TPTF Feb. 4-6 Meeting - Nodal Program Update

The following information highlights recent Texas Nodal progress as reported by Jerry Sullivan to the Transition Plan Task Force (TPTF) on Feb. 4. Access the entire report under Supporting Documents on the Nodal Program Office page for more detailed information.

The nodal progress report included the following updates:

Program status

  • Overall: Amber; Scope: Green; Quality: Amber; Schedule: Amber; Cost: Red

Key Achievements

  • Market Management System (MMS) Project
    • The MMS 2 release has successfully exited Functional Acceptance Testing (FAT) testing.
    • This release includes base functionality for Day-Ahead Market, Deliverability Evaluation Form, Hourly Reliability Unit Commitment (HRUC), Daily Reliability Unit Commitment (DRUC), Point-to-Point Options Derating, Simultaneous Feasibility Test, SCED Baseline 1 and 2 requirements, plus requirements associated with several NPRRs and white papers.
    • The release exited FAT with an 89% pass rate with no Severity 1 or 2 defects.
    • Implication: This is a major achievement in support of the nodal program schedule and enhances confidence in the last major MMS delivery in April. Vendor is taking schedule seriously.
  • Energy Management System (EMS) Project
    • State Estimator convergence is approaching its goal of 97 percent at a 15 Mw/Mvar convergence tolerance. On Jan. 28, convergence averaged nearly 90 percent at 30 Mw/Mvar tolerance for most of the day. The EMS team is monitoring issues and actively resolving problems to sustain this level of success. These improvements from the previous month result from higher fidelity of the input data.
    • Pre-FAT for early EMS 3C has been completed with one high level defect. The defect is being addressed.
    • Delivery timelines have been finalized for EMS 3 and 4.
    • Implications: Quality is improving at a satisfactory rate. Vendor is taking schedule seriously.
  • Market Information System (MIS) User Interface Project
    • The first version of the MMS user interface (UI) was released to EDS on Jan. 21, after two months of development. ERCOT decided to bring UI development in-house in response to market participants’ concerns.
    •  UI design incorporated market participant input gathered in monthly UI Subgroup meetings since August 2007.
    • Implications: The project team delivered this early release to allow for usability testing and market participant feedback, which will result in additional releases. This demonstrates ERCOT’s commitment to providing a positive user experience for market participants.
  • Commercial Systems (COMS) Project
    • The COMS team posted prototypes of Day-Ahead Market (DAM) settlements statements on the nodal website. Market participants can view the new statements on the Readiness Center. (/Nodal/readiness/eds4/documents/index.html) See EDS 4 – DAM Settlement Statements Draft
    • Implications: Market participants can start designing their systems to consume the financial information provided.

Severity 1 and 2 Defects

  • Severity 1 and 2 Definitions
    • Severity 1 – Data Loss/Critical Error – Defects that render unavailable the critical functions of the system under test. These include errors such as system errors, application failures, loss of data, incorrect calculations, inability to transfer data, failure to access database, and inability to display information to the user
    • Severity 2 – Loss of functionality w/o workaround – Defects that render unavailable partial functionality of the system under test with no workaround available. These include errors such as incorrect information displayed to the user, information not updating correctly, extracts failing, and missing export files.
  • Severity 1 and 2 Status
    • At the Jan. 21-23 meeting, TPTF requested to review specific documentation on Severity 1 and 2 defects for all nodal projects in Functional Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Early Delivery System (EDS).
    • ERCOT is evaluating what information, if any, may be released to market participants.
    • ERCOT may need to obtain permission from various nodal vendors before releasing such information to Market Participants.
    • ERCOT will continue to evaluate TPTF's request with the hope that it may be able to share that information at a later date. ERCOT’s intention is to provide this as soon as possible, and with cooperation with our nodal vendors.
    • Note that there are currently 95 active Severity 1 and 2 defects across the various applications currently in FAT and EDS.

Elaboration of “Pens Down” for Additional Changes for 168-Hour Test Functionality

  • Status
    • Network Model Management System (NMMS), EMS, Congestion Revenue Rights (CRR) and MMS are already “pens down” on additional changes
    • There is some tolerance for changes relating to reports; i.e., EDW (within certain constraints affecting source systems)
  • Highlighted deferred items, proposing treatment of known items that cannot make the 168 hour test window including
    • Items to be implemented before go–live, but after 168 hour test
    • Items to be developed by nodal before go–live, ready for subsequent production release
    • Items to be deferred to business-as-usual prioritization (PPL process)
  • Implications on Additional Nodal Protocol Revision Requests (NPRRs)
    • Only changes with a systems impact deemed absolutely essential for the correct operation of the nodal market can be considered (in the knowledge that their introduction may delay go-live)
    • The process of impact analysis of all new NPRRs (including those with no system impacts) diverts Nodal Subject Matter Experts from other critical tasks
    • Non-essential changes should be tabled or will be boxed in the protocols
    • Testing and LFC

ERCOT Engagement Results Remain Amber

  • Finance improves from amber to green and is the only division currently with green status
  • Human Resources was green in last survey and has fallen to amber sighting concerns over staffing
  • Core Divisions – Information Technology, Systems Operations, and Market Operations - have not completed their transition plans
  • Both Market Operations and Systems Operations highlighted concerns over processes and procedures and test planning
  • Market Operations has not completed their training plan nor allocated their training budget
  • ERCOT Staffing is amber. Summary of Status:
  • Staffing and organizational sizing models have been completed
  • Approval of staff funding not complete - targeted for Q1
  • Staffing to plan is progressing more slowly than expected
  • ERCOT Training
  • Finance, Information Technology, and Market Operations are behind in execution of their training plans

Resource Asset Registrations Form (RARF) Quality and Completeness Issues

  • November and December RARF submissions did not meet expectations
  • The MP Registration Activities metric (MP11) is edging market participant readiness toward red

Explanation of Resource Asset Registration Form Grading

  • RED
    • No November or December submittals received OR
    • November 9 submittals received but
      • No planning data included with December 31 submittal OR
      • No December 31 submittal at all
    • Sent emails and called these entities
    • Indicates lack of engagement/follow-through
  • AMBER
      • All November 9 submittal received AND
      • Some attempt at submitting planning data for December 31 submittal
    • Requested rest of information from these entities
    • Indicates effort but needs follow-through
  • GREEN
    • All data appears complete
    • Indicates good effort and engagement