The ERCOT Retail Market Subcommittee (RMS) meeting held on August 6, 2024, covered a broad range of topics, including updates on ongoing projects, system improvements, and responses to the recent impacts of Hurricane Beryl. The discussions were in-depth, focusing on routine updates as well as significant issues affecting market participants.
The meeting began with the validation of RMS Standing Representatives, ensuring all were properly registered and eligible to participate. An antitrust admonition was provided, followed by a review of the agenda, setting the stage for the day’s discussions. The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and included in the combo ballot for approval.
Updates from the recent Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting were shared, highlighting several approvals relevant to RMS, particularly NPRR1227, which relates to RMGRR181. Other significant updates included the successful passage of NPRR1219 and NPRR1230 via separate ballots.
A detailed update on ERCOT’s ongoing flight operations was provided. The 0624 flight introduced 20 new Competitive Retailers (CRs), all of whom successfully completed their onboarding process. For the upcoming 0924 flight, significant coordination is required as it involves 29 new CRs, including four new market entrants, with a total of 113 participants registered. The flight is scheduled to start transactions on August 23 and conclude on October 4, with contingency plans in place to ensure smooth operations.
The Retail Projects Update emphasized the focus on the Texas SET 5.0 implementation, with the aim of being fully operational by November 11. Detailed timelines have been communicated to relevant stakeholders, with ERCOT staff prepared to monitor the system starting the previous Sunday to ensure a smooth transition.
The IT report highlighted that all Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for retail and market data transparency were met in July. The report also covered successful site failovers and planned maintenance activities, noting improved system performance following a recent database platform OS shift. Discussions on the 2025 SLAs proposed changes to the release calendar, aiming to reduce weekend outages and transition to a more stable IT model with a hot-hot data center setup.
The 2024 Demand Response Survey timeline was outlined, with key dates for reporting and submission emphasized. Market participants were reminded to confirm the status of their demand response programs and submit the necessary data by the specified deadlines.
In the discussion of RMS revision requests, the impact analysis for RMGRR181 was presented. The analysis had been previously recommended for approval, and the current request was for endorsement of this analysis, which was identified as having no significant impact. This item was added to the combo ballot for further approval.
The Texas Standard Electronic Transaction (Texas SET) Working Group discussed the implementation timeline for Texas SET 5.0, including updates on the market orientation and feedback on the flight track tool. The 2025 flight schedule was introduced with adjustments to avoid conflicts with holidays. Additionally, a change control request was moved to the combo ballot for approval as a non-emergency item for the Texas SET 5.0 release.
The Market Coordination Team reviewed the Texas SET 5.0 implementation plan, confirming critical dates for system changes and market conference calls. The group agreed on using the term ‘TDSP non-business day’ instead of ‘holiday’ for clarity in the implementation timeline.
New Protocol Revision Subcommittee (PRS) referrals were discussed, with a focus on NPRR1237, which involved minor textual changes to clarify market participant roles and processes. The decision was made to table NPRR1237 for further revisions and review at the next meeting.
The combo ballot, which included multiple items for approval, passed unanimously.
Updates from the Lubbock Retail Integration Task Force were provided, covering issues such as decimal handling in transactions, interval data availability, and ongoing stabilization efforts. The importance of documenting lessons learned for future transitions was emphasized.
The Retail Market Training Task Force updated participants on upcoming training sessions related to MarkeTrak and Texas SET 5.0, with a focus on ensuring readiness for the November rollout.
The Texas Data Transport and MarkeTrak Systems Working Group discussed the SLO calendar, the transition of MarkeTraks with Texas SET 5.0, and important dates for training and testing. The group reviewed system updates and the transition from TDSP operational holidays to non-business days.
The Profiling Working Group presented on recent improvements in visualization and MarkeTrak performance, noting a significant increase in the volume of cancellations with approval in 2023. Upcoming changes in MarkeTrak 5.0 aimed at improving transaction efficiency were also discussed.
The meeting also addressed other business, including the approval of the 2025 block calendar, which schedules RMS meetings for the first or second Tuesday of each month. Updates on the response to Hurricane Beryl were provided by several utilities, detailing efforts to restore power and improve outage tracking. The discussion emphasized the importance of effective communication and collaboration during such events.
Future RMS meetings were discussed, with plans to schedule the November meeting well in advance to ensure full participation. Announcements were made regarding upcoming workshops, with a reminder for participants to complete the CR survey for service improvement.
The meeting was adjourned after a productive session that addressed critical updates and planning for future improvements within ERCOT’s retail market operations.
