Real-Time RTO Power System Operations

Narrative

As the electricity industry is deregulated, and as FERC defines more clearly what the market operation tariffs will encompass, three possible Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) in the Western Interconnection are developing seamless interfaces for Market Participants to submit energy schedules and ancillary service bids across these 3 RTOs. The 3 RTOs are California ISO (existing ISO handling the electricity market in California), RTO West (potential RTO of many northwestern utilities), and WestConnect (potential RTO of many southwestern utilities). These 3 RTOs are developing the requirements for the Western RTO functions.

The descriptions of the functions below may or may not represent the final market rules and market operations, because these have not been finalized yet.

The following is a list of Western RTO functions related to Real-Time market operations.

Only the listed functions with asterisks are represented in the diagrams and/or step-by-step descriptions in section 2.

1.        Real-Time

a.        Operational calculations

b.       Real-time Submittal of Schedules

c.        Real-time Submittal of Ancillary Services

d.       Normal Real-Time Dispatch Operations *

e.       Normal Generation Control Operations *

f.        Scheduling Coordinators Redispatch *

·         Redispatch

·         Notify Scheduling Coordinators of redispatch

g.       Emergency Ancillary Services *

h.       Real-Time Power System Historical Records *

Normal Real-Time Dispatch Operations

Description

RTO/ISO system operators monitor the power system and either initiate control commands directly on the power system equipment, or request the transmission owners to issue the commands, if needed for power system reliability.

Diagram

Steps for Normal Real-time Dispatch Operations

#	Event	Name of Process/Activity	Description of Process/Activity	Information Producer	Information Receiver	Name of Info Exchanged	IntelliGrid Architecture Environments
1a	Continuous	Monitor	Monitor transmission system	Transmission Power System	Transmission Owner	Transmission data	Critical Operations DAC
1b		Monitor	Monitor distribution system	Distribution Power System	DisCos	Distribution data	Critical Operations DAC
2a	After previous step	Monitor	Receive transmission system data via ICCP links	Transmission Owner	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	Transmission data	Critical Operations DAC
2b		Monitor	Receive distribution system data at connecting points via ICCP links	DisCos	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	Distribution data	Critical Operations DAC
2c		Monitor	Receive real-time RTO data via ICCP links	Other 2 RTOs	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	Real-time data from other RTOs	Critical Operations DAC
3a	After previous step	Monitor	Provide real-time data to RTOs via ICCP links	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	Other 2 RTOs	Real-time data to other RTOs	Critical Operations DAC
3b		Monitor	Monitor power system operations	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	RTO Operator	User Information	Intra-Control Center
3c		Monitor	Provide real-time raw data for State Estimator	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	Real Time Network Analysis Sequence	Subset of real-time data	Intra-Control Center
3d		Import power system model	Provide power system model	Power System Model	Real Time Network Analysis Sequence	Power system connectivity and characteristics	Intra-Control Center
4	After previous step	Analyze power system	Issue alarms for potential power system contingencies	Real Time Network Analysis Sequence	RTO Operator	Alarms	User Interface
5	After previous step	Control	Authorize or override control commands	RTO Operator	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	Control commands	User Interface
6a	After previous step	Control	Issue transmission equipment instructions by phone	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	Transmission Owner	Control commands	Critical Operations DAC
6b		Control	Issue distribution equipment instructions by phone	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	DisCos	Control commands	Critical Operations DAC
7a	After previous step	Control	Actual direct control over transmission system equipment	Transmission Owner	Transmission Power System	Control commands	Critical Operations DAC
7b		Control	Actual direct control over distribution system equipment	DisCos	Distribution Power System	Control commands	Critical Operations DAC

Normal Generation Control (NGC)

Description

RTO/ISO system operators dispatch generation according to energy schedules:

- RTO/ISO SCADA system monitors power system

- RTO/ISO EMS system performs Automatic Generation Control (AGC)

- RTO/ISO Market Operations system analyzes transmission capacity and reliability

