▶️ 2 - Election of 2025 WMS Chair and Vice Chair - Vote - Suzy Clifton
Introduction of 2025 WMS representatives including new members from different segments such as cooperative, independent power marketer, independent retail electric provider, and municipal segment.
Explanation of the election process for WMS Chair and Vice Chair including nomination and voting procedures.
Nomination and election of Blake Holt from LCRA as WMS Chair for 2025 with no other nominations.
Nomination and election of Jim Lee as WMS Vice Chair for 2025 with no other nominations.
▶️ 6.1 - VCMRR042, SO2 and NOx Emission Index Prices Used in Verifiable Cost Calculations
Motion to table VCMRR042 added to the combo ballot.
The agenda item VCMRR042 is up for individual assessment (IA), but a motion to table it is needed.
▶️ 6.2 - COPMGRR051, Related to NPRR1264, Creation of a New Energy Attribute Certificate Program
Motion to table COPMGRR051 added to the combo ballot ‘relating to NPRR1264’
Discussion on taking action under language review items.
Need for a separate ballot due to Blake's voting requirement as a consumer.
▶️ 6.3 - SMOGRR031, Related to NPRR1264, Creation of a New Energy Attribute Certificate Program
Motion to table SMOGRR031 added to the combo ballot ‘related to NPRR1264’.
▶️ 6.4 - VCMRR043, Related to NPRR1264, Creation of a New Energy Attribute Certificate Program
Motion to table VCMRR043 added to the combo ballot ‘related to NPRR1264’.
Clarification was made that VCMRR043 is not referring to 40 RRs.
Discussion on whether NPRR1264 should be included in the motion.
Suggestion to include all revision requests related to the subject under WMS's purview to avoid separate motions.
Clarification that the NPRR is not under WMS purview and might require a separate request.
Proposal to table items VCMRR043, COPMGRR051, SMOGRR31, and request for PRS to table NPRR1264.
Voting took place across various segments including consumer, cooperative, independent generator, independent power marketers, independent retail electric provider, investor-owned utilities, and municipal segments.
The motion to table the items was carried unanimously.
Acknowledgments given for clarifications and handling the process.
▶️ 7 - NPRR1264, Creation of a New Energy Attribute Certificate Program - Possible Vote - WMS Leadership
Motion to request PRS to table NPRR1264 added to the combo ballot ‘related to NPRR1264’.
Texas Energy Buyers Alliance advocating changes to the renewable energy certificate (REC) program.
Program to be renamed from REC trading program to Energy Attribute Certificate (EAC) trading program, affecting binding documents.
NPRR to enable tracking of attributes like production hour, fuel type, location, vintage of generator, with potential for more attributes.
Certificates to be available for all generator types including nuclear and energy storage.
Potential benefits for compliance with international and national regulations like those related to energy matching for hydrogen markets.
Enhanced transparency and market functionality through improved API features, enabling disaggregation and partial transfer of certificates.
Policies for generator confidentiality with a 60-day delay before public information release.
Third-party certification possible to verify generator operations, aiding market transactions.
Effectiveness conditional on system readiness, overlapping with the expiration of the solar RPS program.
Confidential treatment of RPS industrial customer non-participation election to remain.
NPRR is voluntary; no mandate for loads to buy certificates.
Discussion on benefits of a structured market vs. bilateral contracting for attribute transactions.
ERCOT not expected to perform third-party certification; this could be done by various external companies.
Clarification on handling of attributes in hybrid systems to prevent double counting.
Motion to approve the combo ballot as presented carries unanimously with no abstentions.
▶️ 8 - Revision Requests Tabled at PRS and Referred to WMS - Possible Vote - WMS Leadership
▶️ 8.1 - NPRR1070, Planning Criteria for GTC Exit Solutions
NPRR1070 shares some overlap with NPRR1247, which was recommended for approval in December.
There is uncertainty about the necessity of NPRR1070 due to changes in planning with NPRR1247.
NPRR1070 was put on hold pending NPRR1247, but none of its concepts were included in the latter initiative.
NPRR1070 is being updated, and certain parts, like PGRR119, are being handled separately.
NPRR1070 is not redundant to NPRR1247 as it covers issues unaddressed by NPRR1247.
Concerns exist about potential transmission needs not addressed due to the broad authority given by NPRR1247.
NPRR1070 ensures transmission issues initially a reliability problem but turned into an economic problem.
The need for written clarification of practices already in use by ERCOT, particularly regarding GTCs and economic assessments (EAs).
There are discussions about how to manage generation throttled by GTCs, which is currently not documented in ERCOT's practices.
