Operations Training Meeting Notes and Winter Storm Drill Updates
"Read about the recent Operations Training Working Group Meeting chaired by Mark Spinner on 4/4/2025. Updates on Winter Storm Drills, GridEx IV registration, NERC participation, and synchronization planning. Discover key discussions on restoration stages, transition to CFC focus, and topics for QSEs/GOPs."
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Operations Training Working Group Meeting Notes Mark Spinner Chairman 4/4/2025
Winter Storm Drill Completed the Winter Storm Preparation WebEx Completed Winter Storm Drill. CEHs for the Winter Storm Drill may be administered by ERCOT provided the following materials are provided by November 17th. Learner contract / Sign in Sheet Facilitator Participation Form (Facilitator also receives CEHs) Feedback Form(s) Assessment(s) Presentation with Market Participants customizations 2 ERCOT PUBLIC
Grid Ex IV Grid Ex IV Nov 15 16, 2017 Registration (Strongly suggested to Register) Send your organization s Lead Planner name and email address to GridEx_Registration@bah.com The advantages to registering with NERC is that you will have access to the Simulation Deck to enhance your simulation. Can register as an observer or participant until November 7th. Do not have to register with NERC to participate in the ERCOT GridEx IV. Grid Ex IV Briefing Web Ex November 7th. 3 ERCOT PUBLIC
Grid Ex IV Grid Ex IV Nov 15 16, 2017 Current NERC registered participants are: Avangrid American Electric Power Austin Energy Duke Energy Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Lower Colorado River Authority Rayburn Electric Cooperative Sharyland Utilities, LP City of Garland ONCOR CPS Energy MP2 Energy 4 ERCOT PUBLIC
Sync and Beyond All Hazards Restoration Stages Framework Importance of having a plan ahead of time with clear: Achievable milestones Regular defined communication intervals Due to amount of changes with the new Black Start Plan it is recommend that Outages not be included this year. However, some wanted the flexibility. Simulation Parameters Requested some simulator enhancements 5 ERCOT PUBLIC
Sync and Beyond When to transition to CFC Focus on ISOC operations ISOC stability vs. CFC stability Request information from QSEs Terminology / Vocabulary (These terms are the terms whose definitions are going to be emphasized during training.) Operating Principles for Multi-TOP ISOC island Identify clear roles, responsibilities and communications for TO, ERCOT, GO, QSE 6 ERCOT PUBLIC
Sync and Beyond Topic for QSEs / GOPs : Frequency Bias Calculation Gas/Electric Coordination Identifying which substation the electric pumps are being supplied from (most are on distribution feeders) 7 ERCOT PUBLIC
2018 Black Start Training All Hazards Restoration Stages Framework Extra Day of Black Start and Restoration Training (CEHs) Generator Dynamics (Voltage and Frequency) Transmission System Dynamics (Voltage) Strongly Recommended for Operators with less than 5 years, Recommended refresher for everyone 10 additional CEHs Limited Availability (50) due to logistics. There will be separate sign ups for the Generator and Transmission System Dynamics and Black Start and Restoration courses. 8 ERCOT PUBLIC
2018 Black Start Training Schedule Pilot Generator and Transmission System Dynamics (10 CEHs) January 8th 9th Black Start and Restoration Course (19 CEHs) January 9th 11th Session 1 Generator and Transmission System Dynamics (10 CEHs) January 29th 30th Black Start and Restoration Course (19 CEHs) January 30th February 1st 9 ERCOT PUBLIC
2018 Black Start Training Schedule Session 2 Generator and Transmission System Dynamics (10 CEHs) February 5th 6th Black Start and Restoration Course (19 CEHs) February 6th 8th Session 3 Generator and Transmission System Dynamics (10 CEHs) February 12th 13th Black Start and Restoration Course (19 CEHs) February 13th 15th 10 ERCOT PUBLIC
