Qualified Scheduling Entity Audit Information

For a qualified scheduling entity (QSE) that is being audited for compliance with Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Protocols and Operating Guides, Texas Reliability Entity, Inc. (Texas RE) asks that the QSE respond to a protocol questionnaire. The questionnaire will be sent 60 days before the audit, and the QSE must respond within 30 days. Below are the questions that Texas RE will ask. Each question is tailored to determine QSE compliance with a specific ERCOT Protocol(s).

The responses must indicate how the organization complies with the requirements. Responses should note the documentation (procedures, schedules, plans, records, etc.) and other materials that verify compliance. The organization must also be prepared to supply such documentation at the audit or before, ideally in electronic format.

Please note that Texas RE may ask additional questions about an organization’s compliance with additional ERCOT Protocols at Texas RE’s discretion.

Training Questions

Describe in detail the QSE operator training program’s objectives, curriculum, personnel, and positions covered; training methods; and training documentation.
Reference: ERCOT Operating Guide Section 1.8.1 and 1.8.2

Describe your procedure related to how the QSE training program addresses the forty (40) hour requirement for emergency training. Provide evidence of how the emergency training program is documented.
Reference: ERCOT Operating Guide Section 1.8.2

Describe how the QSE determines that its 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week scheduling center operators are initially qualified for their positions and qualification is maintained.
Reference: ERCOT Protocol 4.3.4 and Operating Guide Section 1.8.2 and 1.8.6

Provide the procedures and training documents made available to operators that ensure your company’s total energy obligation equals total energy supply and total ancillary services obligation during real-time operation for the following scenarios:

1) The loss of fossil resource(s)
2) The loss of wind resource(s)
3) Forecast errors
4) Ramp rate deficiencies

Reference: ERCOT Protocol Section 4.3.1 and ERCOT Operating Guide Section 1.8.1 (c, e)

Load Acting as a Resource Questions

Describe the process and procedure related to how the QSE verifies that a Load Acting as a Resource (LAAR) can and will comply with the ERCOT Protocol requiring 95-150% of load dropped within 10 minutes, whether by automatic relay action or verbal dispatch instructions from ERCOT. Describe how recall of LAAR will be accomplished.
Reference: ERCOT Protocol Section 6.5.4 (2) and 6.10.3.2 (2) (D)

System Emergency and Black Start Questions

Describe the process and procedure your QSE will take if ERCOT should call for Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Procedures (formerly known as an Emergency Electric Curtailment Plan, or EECP), including communications with generating units, LAARs, and other market participants represented by the QSE.
Reference: ERCOT Protocol Section 5.6.7 and ERCOT Operating Guide Section 4.5

Describe process and procedures related to actions to be taken by the QSE in a Black Start situation.
Reference: ERCOT Operating Guide Section 4.6 and Attachment A

Planning and Scheduling Questions

Describe the process and procedures related to how Resource Plan changes are recognized and communicated to ERCOT.
Reference: ERCOT Protocol Section 4.4.1.5

Describe process and procedures the QSE operators utilize to ensure that base schedules are feasible and will be able to meet performance criteria in real-time.
Reference: ERCOT Protocol Section 6.10.5.1

Describe how the QSE develops, reports, and revises the rolling 12-month outage schedule.
Reference: ERCOT Protocol Section 8.1.3.2

Describe the process and procedure related to how the QSE will notify ERCOT of resource forced outages, de-ratings, or other significant changes in status.
Reference: ERCOT Protocol Section 8.2.2, 8.2.4, and 8.2.5

Describe the process and procedure related to how the QSE operators respond to an ERCOT verbal dispatch instruction. What actions will occur if the instruction which will impact its ability to meet ancillary services obligations for the time period?
Reference: ERCOT Protocol Section 5.4.4

Describe the backup control plan in the event that the QSE scheduling center becomes inoperable. Describe timing of actions so as to avoid placing a prolonged burden on ERCOT and other market participants in the event that the QSE's primary functions are interrupted. Provide details of procedures and practices for backup control function testing and training of personnel for intended functions.
Reference: ERCOT Operating Guide Section 3.1.3.1

Frequency Response and Governors Questions

How does the QSE confirm that governors are kept in service when units are online? Describe how any changes in governor status are identified and communicated?
Reference: ERCOT Protocol Section 5.9 and ERCOT Operating Guide Section 2.2.5

Describe the process and procedure the QSE utilizes to determine the frequency bias for its portfolio. What consideration of governor operation, deadband, and droop are included in these calculations?
Reference: ERCOT Protocol Section 5.9 and 6.5.1.1(1) (d) and ERCOT Operating Guide Section 2.2.5 and 6.2.1

Responsive Reserve Service (RRS) Questions

Provide procedures, training and describe the scheduling practices that ensure the following during real-time operation:

(1) No more than 20% of the net dependable capability for any non-combined-cycle thermal unit shall be used as responsive reserve.
(2) No more than 20% of the combined net dependable capability for any combined-cycle block with one or more combustion turbines or gas turbines coupled to a steam turbine, with their net maximum capability aggregated together, shall be used as responsive reserve.

Reference: ERCOT Guides 2.5.2.3

How is your portfolio structured and maintained to ensure your company’s responsive reserve service (RRS) obligation is sustained during real-time operation?
Reference: ERCOT Guides 2.5.2.3

Communications and Telemetry Questions

Provide practices and procedures to ensure that all required real-time data points are provided, with proper accuracy, update times, and scan rates. Describe the process and procedure for identifying problems with data, communication, and control equipment, and how those problems are corrected. Identify data quality codes for telemetry forwarded to ERCOT through ICCP (Inter-control Center Communications Protocol) or the ERCOT interface remote telemetry unit (RTU).
Reference: ERCOT Protocols Section 12.4.4.1.1 and Operating Guide 8.1, 8.2, and Attachment 8A.

Describe the QSE requirements and practices related to maintaining data collection and communication equipment at its generators and LAARs?
Reference: Operating Guides 8.2 and 8.3.4

Describe the process, procedure, and arrangements with other service providers that are in place to maintain quality of service with telecommunications or if data circuits are interrupted.
Reference: Operating Guides 8.3.4 and 8.3.5