOT DR RFP and out-of-market actions.

5 - Urgency Vote - Vote - Diana Coleman

5.1 - NPRR1228, Continued One-Winter Procurements for Firm Fuel Supply Service FFSS

• PRS Motion: To grant NPRR1228 urgent status; to recommend approval of NPRR1228 as submitted and to forward to TAC NPRR1228 and the 05/02/24 IA.

Motion carries with unanimous approval

5.2 - NPRR1229, Real-Time Constraint Management Plan Energy Payment - Waive Notice – Possible Vote

• They initially discussed waiving notice and proceeded to vote on it, with 85% in favor, 14% against, and 5 abstentions.
• They then discussed urgent status, with some participants stating that the NPRR will require further consideration and thorough review due to the policy changes and potential impacts.
• ERCOT representatives stated that there are still issues with the settlement language and other policy changes in the NPRR, and more discussions internally are needed.
• Some participants expressed concern about the potential impact on resources and the need for specific details and approval in similar situations.

PRS Motion: To waive noticed for NPRR1229

Motion carries

5.3 - NPRR1230, Methodology for Setting Transmission Shadow Price Caps for an IROL in SCED - Waive Notice – Possible Vote

• ERCOT gave a high-level overview and presented their need for urgency, aiming to grant SCED control over a South Texas export IROL during summer using market tools.
• Bryan Sams expressed concerns about the NPRR language, including the ability to review and change the shadow price cap, and the notice for changes to the cap becoming effective.
• The intent of the NPRR was to replace the need for HDL overrides, specifically during periods of system scarcity.

• NPRR1230: PRS Motion: To waive notice for NPRR1230

Motion carries with two abstentions

• NPRR1230: PRS Motion: To grant NPRR1230 urgent status

Motion carries, one opposed (Calpine), six abstentions. 

• NPRR1230: PRS Motion: To recommend approval of NPRR1230 as revised by PRS and to look forward to TAC NPRR1230 and the 05/07/2024 IA

Motion carries unopposed, 12 abstentions.

6 - Review PRS Reports, Impact Analyses, and Prioritization - Vote * denotes no impact

6.1 - NPRR1198, Congestion Mitigation Using Topology Reconfigurations

• NPRR1198, Congestion Mitigation Using Topology Reconfigurations, sponsored by EDF Renewables.
• Last month PRS recommended approval of NPRR1198 as amended by the March 8th LCRA comments.
• The cost impact of the project was estimated to be between $50,000 and $80,000, with an annual recurring O&M budget between $180,000 and $220,000, and an estimated project duration of 4 to 7 months.
• Questions were raised around the implications and process of developing a congestion mitigation plan, particularly regarding cost impact and annual savings.
• A discussion occurred regarding the project's priority and rank, with considerations for the additional staff required for implementation and the potential to pilot or accelerate the project.
• Stakeholders expressed support for the project, highlighting its importance for generators and the system, and emphasizing the willingness to facilitate its implementation.
• PRS Motion: To endorse and forward to TAC the 04/04/24 PRS Report and 04/30/24 IA for NPRR1198 with a recommended priority of 2025 and rank of 4520.

The motion carries with three abstentions.

6.2 - NPRR1218, REC Program Changes Per P.U.C. SUBST. R. 25.173, Renewable Energy Credit Program

• NPRR1218 added to combo ballot

6.3 - NPRR1220, Market Restart Approval Process Modifications*

• NPRR1220 added to combo ballot

6.4 - NPRR1222, Public Utility Commission of Texas Approval of the Methodology for Determining Ancillary Service Requirements*

• NPRR1222 added to combo ballot

6.5 - NPRR1223, Addition of TA Contact Information Into TDSP Application Form*

• NPRR1223 added to the combo ballot.

7 - Revision Requests Tabled at PRS - Possible Vote - Diana Coleman

7.5 - NPRR1190, High Dispatch Limit Override Provision for Increased NOIE Load Costs

• PRS Motion: To recommend approval of NPRR1190 as amended by the 03/26/24 Reliant comments
• Motion carries with eight abstentions.

