Qualified Scheduling Entity Requirements

A Qualified Scheduling Entity (QSE) is an ERCOT Market Participant that is qualified by the ERCOT Independent System Operator (ISO) in accordance with Section 16 of the ERCOT Protocols (Registration and Qualification of Market Participants) . QSEs register with the ERCOT independent system operator .

QSEs submit schedules on behalf of resource entities or load serving entities (LSEs as defined by ERCOT) such as retail electric providers. QSEs must submit daily schedules for their bilateral transactions with total generation and demand, specified at zonal level, and bid curves for zonal balancing up and balancing down energy. The schedules for generation and demand are required to be balanced so that supply equals demand. QSEs also bid for ancillary services and settle financial payments with ERCOT.

QSEs must comply with the following:
ERCOT Protocols
ERCOT Operating Guides

QSEs must also register with the National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) for applicable NERC functions, and comply with the following:
NERC standards

To assist QSE understanding of the ERCOT market, Texas Reliability Entity, Inc. (Texas RE) offers a summary of ERCOT Protocols and Operating Guides related to QSE responsibilities, as well as related NERC standards. It is each QSE’s responsibility to review ERCOT Protocols, ERCOT Operating Guides, and NERC standards to determine its compliance obligations. Included are the methods that Texas RE uses to assess compliance.

Assessment Method Key:

24-7 Staffing Requirements
Explains the QSE requirement to maintain 24-7 operations center
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	4.3.4
Operating Guide(s):	3.1.3.1
NERC Standard(s):

Backup Control Plan
Lists requirements for a backup control plan that describes how the QSE will communicate with ERCOT ISO in the event its primary control center is disabled
Assessment:	Annual
Protocol(s):	4.3.4
Operating Guide(s):	3.1.3.1
NERC Standard(s):	EOP-008-0

Balancing Energy Performance
Describes testing requirements for balancing energy performance
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	6.10.3.4
Operating Guide(s):
NERC Standard(s):

Black Start Procedures
Identifies the obligation to maintain and update black start plans annually
Assessment:	Annual
Protocol(s):
Operating Guide(s):	4.6, Attachment 4A.4
NERC Standard(s):	EOP-007-0

Black Start Service and Performance
Explains black start services and testing requirements
Assessment:	Annual
Protocol(s):	6.5.8, 6.10.3.6
Operating Guide(s):
NERC Standard(s):	EOP-009-0

Dispatch Instructions Compliance
Describes the responsibility and need to comply with valid dispatch instructions
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	5.4.4
Operating Guide(s):	3.1.2
NERC Standard(s):	IRO-001-1  TOP-001-1

Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Procedures, formerly known as Emergency Electric Curtailment Plan (EECP)
Identifies reasons and steps for an EEA, from initiation to recovery
Assessment:
Protocol(s):
Operating Guide(s):	4.5
NERC Standard(s):	EOP-002-0

Load Acting as Resource (LAAR) Performance
Describes seasonal test requirements for a LAAR
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	6.10.2
Operating Guide(s):
NERC Standard(s):

Net Dependable Capability Performance
Identifies the criteria for testing generators for net dependable capability in the ERCOT system
Assessment:	Seasonal
Protocol(s):	6.10.2
Operating Guide(s):	3.1.4.2, 6.2.2
NERC Standard(s):

Non-Spin Reserve Service Performance
Identifies requirements for generators that provide non-spin reserve service as an ancillary service
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	6.5.5, 6.10.5.5
Operating Guide(s):
NERC Standard(s):

Outage Scheduling Procedures, 12-Month
Identifies process of scheduling outages for generation resources
Assessment:	Seasonal
Protocol(s):	8.1.3
Operating Guide(s):
NERC Standard(s):	TOP-003-0

Out-of-Merit Capacity (OOMC) Performance
Lists responsibilities of QSE in supply of OOMC requested by ERCOT ISO
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	6.5.10(7,8), 6.10.8
Operating Guide(s):
NERC Standard(s):

Out-of-Merit Energy (OOME) Performance
Lists responsibilities of QSE in supply of OOME requested by ERCOT ISO
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	6.5.11(5), 6.10.7
Operating Guide(s):
NERC Standard(s):

Real-Time Data Requirements
Describes the various real-time data to be provided to ERCOT ISO, including operating period data, QSE operating obligations, operational metering and communication, and other operational reliability data
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	6.5.1.1
Operating Guide(s):	3.1.3.1, 8
NERC Standard(s):	TOP-005-0

Regulation Service Monitoring Criteria
Describes monitoring criteria and methodology used to determine compliance with one- and ten-minute performance measures (also termed SCPS1 and SCPS2, respectively), for QSEs that provide regulation service .
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	6.10.5.3, 6.10.6
Operating Guide(s):
NERC Standard(s):

Resource Plan Performance
Describes QSE obligations for keeping the Resource Plan accurate and current
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	4.4.15, 4.10, 4.5.2, 6.8.2.1, 4.7
Operating Guide(s):
NERC Standard(s):

Resource Plan Submittal and Update
Explains QSE obligations for entering and changing the Resource Plan
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	4.4.15
Operating Guide(s):	3.1.3.2
NERC Standard(s):

Responsive Reserve Service Performance
Describes testing requirements for responsive reserve service
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	6.10.3.2
Operating Guide(s):
NERC Standard(s):

Responsive Reserve Service Performance – Hydro
Identifies requirements to be met by hydro supplying responsive reserve service
Assessment:
Protocol(s):
Operating Guide(s):	2.5.2.3
NERC Standard(s):

Schedule Control Error (SCE) Monitoring Criteria
Describes SCE monitoring criteria and methodology used to determine compliance with one- and ten-minute performance measures (also termed SCPS1 and SCPS2, respectively), for QSEs with generation resources
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	6.10.5, 6.10.6
Operating Guide(s):
NERC Standard(s):

System Operator Training
Describes training requirements for ERCOT-registered TOs and QSEs, as well as ERCOT ISO system operators
Assessment:
Protocol(s):
Operating Guide(s):	1.8(1.8.1 - 1.8.5)
NERC Standard(s):

Under Frequency Relay Maintenance
Describes testing and maintenance requirements
Assessment:	Annual   Maintenance Data, Logs
Protocol(s):
Operating Guide(s):	7.2.4,7.2.5.1
NERC Standard(s):	PRC-008-0

Voltage Support Performance
Identifies generator obligations in providing voltage support
Assessment:
Protocol(s):	6.1.7, 6.5.7
Operating Guide(s):	2.10
NERC Standard(s):