NPRR1070 may still hold key unresolved issues, so it is recommended to proceed and wrap up the initiative.
▶️ 8.2 - NPRR1235, Dispatchable Reliability Reserve Service as a Stand-Alone Ancillary Service - SAWG
Stakeholders were requested to provide feedback on the options by January 10th, following an extension from the November SAWG meeting.
There is an internal discussion on whether to amend the existing NPRR1235 with comments or to propose a new NPRR based on stakeholder feedback.
Stakeholders expressed the need for a better understanding of the concepts before providing feedback, seeking clarification at the upcoming January 24th SAWG meeting.
Concerns were raised about ensuring a principle-based approach, questioning the proposal's current direction and the potential creation of unnecessary costs.
The aim is to develop DRRS as a tool for operational uncertainty and future flexibility while considering stakeholder input.
Commitment to continue the discussion at future meetings, ensuring stakeholder opportunities for input and developing a robust design.
▶️ 8.3 - NPRR1202, Refundable Deposits for Large Load Interconnection Studies
ERCOT is considering incorporating NPRR1202 into the larger load effort of NPRR1234.
Currently at the drawing board stage with ongoing studies to possibly revamp fee amounts.
Idea to merge the increased interconnection fees proposed by Longhorn Power from NPRR1202 into NPRR1234.
Bill Barnes expressed dissatisfaction with ERCOT's response for not supporting the fee increase, citing internal accounting issues as the reason.
ERCOT committed to re-evaluate the fee increase potential for better staffing funding and more discipline in the large load queue.
Stakeholders believe ERCOT's reasons for not implementing the proposed changes are internal and could be resolved in the future.
▶️ 8.4 - NPRR1238, Voluntary Registration of Loads with Curtailable Load Capabilities
Still under discussion on the ROS side; ERCOT is working towards filing comments.
Goal is to align this with the large load NPRR effort.
No immediate action required from WMS.
Joe Dan Wilson mentioned ongoing efforts to work with clients to publish comments.
▶️ 9 - Congestion Management Working Group - CMWG - Alex Miller
WMWG held two meetings recently, one in December and another a few days ago.
Discussed leadership positions for 2025; Amanda Frazier nominated as chair and Trevor Safko as vice chair, with no other nominations received.
ERCOT's Sam Morris provided information on how wholesale storage load is forecasted and settled like regular load.
Opportunity for input and changes with real-time co-optimization implementation when EMS is reopened was discussed.
WMWG to continue discussing NPRR1256 among other NPRRs.
▶️ 11.1 - NPRR1229, Real-Time Constraint Management Plan Energy Payment - WMWG - Possible Vote
NPRR1229 involves cost recovery payments for units that trip offline and sustain damage due to a constraint mitigation plan.
The topic has been under discussion for several months.
STEC presented their most recent set of comments.
There were substantive questions on calculation methods for the payments.
A broader question was raised about inclusion of these payments in the global mitigation concept of NPRR1190.
Discussion to continue in the next meeting.
▶️ 11.2 - NPRR1241, Firm Fuel Supply Service FFSS Availability and Hourly Standby Fee - WMWG - Possible Vote
Motion to endorse NPRR1241 as amended by the 12/3/24 Luminant comments added to the combo ballot.
NPRR1241 is ready for WMS's action with comments on revising the clawback proposal for firm fuel resources.
Discussion on the CARD and CRR balancing account allocation, considering the removal of the zonal component.
ERCOT to collect data on historic CRR account and TCOS allocations for further recommendations.
Pending discussion on EPA impacts on ERCOT fleet, with Susana Hildebrand set to present at the next WMWG meeting.
Katie Rich acknowledges stakeholder feedback on the revised NPRR1241.
Revised proposal aims to balance penalties for resource availability during watches.
WMWG endorses the proposal, considering a combo ballot for approval.
No objections to the proposal; moving forward with recommended actions.
▶️ 11.3 - NPRR1256, Settlement of MRA of ESRs - WMWG - Possible Vote
Discussion focused on how ESRs would be settled when selected as a must-rent alternative.
ERCOT representatives, including Ino González and Kenneth Ragsdale, explained the NPRR.
There is a need for further discussion on verifying ESRs’ state of charge when serving as an MRA.
A follow-up discussion is scheduled for the next WMSWG meeting.
Query raised about distinction between state of charge and availability payments for MRA.
Current NPRR allows for reducing standby payments if the resource is not available.
Comments are being prepared to further reduce standby payments if an ESR does not have the required state of charge at the beginning of their obligation block.
Proposal to introduce a reduction factor for state of charge at the next WMSWG meeting.
