NOTICE DATE:  August 30, 2013

NOTICE TYPE:  W-A062013-03 REMINDER Operations

SHORT DESCRIPTION:  ERCOT 2013 Winter Storm Drill

INTENDED AUDIENCE:  QSEs with Resources, Transmission Service Providers and other interested Market Participants

DAY AFFECTED:  See table below

LONG DESCRIPTION:  The annual “Severe Weather Drill” as required by the ERCOT Nodal Operating Guides, Section 1.5.4, will be conducted November 5 and 6, 2013. All Qualified Scheduling Entities (QSEs) that represent Generation Resources and Transmission Operators (TOs) are required to participate in the severe weather drill.

This year’s Drill will simulate a massive cold air mass quickly moving into Texas in a 72 hour time frame. The Drill will begin at 07:30 on November 5, 2013, and will simulate a five day event. Below is a timeline of events and due dates.

Severe Weather Winter Storm Drill Timeline of Events

September 6, 2013

Operations Drill Participants’ confirmations due back to ERCOT

October 28, 2013

Drill Conference Call

November 5 – 6, 2013

Drill Days (07:30 – 16:30)

November 11, 2013

Drill Participants’ Critique responses due back to ERCOT

November 19, 2013

Backup Drill day

 

Other interested Market Participants are invited to participate in the emergency communications drill which runs simultaneously with the operations drill. ERCOT corporate communications will conduct an email-only drill which simulates crisis notification. Participants are welcome to simulate the use of their own internal emergency plans. RSVP to Robbie Searcy ([log in to unmask]) by September 6, 2013, if you would like to participate in the communications portion of the annual drill.

 

ACTION REQUIRED:  QSEs that represent Generation Resources and Transmission Operators are to confirm their participation by sending an email to Brian Barcalow ([log in to unmask]) by September 6, 2013, that includes the following required information:

·         The phone number of the site from which you intend to run your Drill. These numbers will be assembled into one phone list to be used by all Drill participants, in order to facilitate inter-communication.

·         A copy of your training plan. Your plan will be forwarded to the Texas Reliability Entity (TRE).

Operations staffs of other Market Participants (e.g., QSEs that do not provide Ancillary Services) are welcome to email Brian Barcalow ([log in to unmask]) to participate with ERCOT Operations in Hot Line calls.

For compliance purposes, it will be necessary for you to document your company’s participation. Your company is required to develop its own additional in-house Drill scenarios, which should include coordination and participation with neighboring TOs and QSEs. Companies should also conduct a post-mortem critique immediately following the Drill and apply this time toward ERCOT’s 32-hour reliability training requirement. Please note that ERCOT will not be able to issue NERC Continuing Education Hours for this Drill.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  The attached files contain the 2013 Drill Invitation, Drill Script (TO), and Drill Script (QSE).

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 an 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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