NOTICE DATE: February 22, 2021

NOTICE TYPE: M-B022221-01 Legal

SHORT DESCRIPTION: Authorization to Disclose Certain Resource-Specific Outage Information

INTENDED AUDIENCE:  ERCOT Resource Entities with Generation Resources, Load Resources, or Energy Storage Resources

DAYS AFFECTED: February 26, 2021

LONG DESCRIPTION: ERCOT anticipates that it will be asked by the Texas Legislature, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and/or other state or federal Governmental Authorities to disclose Resource-specific outage and deration information associated with the cold weather emergency event of February 15-19, 2021, and to obtain legal authorization from Market Participants to enable a public discussion of the performance of specific Generation Resources, Energy Storage Resources, and Load Resources during the event. This information is considered Protected Information for 60 days after the relevant Operating Day pursuant to Protocols Section 1.3.1.1(1)(c).  Public disclosure of this information before that time has elapsed requires written authorization from each affected Market Participant, as provided in Protocols Section 1.3.6(1)(c).  For this reason, ERCOT requests that each Resource Entity that owns or controls a Generation Resource (other than a Generation Resource that is currently mothballed), Energy Storage Resource, or Load Resource provide written authorization for ERCOT to disclose that Resource’s outage and deration information publicly without requiring ERCOT to adhere to the procedures and conditions specified in the ERCOT Protocols, including Sections 1.3.1, 1.3.4, and 1.3.6. 

The information subject to disclosure by ERCOT would include all information in ERCOT’s possession relating to outages or derations occurring during the period of February 12-19, 2021, including but not limited to the date, time, duration, MW amount, and reason provided for the outage or deration.  The information subject to this authorization request does not include information about the reasons for any Forced Outage that may have begun before February 12, 2021.  ERCOT requests that authorization be provided no later than 5:00 p.m. CST this Friday, February 26, 2021.

Resource Entities that do not authorize ERCOT to publicly disclose the outage and deration information will be identified in any submission of this information to any appropriate Governmental Authority.  As permitted by the Protocols, ERCOT may be required to provide outage or deration information to a Governmental Authority even without the consent of the Resource Entity, subject to protections provided in the Protocols, including Sections 1.3.4 and 1.3.6.

Although ERCOT understands that Qualified Scheduling Entities (QSEs) are responsible for submitting outage and deration information as the “Single Point of Contact” under Protocols Section 3.1.4.1(2), ERCOT is requesting that only the Resource Entity provide the requested written authorization for each Resource.

ERCOT requests that authorization be provided by the Resource Entity’s Authorized Representative or Backup Authorized Representative, or by an officer of the Resource Entity or any other person that the Resource Entity has informed ERCOT has binding authority.  Approval should be communicated via email to [log in to unmask] with the subject line “Authorization for Resource Outage Disclosure.”  For ease of administration, ERCOT requests that each respondent on behalf of a Resource Entity provide authorization for all Resources at each site under the Resource Entity’s control, as follows:

I authorize ERCOT to publicly disclose any outage and deration information pertaining to the following Resource(s) for the dates of February 12-19, 2021, as described in Market Notice M-B022221-01, issued on February 22, 2021.

Resource Entity name:

Resource site code:

A respondent may submit an authorization for multiple Resource Entities in a single email provided that the respondent is authorized to submit on behalf of each Resource Entity and that the submission separately identifies the Resource site codes that correspond to each Resource Entity. 

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]. 

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