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NOTICE DATE:  April 11, 2019
NOTICE TYPE:  W-A041119-01 NPRR
SHORT DESCRIPTION:  Implementation Details of NPRR755 and NOGRR154
INTENDED AUDIENCE:  Qualified Scheduling Entities and Transmission Service Providers
DAY AFFECTED:  June 15, 2019
LONG DESCRIPTION:  Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) 755, Data Agent-Only QSE Registration, allows an Entity to register as a Data Agent-Only Qualified Scheduling Entity (QSE) for the purpose of connecting to the ERCOT Wide Area Network (WAN) and transferring data as an agent for another QSE, without meeting collateral and capitalization requirements otherwise applicable to a QSE.
Recognizing that third-party service providers are currently used by some QSEs to exchange certain communications and Resource-specific data with ERCOT, NPRR755 defines the Data Agent-Only QSE as a Market Participant with a limited QSE role related to the exchange of Inter-Control Center Communications Protocol (ICCP) Data, Resource-Specific Extensible Markup Language (XML) Data, and operational voice communication with ERCOT over the ERCOT Wide Area Network (WAN).  As a Data Agent-Only QSE, these third-party providers will be permitted to continue providing communication and data services for their clients if they meet the requirements in the ERCOT Protocols and Operating Guides, including the installation of an ERCOT WAN for the secure and reliable exchange of Resource-specific data to ERCOT.
Nodal Operating Guide Revision Request (NOGRR) 154, Alignment with NPRR755 and Requirements for ERCOT WAN Installation and Exchange of Resource-Specific XML Data, clarifies the installation requirements for the ERCOT WAN, allows a QSE to designate an agent (including a Data Agent-Only QSE) for purposes of connecting to the ERCOT WAN, and requires QSEs to use the ERCOT WAN to exchange ICCP Data, Resource-Specific XML Data, or any of the operational voice data described in Operating Guide Section 7.1, ERCOT Wide Area Network, with ERCOT.  NOGRR154 defines a WAN Participant as a Market Participant (including a Data Agent-Only QSE) required to gather, transmit, or exchange ICCP Data, Resource-Specific XML Data and operational voice communication over the ERCOT WAN.  NOGRR154 also requires that a "secure private network" be used to exchange Resource-Specific XML Data and ICCP Data and operational voice communication between a WAN Participant's control and/or data centers or between WAN Participants. This change was made to address the risk that communication over the public Internet can potentially be disrupted for various reasons, including cyber-attacks.  To mitigate the reliability impacts of this risk, ERCOT and Market Participants developed and adopted clearer definitions of Resource-Specific XML Data and requirements for the reliable communication of such data over a "secure private network".
Implementation of NPRR755 and NOGRR154, which is currently expected on June 15, 2019, will allow ERCOT to register Entities interested in becoming Data Agent-Only QSEs. Third-party service providers currently providing communication and data services required to be exchanged over the ERCOT WAN will be required to register as a Data Agent-Only QSEs.  QSEs (including Data Agent-Only QSEs) currently using the public Internet to submit data required to be exchanged over the ERCOT WAN or secure private networks will be expected to either comply with these requirements or submit mitigation plans for compliance to ERCOT for approval.
ERCOT requests that QSEs and third-party service providers that do not currently meet the requirements in NPRR755 and NOGRR154 contact their ERCOT Account Manager or ERCOT's Client Services department to discuss their timeline for compliance with these provisions.  Mitigation plans will be required to be submitted to ERCOT for approval no later than the implementation date of NPRR755 and NOGRR154 (currently expected on June 15, 2019).  The mitigation plan should include a timeline for registration of applicable entities, WAN installations and detailed descriptions of secure private networks required for the exchange of Resource-Specific XML Data to ERCOT.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  NPRR755<http://www.ercot.com/mktrules/issues/NPRR755> and NOGRR154<http://www.ercot.com/mktrules/issues/NOGRR154> and associated documents can be found on the ERCOT website.   Specific implementation dates and deadlines for submission of mitigation plans will be communicated in future market Notices.
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]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.
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