7.9.1 - NPRR1215, Clarifications to the Day-Ahead Market (DAM) Energy-Only Offer Calculation

• Tabled in February and referred to CFSG
• ERCOT comments on April 12th, CFSG endorsed with ERCOT comments on April 18th
• Clarifications on credit calculations and handling of percentiles in DAM
• Incorporation of formula clarifications and as built corrections
• Addition of default value of e2 parameter
• No policy change, as built language
• NPRR1215 added to combo ballot

7.9.2 - NPRR1216, Implementation of Emergency Pricing Program

• Last month tabled and referred to WMS
• Unanimously endorsed as amended by April 17th ERCOT comments
• No opposition to combo ballot
• Confirmation from ERCOT that there are no additional fixed or non-variable costs included in the mailing payment
• Confirmation that there is a sentence explicitly stating there are no fixed costs
• NPRR1216 added to the combo ballot

7.9.6 - NPRR1224, ECRS Manual Deployment Triggers – URGENT - Nitika Mago

• ERCOT reiterated that they don't support making any changes to the ECRS procurement methodology for the rest of 2024.
• ERCOT clarified that NPRR1224 was intended to be a summer 2024 item only and intends to file a future NPRR to incorporate additional items not covered in 1224.
• There were discussions on the procedural aspects of approving and implementing NPRR1224, including the possibility of the PUCT waiving the 30-day review period and allowing the NPRR to go into effect in July instead of August.
• The meeting discussed the sensitivity analysis for different power balance penalty violation values and the potential impact of manual triggers on ECRS release.
• TCPA made comments about the energy bid curve, power balance penalty trigger, and preserving SCED dispatchable ECRS for frequency recovery.
• Some members expressed support for the NPRR, while others (IMM, Austin Energy, Rhythm Ops) raised concerns about the offer price floor and its potential impact on procurement and availability of other reserves.
• There was a discussion on the operational and price signal aspects of the manual trigger for releasing ECRS and the potential impact on pricing outcomes in the real-time market.
• PRS Motion: To recommend approval of NPRR1224 as amended by the 04/30/24 TCPA comments as revised by PRS and to forward to TAC NPRR1224 and the 03/27/24 IA.

Motion carries with two-thirds in favor, one third against, and six abstentions.

8 - Review of Revision Request Language - Vote - Diana Coleman

8.1 - NPRR1225, Exclusion of Lubbock Load from Securitization Charges

• Lubbock's transition to retail competition raised questions about the exclusion of customers served by Lubbock as TDSP from securitization charges
• ERCOT sought guidance from the commission through petitions for declaratory order, and the commission confirmed that Lubbock customers should continue to have their load excluded from securitization uplift and default charges
• ERCOT immediately incorporated this guidance in advance of the transition to competition.
• NPRR1225 now codifies these changes in the protocols, specifically in sections 26 for securitization default charges and section 27 for securitization uplift charges
• NPRR1225 added to the combo ballot.

8.2 - NPRR1226, Demand Response Monitor

• NPRR1226 introduced for creating a demand response monitor to assist market participants and ERCOT operators.
• Proposed to disclose aggregated responses from loads for price and CP response, conservation alerts, etc.
• Motion made to table and refer to WMS and ROS for further review and clarification on practical implementation.
• NPRR1226 only uses state estimator power numbers from the real-time system, not meters.
• Support voiced by Calpine for the inclusion of demand response in resource adequacy projects.
• Concern raised on protection of consumer information associated with collection of demand response data.
• Question on potential tie-in or benefit gained from using demand response survey done by WMS and DSWG.
• NPRR1226 added to combo ballot for further review and reference to WMS.

9 - Notice of Withdrawal - Diana Coleman

9.1 - NPRR1162, Single Agent Designation for a QSE and its Sub-QSEs for Voice Communications over the ERCOT WAN

• NPRR1162 has been formally withdrawn.
• The withdrawal is due to SCR825 crossing the finish line.

10 - Other Business - Diana Coleman

10.1 - NPRR1231, FFSS Program Communication Improvements and Additional
Clarifications

• Not up for vote, just for awareness, NPRR1231 will be on the June 5th WMS agenda.
• Discussion on the urgent need for improvements in communication and coordination during emergency situations within ERCOT.
• No urgency in waiving notice for NPRR1231

11 - Combo Ballot - Vote - Diana Coleman