APX ERCOT Market Update - August 2011

APX MarketSuite^® Enhancements

Throughout the year, APX clients have received regular scheduling and settlement enhancements of the APX MarketSuite^® application. Below is a list of the enhancements made throughout 2011. Look for the APX Market Notices for additional information on releases to come in 2011.

Bid/Offer Scheduling Application: The application was updated to support Multi-Hour block bidding functionality through the Bid/Offer UI as well as the API. Market Offerings that can be bid as a multi-hour block are: OnUpAS (REGUP-RRS-ONNS), Offline Non-Spin, Virtual Bids and Offers, and PTP Obligation Bid.

Settlement Verification Control Report: New report for clients that subscribe to the APX Estimate and Shadow Settlement Service* was created.  This new report provides a comparison of APX shadow amounts to ISO statement amounts across a client's market participant IDs using a Calculated Since Date.  This report is an excellent tool for determining what Market Participants/Dates/Statement versions should be analyzed further using the Settlement Comparison Application to identify disputes with ERCOT.

Settlement Comparison Application*: Added a new Determinant View whereby all determinants with differences for a given MP/Trade Date/Version combination can be viewed at the same time.

Shadow & Estimates*: Estimation on the trade date of the CRR day-ahead charge types of DAOBLAMT and DAOPTAMT.

* If you are interested in learning more about APX Estimate and Shadow Settlement Services, please contact Moises Melgoza at mmelgoza@apx.com or (408) 517-2154.

ERCOT NPRRs Implemented by APX

• NPRR285 provides a new curtailment flag sent by ERCOT to the Qualified Scheduling Entity (QSE) for each Resource indicating SCED has dispatched a Generation Resource below the High Dispatch Limit (HDL) used by SCED however, NPRR285 only requires IRR Generation Resources to take this flag into consideration. This PRR also changed the Base Point Deviation Charge calculation for over- and under-generation by:

  1. Modifying the Base Point Deviation Charge for all Intermittent Renewable Resources (IRRs) whereby the charge type does not apply for the interval when the IRR was not curtailed for all SCEDs within the 15-minute settlement interval.

  2. Adding two new pricing factors, PR1 and PR2, to the Base Point Deviation Charge to add a floor price for the charge. When the generator OVER generates, the price used is the maximum of $20 or the RTSPP. When the generator UNDER generates, the price used is the minimum of -$20 or the RTSPP.

  3. APX removed the existing APX calculated curtailment flag from SCADA and replaced it with the ERCOT issued curtailment flag. APX also updated the Base Point Deviation Charge code in the APX MarketSuite^® to ensure that the estimate and shadow calculations are accurate.

• NPRR282 provides ERCOT's Security-Constrained Economic Dispatch (SCED) the ability to generate a new Base Point for a unit that is currently at base load. SCED used a static ramp rate found in the Resource Parameters database that did not accurately reflect the dynamic ramp rate that the unit can deliver. In order to implement this NPRR, ERCOT requested that all generators provide 4 dynamic ramp rates via ICCP.

  APX diligently worked with ERCOT to submit the new required ramp rates to ERCOT on behalf of its clients using data from the existing RARF. This also provided generators enough time to create these dynamic ramp rates in their systems.

Pending ERCOT NPRRs and SCRs Affecting the ERCOT Market

• ERCOT NPRR377 - This NPRR This Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) will align the Adjusted Aggregated Base Points (AABP) formula with the inputs to the Generation Resource Energy Deployment Performance (GREDP) measure. The current formula for AABP inaccurately assesses Base Point Deviation charges for under and over generation when shortened SCED intervals occur.

  These changes will impact the Energy Management system, as well as the Settlements & Billing extracts. NPRR 377 will next be reviewed by the Protocol Revision Subcommittee.
  http://www.ercot.com/committees/board/tac/prs/index

  In effect with this NPRR, APX will modify its alternative data precalc for the AABP determinant that is used in the Base Point Deviation Charge calculation for estimates and shadow.

• ERCOT NPRR379 - This NPRR is designed to improve the operational value of EILS and clarifies a number of performance criteria by providing dispatch instructions electronically. This electronic instruction will be sent in conjunction with the traditional verbal dispatch instruction but it improves the dispatch of EILS by expanding the Dispatch Instruction to include an XML message. This enhancement would make EILS dispatch consistent with LaaR's and helps remove any potential ambiguity about dispatch status.

  The implementation of this NPRR impacts the ERCOT Market Management System, as well as the Market Information System. NPRR379 is slated to be reviewed by the Technical Advisory Committee on 08/04/11.
  http://www.ercot.com/committees/board/tac/

  In effect with this NPRR, APX will receive the XML notifications via Web Listener. Please reach out to your APX Account Manager for additional information regarding access to the APX Web Listener.

• SCR765 - This SCR provides a wind aggregated dashboard available to the public that displays:

  • Aggregate Wind-powered Generation Resource (WGR) Power Output

  • Aggregate Short-term Wind Power Forecast (STWPF) for DA & RT

  • Aggregate Wind-powered Generation Resource Production Potential (WGRPP), from both the current and Day-Ahead

  • Aggregate Current Operating Plan (COP) High Sustained Limits (HSLs) for On-line WGRs, from both the current and Day-Ahead

  With substantial amounts of wind capacity located in ERCOT, the ability to view wind generation in near Real-Time will allow Market Participants and consumers to anticipate the impact on market prices due to wind production variations. This public dashboard allows Market Participants to monitor and help make economic decisions.

  This SCR was approved at the ERCOT Board Meeting on June 21^st, 2011.

  The SCR does not require any changes to the APX MarketSuite^®.

APX MarketSuite^® Demand Response Product

As the response for Demand Response (DR) programs grows, APX would like to introduce to utility demand response providers, aggregators, end-use customers, or loads our new state of the art DR technology platform, the APX MarketSuite Demand Response System. The system supports information registration, nomination submission, operational dispatch, settlement calculation and web reporting. The APX MarketSuite DR System is a competitively neutral system that supports participation by multiple market participants, an exclusive-use system for managing private clients and proprietary processes or a real-time operational tool that supports participation in ISO markets.  The system is secure and accessible over the Internet.

For more information, please contact Bao Ngo at 408-517-2157