- RTO/ISO Market Operations system balances energy/ancillary services

RTO/ISO EMS system monitors interchange schedules with internal and external Control Areas, directly involving RTO System Operator, RTO/ISO SCADA EMS, Scheduling Coordinators, Area Control Centers, Generators, performing Automatic Generation Control, with key interfaces between

1. RTO SCADA/EMS and Generators

2. RTO SCADA/EMS and TransCos

3. RTO SCADA/EMS and DisCos

4. RTO SCADA/EMS and other RTO SCADA/EMS

5. RTO SCADA/EMS and Scheduling Coordinators

Diagram

Steps for Normal Generation Control

#	Event	Name of Process/Activity	Description of Process/Activity	Information Producer	Information Receiver	Name of Info Exchanged	IntelliGrid Architecture Environments
1	On-going	Submit energy schedules	(1) Submit Balanced Energy Schedules, including self-provided Ancillary Services Schedules, any inter-SC trades, and any generation limit changes, until Schedule Close	Scheduling Coordinators	Market Interface Web Server	Energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
2	Submittal of an energy schedule	Validation	(2) Indicates valid input or indicates clerical & format errors	Market Interface Web Server	Scheduling Coordinators	Energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
3	Correction	Correction	(3) Corrects errors	Scheduling Coordinators	Market Interface Web Server	Energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
4a	Valid energy schedule submitted	Energy Schedule Analysis	(4a) Provides Day-Ahead Energy Schedules	Market Interface Web Server	Energy Schedule Analysis	Energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
4b	Simultaneous with previous step	Energy Schedules to RTOs	(4b) Provides Day-Ahead Energy Schedules relevant to each RTO	Market Interface Web Server	Other 2 RTOs Energy Schedule Processing	Energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
5a	Analysis of energy schedules	Adjustment to energy schedules	(5a) Adjusts any unbalanced schedules and stores validated input as proposed schedules	Energy Schedule Analysis	RTO Energy & A/S Schedules	Energy schedules	Intra-Control Center
5b	Simultaneous with previous step	Adjusted energy Schedules to RTOs	(5b) Provides adjusted and validated cross-RTO schedules	Energy Schedule Analysis	Other 2 RTOs Energy Schedule Processing	Energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
5c	Simultaneous with previous step	Apply existing energy schedule contracts	(5c) Enter existing contracts	Existing Transmission Contracts	RTO Energy & A/S Schedules	Existing energy schedule contracts	Intra-Control Center
6a	Day Ahead Market Close	Time-based trigger	(6a) Initiates Day Ahead security analysis verification after Schedule Close	Time Line Manager Function	Congestion Management Function	Day Ahead Energy schedules	Intra-Control Center
6b	Simultaneous with previous step	Retrieve Day-Ahead schedules	(6b) Retrieves all Day Ahead schedules	RTO Energy & A/S Schedules	Congestion Management Function	Day Ahead Energy schedules	Intra-Control Center
6c	Simultaneous with previous step	Cross-RTO security analysis	(6c) For cross-RTO schedules, validates schedules, adjusts any unbalanced schedules, and provides as proposed schedules	Other 2 RTOs Energy Schedule Processing	RTO Energy & A/S Schedules	Day Ahead Energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
7a	After previous step	Security Analysis	(7a) Verifies schedules meet intra-zonal & connection point security requirements	Congestion Management Function	RTO Energy & A/S Schedules	Day Ahead Energy schedules	Intra-Control Center
7b	Simultaneous with previous step	Cross-RTO security analysis	(7b) For cross-RTO schedules, provide results of Congestion Management analysis	Congestion Management Function	Other 2 RTOs Energy Schedule Processing	Day Ahead Energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
8a	After previous step	Post results of security analysis	(8a) Posts results of Congestion Management analysis of schedules	RTO Energy & A/S Schedules	Market Interface Web Server	Day Ahead Energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
8b	Simultaneous with previous step	Post results of cross-RTO security analysis	(8b) Posts results of Congestion Management analysis of cross-RTO schedules	Other 2 RTOs Energy Schedule Processing	Market Interface Web Server	Day Ahead Energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
8c	Simultaneous with previous step	Cross-RTO conflicts	(8c) Notify of cross-RTO conflicts or inconsistencies	Other 2 RTOs Energy Schedule Processing	RTO Scheduler	Cross-RTO conflicts	RTOs/Market Participants
9	After step 8c	Resolve cross-RTO conflicts	(9) Posts resolutions to cross-RTO conflicts and inconsistencies	RTO Scheduler	Market Interface Web Server	Resolved cross-RTO conflicts	RTOs/Market Participants
10	After previous step	Notify Scheduling Coordinators	(10) Notifies of schedule acceptances and rejections	Market Interface Web Server	Scheduling Coordinators	Accepted Energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
11	Upon request by Scheduling Coordinators	Revisions to energy schedules	(11) Enter revisions to schedules as needed, until Revision Close	Scheduling Coordinators	Market Interface Web Server	Revised energy schedules	RTOs/Market Participants

