NOTICE DATE: March 10, 2022

NOTICE TYPE: W-A031022-01 Education/Training

SHORT DESCRIPTION: ERCOT 2022 Remote Black Start Training Pilot simulation will be Tuesday, April 26 – Thursday April 28, 2022. The regular Remote Black Start Training sessions will run for 6 consecutive weeks, Tuesday through Thursday, beginning on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: All Transmission Operators (TOs), Qualified Scheduling Entity (QSE) operators identified in a Black Start restoration plan, Resource Entities that represent Black Start Resources, and other Entities who are notified by ERCOT that their participation is required. Attendance at Black Start Training is limited to those Entities identified above, ERCOT staff, and other Entities deemed by ERCOT to have a legitimate reliability reason to attend.

DAYS AFFECTED: See table below for all associated Black Start Training dates.

LONG DESCRIPTION: The 2022 Black Start Training consists of two components: a 7-hour prerequisite computer-based training (CBT) course and a 2.5 day simulation. The cost of the training is $650 and up to 27 continuing education hours (CEHs) may be awarded for successful completion.

The simulation will be performed remotely with all Market Participants logging into the Macomber Map through the ERCOT Gateway exclusively from computers at their company locations.

Official credential log-on testing for Black Start Training will be conducted Tuesday, April 12 – 14, 2022.  Market Participants are also strongly encouraged to log into the Gateway and verify their credentials each week prior to their session.

Requirements for Market Participants to Participate:

• ERCOT Gateway Access (https://gateway.ercot.com).
• Workplace with good internet connectivity and no background noise.
• A facilitator for each session in which the company is participating.
• Computer for each participant with the following items:
  • recommended minimum hardware specs (Windows 10, RAM 16GB, intel i5 or similar configuration); and
  • Install latest Citrix Workspace app from Citrix Workspace app 2108 for Windows - Citrix
  • Latest Chrome, Edge Browser or Internet Explorer 11.x (see the configuration under Public Data at User Guides (ercot.com).
• Copy of up-to-date Black Start Plans.
• Transmission Operators (TOs) will need to provide ERCOT with one number for the Hot-line call and one additional number for the conference bridge (NO REAL-TIME NUMBERS).
• QSE’s will need to provide ERCOT with one number for each of their Black Start Resources (NO REAL-TIME NUMBERS).
• QSE Facilitators are required to have a means to monitor and engage with the Black Start Generator Operators if the Facilitator or Generator Operator are seeking CEHs.

ACTION REQUIRED:

Single Point of Contact - April 1, 2022
Market Participant single point of contact name, email, and phone number as well as the Market Participant Training Operator Desk Phone Numbers are due to ERCOT by April 1, 2022. Send to James Ballard at [log in to unmask], email subject line must state: 2022 Black Start Point of Contact Information.

Registration - March 28, 2022
Registration begins March 28 via Cvent at the following link. The cost to register is $650. All participants must register. https://cvent.me/01NEmB

Facilitator Training - Available
Facilitators will be required to complete the 2022 Facilitator Training via the ERCOT LMS prior to registering. A copy of the Facilitator Training certificate and date of completion will be required to register. Link to Facilitator Training: https://www2.virtualtrainingassistant.com/Ercot/learnerconnection/Security/Logon.aspx?StartPage=crsedesc&Continue=cCrseSearch&Site=00&Area=OPS&Subj=SOT&Crse=FAC

Prerequisite CBT Course - March 15, 2022
Each participant is required to take the Black Start and System Restoration CBT prior to their session start date. The CBT can be found in the ERCOT LMS, beginning March 15, at the following link: https://www2.virtualtrainingassistant.com/Ercot/learnerconnection/Security/Logon.aspx?StartPage=crsedesc&Continue=cCrseSearch&Site=00&Area=OPS&Subj=SOT&Crse=B22 CEHs for the CBT will only be awarded to those with paid registrations.

Macomber Map and ERCOT Gateway
Market Participants are strongly encouraged to log into the Gateway and verify their credentials each week prior to their session. A refresher course on the Macomber Map has been added to the ERCOT LMS at: https://www2.virtualtrainingassistant.com/Ercot/learnerconnection/Security/Logon.aspx?StartPage=crsedesc&Continue=cCrseSearch&Site=00&Area=OPS&Subj=SOT&Crse=MAP

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: In addition to the Entities listed above, this notice is also issued to the compliance contacts for all Texas Regional Entity Transmission Operators and Generator Operators. Generator Operators with Black Start Resources are the only Generator Operators required to attend Black Start training and testing. To avoid confusion or interference with real-time operations, ERCOT is requesting all Market Participants involved in this training avoid using staff operating in real-time operations during participation in Black Start simulation testing and during actual Black Start Training.

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]. For all questions regarding the 2022 Black Start Training registration contact [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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