August 18, 2004 OWG Meeting Minutes

Attendance:

Jack

David DarnellCPS/Chair

James

Paul

Stephen C.

Rick Keetch Reliant Energy Chair OWG&ROS QSE

Jeff

Robert

Frank OwensGarland Chair

Black Start

Kent

Ross OwenTXU

Wayne

Larry

Sydney NiemeyerTxGencoQSE

Robert

Phillip BlevinsSTEC/

Wayne

Henry ZamoraAustin

Ron WheelerDynegy

Jerry

Ron StelmakTVG VendorRon.Stelmak@CAT<1.com

Bobby CoxEBR

Jeff

Van

NOTE: Action Items Shown in Bold

  1. Anti-Trust Admonition – Keetch reviewed anti-trust admonition.
  1. August 10, 2004 ROS Meeting Report--Keetch
  • Compliance reviewed an updated procedure for determining when system events should be analyzed in more detail.
  • ERCOT compliance is investigating how confidentiality agreements can be applied to allow the ROS to have a timely review of reliability related events.
  • Dan Wolford is spearheading an effort to determine how moth balled units should be treated in planning studies.
  1. July 20, 2004 Meeting Minutes –Keetch
  • All action items were accomplished.
  • Minutes were approved for posting without amendment.
  1. Operating Guides Task Force Report -- David Darnell
  • OGRR150 (Under Frequency Relay Timing). Darnell reviewed draft OGRR recommended by OGRTF. The OWG amended the OGRR and agreed to forward to the ROS with a recommendation for approval. The OGRTF was requested to review section 2.9 of the Operating Guides to be sure this portion is consistent with OGRR150.
  • OGRR151 (NERC Emergency Training Requirements) has received comments supporting and opposing including QSEs in ERCOT operators emergency training requirements. The OWG will forward alternate versions (with and without QSE training requirements) to the ROS for determination of this issue. A straw vote of the OWG indicated strong OWG support for including QSE training requirements in the OGRR.
  • OGRR 152 (Vegetation Management) has not received any comments. The OWG agreed to forward to the ROS with a recommendation for approval.
  • OGRR 149 (Types of Responsive Reserve) was approved by the ROS and TAC but can not be implemented until PRR502 has been implemented. This will be documented on the ERCOT OGRR web site.
  • New OGRRs will be posted shortly dealing with reactive testing, clarification of section 3 and generation unit requirements.

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  1. ERCOT Seminar-Van Weldon
  • Van Weldon reviewed summary of feedback on 2004 ERCOT seminar.
  • Practice session for 2005 is scheduled for March 7-10 with weekly session beginning March 28 for 5 weeks.
  • Seminar TF recommends extending the program 8 hours to accommodate emergency training requirements.
  • Focus will be on TDSP and QSE Operators.
  • Plan to continue on a path to meet NERC Continuing Education. However, the NERC Board has not yet made a final decision on whether CEU courses will apply to certification extensions.
  • The Seminar TF has a list of potential seminar topics and is canvassing for topics and presenters.
  • Next meetings are September 13, October 11 and December 13.
  • Van Weldon agreed to distribute his presentation to the OWG.
  1. Van Weldon informed the OWG that the NERC functional model is out for comments and recommended that the OWG members take time to review and comment. Compliance will provide web site reference.
  2. Chief System Operator Report. —James Hinson
  • ERCOT is adding 14 positions, 6 for a new Transmission Desk and 8 for a training watch. Currently have 8 commitments with three more expected next week.
  1. New Operations Bulletins—Kent Grammer

Kent reviewed the previous month’s published operation bulletins. Kent will send his presentation materials to the OWG distribution list.

  1. Operations TF — Jack Thormahlen
  • The Winter Storm Drill is scheduled for 11-10-04. Scripts and time lines are due to John Jonte on Friday August 20, 2004.
  • Next meeting will be September 8.
  1. Black Start Task Force Report—Frank Owens
  • The task force met on August 16, 2004.
  • The satellite phone system was demonstrated. The concept is to provide communications between ERCOT and TOs.
  • The TF discussed new synchronization points and updating the existing list of synchronization points.
  • Hinson is targeting hiring a contractor for Black Start Training beginning October 1, 2004.
  • Frank reviewed presentation available on the ERCOT web site that provides criteria for selection of black start units as well as services awarded for 2005. Testing is scheduled to start in September and be over by the end of October.
  1. Compliance Report – Robert Potts
  • Potts reviewed the Compliance Report dated August 6, 2004 that was sent with the OWG agenda.
  • All but three QSEs have provided back-up control center plans. Jeff Healy’s review has thus far found half of those provided to be satisfactory. Jeff is working with the appropriate entities to resolve the remaining problems.
  1. Operations Report – Jeff Healy
  • Healy presented the July Operations Report, which was provided with the OWG agenda.
  • James Hinson took an action item to investigate providing the market with the contingency and overload that results in OOMC events.
  • Jeff reviewed the 2005 Report on methodologies for determining Ancillary Service Requirements. The only change is that ERCOT plans to take ramping limitations into account in procurement of Regulation Service.
  1. Robert Potts and James Hinson stated that it is their understanding that NERC certification is not currently a requirement for the ERCOT TOs.
  1. Future Meetings
  • September 22, 2004
  • October 20, 2004
  • November17, 2004