Scheduling Coordinators Redispatch (SCRD)

Description

Scheduling Coordinators to submit energy schedule adjustments in the Hour-Ahead market if needed due to power system emergencies or other factors, and the RTOs/ISOs to validate the submittals. This function involves the Scheduling Coordinators, RTOs/ISOs, Auditors, and other Market Participants.

Diagram

Steps for Scheduling Coordinators Redispatch

#	Event	Name of Process/Activity	Description of Process/Activity	Information Producer	Information Receiver	Name of Info Exchanged	IntelliGrid Architecture Environments
(1)	Emergency event	Provide alarm information	Notifies SCs of emergency congestion and other problems	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	Market Interface Web Server	Emergency alarm data	RTOs/Market Participants
(2)		Notify Scheduling Coordinators	Notifies of problems requiring rescheduling	Market Interface Web Server	Scheduling Coordinators	Emergency alarm data and rescheduling request	RTOs/Market Participants
(3)		Update schedules	Update schedules due to generator outage or reduced transmission rights	Scheduling Coordinators	Market Interface Web Server	Updated schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
(4)		Validate schedules	Update valid schedules	Market Interface Web Server	Energy Schedules	Validated updated schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
(5)		Analyze updated schedules	Analyze updated schedules	Energy Schedules	Maintenance Outage Function	Updated schedules	RTOs/Market Participants
(6)		Review updated schedule	Review updated schedules	Maintenance Outage Function	RTO Operator	Updated schedule	Intra-Control Center
(7)		Approve updated schedule	Verify updated schedule is acceptable	RTO Operator	Energy Schedules	Approved updated schedule	Intra-Control Center
(8a)		Update operating plan	Update operating plan	Energy Schedules	Operating Plan	Updated Operating plan	Intra-Control Center
(8b)		Indicates acceptance or rejection	Accepts or rejects updated schedule	Energy Schedules	Market Interface Web Server	Acceptance or rejection notice	RTOs/Market Participants
(9a)		Indicates acceptance or rejection	Notify of acceptance or rejection of updated schedule	Market Interface Web Server	Scheduling Coordinators	Acceptance or rejection notice	RTOs/Market Participants
(9b)		Provide updated Operating Plan	Provide updated Operating Plan	Operating Plan	Other RTOs	Operating Plan	RTOs/Market Participants

Emergency Ancillary Services (EAS)

Description

Scheduling Coordinators submit Hour-Ahead bids for ancillary services: reserve, regulation, frequency response, etc., in order to resolve emergencies conditions, and the RTOs/ISOs to validate the submittals.

RTO/ISO Market Operations system manages market external price caps (if they exist in the respective market).

