(a) Purpose and Applicability. This section establishes
criteria for the activation, content, and termination of regional
and statewide power outage alerts as required by Tex. Gov't Code §411.301(b).
This section applies to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas
(ERCOT) and to transmission service providers in power regions in
Texas other than the ERCOT region.
(b) Definitions.
(1) Load shed instructions--Directives given by a reliability
coordinator to a transmission service provider or its agent to reduce
firm load along its systems by a prescribed amount.
(2) System-wide--The entirety of a power region.
(c) Issuance and termination of a power outage alert.
The executive director may recommend the Texas Department of Public
Safety issue, update, or terminate a power outage alert. A designee
may act on behalf of the executive director under this section.
(1) The executive director may recommend the Texas
Department of Public Safety issue a power outage alert statewide or
for one or more specific power regions in Texas. The issuance of a
power outage alert may be recommended for power regions in which system-wide
load shed instructions have been issued or are likely to be issued
because the system-wide power supply is likely to be inadequate to
meet demand.
(2) In determining whether to recommend the issuance
of a power outage alert, the executive director will consider the
likelihood of system-wide load shed instructions being issued, the
expected length of time the load shed instructions will be in effect,
and any other relevant information. In determining whether to recommend
the issuance of a power outage alert in the ERCOT region, the executive
director will consider information received from ERCOT under subsection
(d) of this section. In determining whether to recommend the issuance
of a power outage alert in a power region other than the ERCOT region,
the executive director will consider information received from transmission
service providers in that power region under subsection (e) of this
section.
(3) The executive director may recommend the termination
of a power outage alert when the conditions that led to the issuance
of the power outage alert are no longer applicable and are unlikely
to recur in the near future.
(d) Power outage alerts for the ERCOT region.
(1) ERCOT must notify the executive director when:
(A) ERCOT's forecasts indicate system-wide generation
supply is likely to be insufficient to meet demand within the next
48 hours; or
(B) ERCOT issues system-wide load shed instructions.
(2) A notice under paragraph (1) of this subsection
must include any available, relevant information to assist the executive
director in determining whether to recommend the issuance of a power
outage alert and what information should be included in the power
outage alert. The notice must include, but is not limited to:
(A) Whether system-wide load shed instructions have
been issued;
(B) Whether system-wide power supply is forecasted
to be insufficient to meet demand and, if so, an estimated time when
load shed instructions may be issued;
(C) If applicable and known, an estimated time when
load shed instructions may be recalled; and
(D) If applicable and known, the initiating event or
circumstances that prompted or might prompt the issuance of load shed
instructions.
(3) ERCOT must notify the executive director when system-wide
load shed instructions have been recalled or when, in ERCOT's judgment,
there are material changes in ERCOT's forecasts. This notice must
include information on any of the remaining conditions listed under
paragraph (1) of this subsection that are still applicable.
(4) ERCOT must establish a procedure, in consultation
with commission staff, to provide the executive director with notifications
required under this subsection.
(5) Upon request by the executive director, ERCOT must
provide additional information and updates.
(e) Power outage alerts for power regions other than
the ERCOT region.
(1) A transmission service provider in a power region
other than the ERCOT region must notify the executive director when
it has received system-wide load shed instructions from the applicable
reliability coordinator.
(2) The transmission service provider must notify the
executive director when the applicable reliability coordinator has
recalled the system-wide load shed instructions. The transmission
service provider's notice must include a summary of any available
information regarding power outages and the expectation for power
restoration within its service territory.
(3) A transmission service provider subject to this
subsection must establish a procedure, in consultation with commission
staff, to provide the executive director with notifications required
under this subsection. Commission staff may develop a form, internet
portal, or other standardized process for providing the executive
director with notifications required under this subsection. If commission
staff develops such a standardized process, a transmission service
provider's procedure must utilize this standardized process.
(4) Upon request by the executive director, a transmission
service provider must provide additional information and updates.
(f) Power outage alert content. When known and as applicable,
the power outage alert must provide the following information or instructions
on how to obtain the following information:
(1) Whether system-wide load shed is occurring or expected
to occur imminently;
(2) A statement that an electricity customer may experience
a power outage;
(3) Where an electricity customer can seek assistance
while the electricity customer's power may be out; and
(4) Any other information deemed relevant and of assistance
to electricity customers.
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