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Meeting Summary - LFLTF Meeting

Grid Monitor Staff Writer
05/09/2024

<img src="/storage/docs/2024/05/Screen%20Shot%202024-05-08%20at%202.51.58%20PM.png" width="552" height="311" /> <a href="https://app.gridmonitor.com/sharing/?token=2aab9da6-23b6-4910-9888-c963e5fdd857" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2</a> - Update on Large Load Queue and Recent ERCOT - Evan Neel <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">684 MW added to the queue in the last 12 months, bringing the total to over 41 GW in new load in the queue.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">In 2027, 10GW had planning studies approved and 18GW were under ERCOT review.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">2,837 MW of approved energized load resides in load zone west, and 1,642 MW in other load zones.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Non-simultaneous peak consumption is observed to be 2,902 MW.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Simultaneous peak consumption is observed to be 2,610 MW.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">1300 MW of curtailment during solar eclipse.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">300 megawatts of AS obligations held throughout the eclipse.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">No breakdown of interconnection requests for data center or Bitcoin mining loads.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">ERCOT does not track load interconnection requests specifically related to hydrogen products.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Load information is protected differently than generation information</li> </ul> 3 - Review of NPRRs - Sai Morty/ERCOT - Eric Goff - Floyd Trefny <a href="https://app.gridmonitor.com/sharing/?token=37bf73c5-4001-45b7-936f-746c9f5a11cd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3.1</a> - NPRR1188 –Implement Nodal Dispatch and Energy - Settlement for Controllable Load Resources - Bob Wittmeyer <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">NPRR1188 received comments in the fall of the original filing which raised concerns about distinct treatment for controlled load resources (CLRs) that were co-located.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Comments recognized and addressed concerns raised by Lancium, with language changes to provide equitable treatment to CLRs and added language to fully implement the changes.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Language added back into NPRR1188 to address NPRR1058 timing.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Concerns raised about potential impacts on load zone pricing, existing hedges, and forward markets of CLRs moving from load zone to nodal pricing.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Legal research confirmed the implementation of NPRR1188 within commission rules, with no belief that a rule change is necessary.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Discussion on potential impact on forward markets, load zone movement, and implementation timelines.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Debate on the need for analysis and the long-term benefits of proposed changes, with emphasis on the value and reliability benefits.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pushback on the four-year requirement for load behavior changes.</li> </ul> <a href="https://app.gridmonitor.com/sharing/?token=2cc51a57-ee33-401b-b5b2-1a0d8cc11a60" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3.2</a> - NPRR1203 – Refundable Deposits for Large Load Interconnection Studies - Eric Goff <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Exploration of the concept of refundable deposits and consideration of the proposed interconnection study fee.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Adjustment of the price for the interconnection study fee to accurately reflect the cost.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Consideration of changes in terminology related to the large load process and the triggering point for the fee assessment.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Desire to move the resolution of outstanding issues forward and request for feedback.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Input from Davida Dwyer on ERCOT's ability to charge only for services provided and the consideration of maintenance fees for work related to tracking and reporting on the queue.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Importance of accurately capturing the hours spent on consultations and other tasks not directly related to studies.</li> </ul> <a href="https://app.gridmonitor.com/sharing/?token=ff4824f6-cc5b-44ac-b2fa-d12b15d300f0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3.3</a> - NPRR1226 – Demand Response Monitor - Floyd Trefny <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Floyd Trefny discussed the demand response monitor and its evolution during the large flexible load meeting.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Originally conceived as an internal ERCOT system, it evolved to potentially be available on the ERCOT market systems after discussions with others.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The monitor would display aggregated responsive loads in a graph form, including megawatts of responsive load and corresponding price changes.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The definition of "load" in the protocols was discussed, and a new term for state estimator load was suggested to avoid confusion.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The importance of displaying the graph in a protocol and market rule, without actually revealing it, was emphasized.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">There were discussions about selecting loads for ERCOT demand response and the public display of the graph on the ERCOT system.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Concerns were raised regarding confidentiality and correct use of the data, particularly in the context of storage offering behavior and operational deployments.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Understanding the significance of how to manage smaller loads was also discussed.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">It was suggested that operators and owners of generation would benefit from using the data to inform their decisions on commitments and market behaviors.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Suggestions were made to have the data available in a CSV format, with an extended archive, and the need for a clear statement about confidential information was also raised.</li> </ul> <a href="https://app.gridmonitor.com/sharing/?token=dac56983-aad8-43a8-8f75-bedd4f2c4957" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4</a> - Large Load Impact on Ancillary Services - ERCOT Staff <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ancillary services are procured by ERCOT in the day ahead market to balance next day supply and demand of electricity.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The different types of resources that can provide ancillary services include generation resources, controllable and non-controllable load resources, aggregate load resources, and batteries.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Large loads can participate in the ancillary service market either as a controllable load resource or a non-controllable load resource.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">At any given time, less than 20% of all operational large loads are providing ancillary services.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Large loads have been observed to independently respond to price signals for CP and extreme weather events.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Independent load response can cause an increase in both net load variability and uncertainty, impacting different types of ancillary services differently.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">ERCOT is considering a proactive approach to include load behavior in forecasting to improve the accuracy of ancillary service procurement.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">It was noted that there are challenges in accurately forecasting price-sensitive demand, but ERCOT has sophisticated load forecasting methodologies in place.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Additionally, Golden Spread Electric Cooperative is moving forward with a voluntary early curtailment load concept to prioritize the timing of load curtailment.</li> </ul>