NOTICE DATE: August 24, 2023

NOTICE TYPE: W-A082423-01 Operations

SHORT DESCRIPTION: Cold Weather Operating Limitations and Alternate Fuel Capability RFI to Resource Entities

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Resource Entities that own or control Generation Resources and Energy Storage Resources

DAYS AFFECTED: October 4, 2023

LONG DESCRIPTION: ERCOT will issue a request for information (RFI) to obtain cold weather temperature operating limitations from Resources pursuant to ERCOT Nodal Protocols 3.10.6, to comply with NERC Reliability Standards TOP-003-5 and IRO-010-4. ERCOT will use this information to perform Operational Planning Analyses, Real-time monitoring, and Real-time Assessments.

On August 31, 2023, ERCOT will send emails to Resource Entities that own or operate Generation Resources and Energy Storage Resources. Those emails will contain links to the Resources’ Cold Weather Operating Limitations envelope. To reduce administrative burden, please ensure your company's Authorized Representative (AR) information in ERCOT's records is up-to-date. If you need to update your AR, you can do so using the Notice of Change of Information form found here: https://www.ercot.com/files/docs/2022/02/01/23E_Nodal.docx.

Each email will contain a link to a unique DocuSign envelope to provide the following data for each Resource:

Cold Weather Temperature Limits

• Minimum historical ambient dry bulb temperature in degrees Fahrenheit at which the Resource has operated without experiencing a Forced Outage or Startup Loading Failure due to cold weather after at least one complete winter Peak Load Season following the Resource’s Initial Synchronization date based on the previous five calendar years of historical data; and
  • Minimum historical ambient dry bulb temperature in degrees Fahrenheit at which the Resource has operated without experiencing a Forced Derate greater than 10 MW and 5% of its winter Seasonal net maximum rating due to cold weather after at least one complete winter Peak Load Season following the Resource’s Initial Synchronization date based on the previous five calendar years of historical data; and
  • At least one of the following:
    • Minimum ambient dry bulb temperature in degrees Fahrenheit at which the Resource was designed to operate without a Forced Derate greater than 10 MW and 5% of its winter Seasonal net maximum rating due to cold weather; or
    • Minimum ambient dry bulb temperature in degrees Fahrenheit at which the Resource can operate without a Forced Derate greater than 10 MW and 5% of its winter Seasonal net maximum rating due to cold weather as determined by an engineering analysis; and
  • At least one of the following:
    • Minimum ambient dry bulb temperature in degrees Fahrenheit at which the Resource was designed to operate without a Forced Outage or Startup Loading Failure; or
    • Minimum ambient dry bulb temperature in degrees Fahrenheit at which the Resource can operate without a Forced Outage or Startup Loading Failure determined by an engineering analysis.

Alternate Fuel Supply Information

• The Resource’s winter season alternate fuel minimum supply inventory level (in hours at max output)
• The Resource’s operational maximum MW at rated power (gross) using alternate f
• The Resource’s minimum sustainable operating MW at rated power (gross) using alternate fuel
• The Resource’s time required to transition from being On-Line with primary fuel to alternate fuel Real Power Minimum Rating (in hours)
• The Resource’s alternate fuel type
• The Resource’s heat rate when operating with alternate fuel at HSL

16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § 25.503(f)(8) provides, "a market entity has an obligation to provide accurate and factual information...in any communication with ERCOT or with the commission...." Accordingly, you must ensure RFI responses are as accurate as possible. Additionally, 16 TAC § 25.503(f)(10) requires Market Participants to, "comply with requests for information or data by ERCOT...within the time specified by ERCOT instructions...." 

ACTION REQUIRED: Complete and return to ERCOT the DocuSign Cold Weather Operating Limitation envelopes no later than October 4, 2023.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This RFI serves as a supplement to the IRO-010 and TOP-003 documented specification for data to perform Balancing Authority analysis functions, Operational Planning Analyses, Real-time monitoring, and Real-time Assessments.  ERCOT has copied on this Market Notice all NERC-registered Generator Owner and Generator Operator contacts as notification of the requirement to provide this information by the required due date.

CONTACT: If you have any questions, please contact your ERCOT Account Manager. You may also call the general ERCOT Client Services phone number at (512) 248-3900 or contact ERCOT Client Services via email at [log in to unmask].

If you are receiving email from a public ERCOT distribution list that you no longer wish to receive, please follow this link in order to unsubscribe from this list: http://lists.ercot.com.

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