Diagram

Steps for Emergency Ancillary Services

#	Event	Name of Process/Activity	Description of Process/Activity	Information Producer	Information Receiver	Name of Info Exchanged	IntelliGrid Architecture Environments
(1a)	Emergency on power system	Request additional A/S	Request additional ancillary services	RTO Operator	Market Interface Web Server	Emergency request	RTOs/Market Participants
(1b)		Override Operating Plan	Manually override Operating Plan in an emergency	RTO Operator	Operating Plan	Override	Intra-Control Center
(1c)		Authorize emergency dispatch	Authorize emergency dispatch procedures	RTO Operator	Area & Resource Operation Centers	Emergency dispatch	RTOs/Market Participants
(2a)		Notify Scheduling Coordinators	Notify SCs of A/S request	Market Interface Web Server	Scheduling Coordinators	Notification of need for A/S	RTOs/Market Participants
(2b or 6b)		Update Balancing energy stack	Update Balancing Energy Stack to indicate that emergency conditions apply	Operating Plan	Balancing Energy Stack	Update	Intra-Control Center
(3a)		Submit A/S bids	Submit bids for ancillary services	Scheduling Coordinators	Market Interface Web Server	A/S bids	RTOs/Market Participants
(4a)		Analyze A/S bids	Analyze A/S bids	Market Interface Web Server	Ancillary Services Procurement Analysis	A/S bids	RTOs/Market Participants
(5a)		Accept A/S bid	Accept A/S bid	Ancillary Services Procurement Analysis	Market Interface Web Server	A/S bids	RTOs/Market Participants
(5b)		Update Operating plan	Update Operating Plan with new A/S	Ancillary Services Procurement Analysis	Operating Plan	Updates to Operating Plan	Intra-Control Center
(6a)		Notify of A/S bid acceptance	Notify of A/S bid acceptance	Market Interface Web Server	Scheduling Coordinators	Bid Acceptance	RTOs/Market Participants
(6c)		Provide updated Operating Plan	Provide updated Operating Plan	Operating Plan	Area & Resource Operation Centers	Operating Plan	RTOs/Market Participants
(6d)		Provide updated Operating Plan	Provide updated Operating Plan	Operating Plan	Transmission Owner	Operating Plan	RTOs/Market Participants
(6e)		Provide updated Operating Plan	Provide updated Operating Plan	Operating Plan	Other 2 RTOs	Operating Plan	RTOs/Market Participants
7		Issue validated volt/var and AGC raise/lower or setpoint commands	Issue validated volt/var and AGC raise/lower or setpoint commands	Balancing Energy Stack	Area & Resource Operation Centers	Control commands to implement Operating Plan	RTOs/Market Participants

RT Power System Historical Records (PSH)

Description

All real-time conditions and actions must be logged and recorded in historical files.

Diagram

Steps for Historical Records

#	Event	Name of Process/Activity	Description of Process/Activity	Information Producer	Information Receiver	Name of Info Exchanged	IntelliGrid Architecture Environments
1a	At end of each Settlement Period	Provide power system model and state estimated data	Provide power system model and state estimated data	Real Time Network Analysis Sequence	Network Sensitivity Calculations	Power System Model State Estimated data	Intra-Control Center
1b		Provide real-time power system data	Provide real-time power system data	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	Network Sensitivity Calculations	Real-time data	Intra-Control Center
1c		Provide power system data snapshots, calculated data, disturbance data, alarms, and other key data for historical records	Provide power system data snapshots, calculated data, disturbance data, alarms, and other key data for historical records	Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) Subsystem	Historical Records	Data snapshots	Intra-Control Center
1d		Provide transmission loss calculations	Provide transmission loss calculations	Network Sensitivity Calculations	Historical Records	Loss calculations	Intra-Control Center
1e		Provide MOD generation information	Provide MOD generation information	Merit Order Dispatch Function	Historical Records	Merit Order Dispatch data	Intra-Control Center
1f		Provide operating plan information	Provide operating plan information	Operating Plan	Historical Records	Operating Plan	Intra-Control Center
2		Post required power system information	Post required power system information	Historical Records	Market Interface Web Server	Posting of the historical records	RTOs/Market Participants