2018 Black Start Training Schedule Session 4 Generator and Transmission System Dynamics (10 CEHs) February 19th 20th Black Start and Restoration Course (19 CEHs) February 20th 22nd Session 5 Generator and Transmission System Dynamics (10 CEHs) February 26th 27th Black Start and Restoration Course (19 CEHs) February 27th March 1st 11 ERCOT PUBLIC
2018 Black Start Training Schedule Session 6 Generator and Transmission System Dynamics (10 CEHs) March 5th 6th Black Start and Restoration Course (19 CEHs) March 6th 8th Inclement Weather Session Generator and Transmission System Dynamics (10 CEHs) March 12th 13th Black Start and Restoration Course (19 CEHs) March 13th 15th 12 ERCOT PUBLIC
2018 Operator Training Seminar (OTS) Theme: Generators, Markets and Transmission, Working Together to Ensure Reliability Topics (Length 18 hours, 16 CEHs) CEO Introduction (Bill Magness / ERCOT) Extreme Natural Events (1 CEH) (Kristi Hobbs / ERCOT) Hurricane Harvey (3 CEH) Hurricane Harvey Weatherman Perspective (Chris Coleman) (50 min) Hurricane Harvey Centerpoint Perspective (30 min) Hurricane Harvey AEP Perspective (Joe Pina) (30 min) Hurricane Harvey NRG Perspective (Kevin Matt) (30 min) Hurricane Harvey ERCOT Perspective (Aaron Ballew, Jerry Gaddy, Jimmy Hartmann (30 min) 13 ERCOT PUBLIC
2018 Operator Training Seminar (OTS) Theme: Generators, Markets and Transmission, Working Together to Ensure Reliability Topics (Length 18 hours, 16 CEHs) Summer/Winter Preparation (1 CEH) (Dan Woodfin / Sandip Sharma / ERCOT) Forecasting Wind / Solar (1 CEH) (Nitika Mago / ERCOT) Markets and Reliability (1 CEH) (David Maggio / ERCOT) RUC Process (2 CEH) (John Adams / ERCOT) Solar (1 CEH) (Paul Wattles) Distributed Energy Resources (DER) / Demand Side Management (1 CEH) (Clayton Stice / ERCOT) 14 ERCOT PUBLIC
2018 Operator Training Seminar (OTS) Topics (Length 18 hours, 16 CEHs) Loss of SCADA, EMS, or LCC (1 CEH) (Dave Penney / TRE, Mark Henry / TRE, Ray Manzanilla / ERCOT) Coordinated Voltage Control (Voltage set point control) (1 CEH) (Stephen Solis / ERCOT) Human Performance Improvement (1 CEH) (Brian Legg / ERCOT) Physical and Cyber Security (1 CEH) (Joshua Aldridge / ERCOT) Australian Black Out Event (1 CEH) (Alex Lee / ERCOT) Testing 15 ERCOT PUBLIC
2018 Operator Training Seminar (OTS) Schedule Pilot January 23rd 25th Session 1 March 27th 29th Session 2 April 3rd 5th Session 3 April 10th 12th Session 4 April 17th 19th Session 5 April 24th 26th Session 6 May 1st 3rd 16 ERCOT PUBLIC
ERCOT Exam Realized there were problematic questions. Reviewed all questions. Identified operators who did not pass due to the problematic questions. If the question(s) prevented a passing score, rescored, and notified operators they passed. Questions identified have been disabled. Currently there are sufficient number of questions for each section. The exam may continue to be given. Challenge Process documented and approved. Questions identified must be reviewed by the Exam Working Group. 17 ERCOT PUBLIC
2019 Black Start and Restoration Training and Operator Training Seminar Both events would be held in the new Training Building at ERCOT Black Start and Restoration Training moved to March - April timeframe (Pilot in February) Operator Training Seminar moved to Mid October to November timeframe. (Pilot in August) Coincide with the Biennial Winter Storm Drill and Grid Ex events. Winter Storm Drill will be one year and Grid Ex would be following year. Will continue doing Hurricane drills in the Grid Ex years. 18 ERCOT PUBLIC
2019 Black Start and Restoration Training and Operator Training Seminar Both events would be held in the new Training Building at ERCOT Reasons for the move This would allow company specific training to happen earlier in the year. This would allow all operators to participate in the Drill events each year. More CEHs each year More Simulation each year Better value to Market Participants 19 ERCOT PUBLIC
Next Meeting November 9th 20 ERCOT PUBLIC
