RMS Update to TACRMS Update to TAC

May 8, 2008May 8, 2008

RMS Update to TACRMS Update to TAC

► At April 9 RMS Meeting:At April 9 RMS Meeting: Antitrust Training Antitrust Training RMS Voting Items:RMS Voting Items:

► NPRR097Changes to Section 8 to Incorporate Role of NPRR097Changes to Section 8 to Incorporate Role of TRE, the IMM, and the Concept of Market ComplianceTRE, the IMM, and the Concept of Market Compliance RMS recommended approval of Task Force comments RMS recommended approval of Task Force comments

deleting language in 8.3(1)(e) to remove posting deleting language in 8.3(1)(e) to remove posting requirement of TSP charges for ESI Idsrequirement of TSP charges for ESI Ids

► PRR759, Changes to Notification to Customer of PRR759, Changes to Notification to Customer of Service EstablishmentService Establishment RMS recommended approval with concern stated that RMS recommended approval with concern stated that

cost savings represented in this PRR (over $450K cost savings represented in this PRR (over $450K annual savings) be reflected in the O&M budget and annual savings) be reflected in the O&M budget and System Administration Fee in a future year.System Administration Fee in a future year.

RMS Update to TACRMS Update to TAC

►ERCOT Requested Exception to SLA to ERCOT Requested Exception to SLA to perform upgrades to Storage Area perform upgrades to Storage Area NetworkNetwork Current SLA for Retail Transaction Processing: 99.9%Current SLA for Retail Transaction Processing: 99.9%

►Any outage regardless of durationAny outage regardless of duration NAESB Proxy ServersNAESB Proxy Servers NAESBNAESB

►Outages greater than 15 minutesOutages greater than 15 minutes Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Enterprise Application Integration (EAI)Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) Customer Registration DatabaseCustomer Registration Database ERCOT maintained infrastructure supporting retail ERCOT maintained infrastructure supporting retail

transaction processingtransaction processing

RMS Update to TACRMS Update to TAC

►ERCOT Request for Exception to SLA ERCOT Request for Exception to SLA (cont.)(cont.) Current SLA ExceptionsCurrent SLA Exceptions

►Maintenance WindowsMaintenance Windows 11stst,3,3rdrd and 4 and 4thth Sunday of each month-8am until 8pm Sunday of each month-8am until 8pm

►Release WindowRelease Window 22ndnd weekend each month-12:00pm Saturday until weekend each month-12:00pm Saturday until

12:00am Monday (36 hours)12:00am Monday (36 hours)

►ExceptionsExceptions Market wide releases involving all Market ParticipantsMarket wide releases involving all Market Participants For extended maintenance and release windows For extended maintenance and release windows

requested at RMS prior to extended outagerequested at RMS prior to extended outage

RMS Update to TACRMS Update to TAC

►ERCOT Request for Exception to SLA (cont.)ERCOT Request for Exception to SLA (cont.) Concerns expressed at RMSConcerns expressed at RMS

► First weekend of month high volume and imposes First weekend of month high volume and imposes manual processes on Market Participantsmanual processes on Market Participants

►Frequent requests for exception from SLA dilute the Frequent requests for exception from SLA dilute the value of having the SLAvalue of having the SLA

►SLA needs to be revisited and reviewed to determine SLA needs to be revisited and reviewed to determine if adequate time is allowed for maintenance windowsif adequate time is allowed for maintenance windows

►Notice of request provided <2 days prior to RMSNotice of request provided <2 days prior to RMS►Was not reviewed with TDTWG where expertise isWas not reviewed with TDTWG where expertise is

RMS Update to TACRMS Update to TAC

► ERCOT Request for Exception to SLA ERCOT Request for Exception to SLA Over the past 8 months ERCOT has requested

multiple SLA exceptions that have been approved by RMS. ►August 25 – 27, 2007 (Migration of Databases to AIX)►September 15 – 17, 2007 ( Migration of Databases to AIX)►September 22 – 24, 2007 (Migration of Databases to AIX) ►October 20 – 22, 2007 (Migration of Databases to AIX)►October 27-29, 2007 (Migration of Databases)

► Exception to SLA Not GrantedException to SLA Not Granted► ERCOT to perform the Storage Area Network ERCOT to perform the Storage Area Network

upgrades during normal maintenance on May 4upgrades during normal maintenance on May 4

RMS Update to TACRMS Update to TAC► MarkeTrak slow system performance and failuresMarkeTrak slow system performance and failures

Causes:Causes:► Application instability and limitations: Application instability and limitations:

• Single vs. multi-threading processing abilitiesSingle vs. multi-threading processing abilities• HTTP sessions management capabilitiesHTTP sessions management capabilities

• Application does not consistently release HTTP sessions, the current Application does not consistently release HTTP sessions, the current version does not allow for adjustment of timeout parametersversion does not allow for adjustment of timeout parameters

► Storage hardware failuresStorage hardware failures When the storage area network When the storage area network (SAN)(SAN) fails, the MarkeTrak application fails, the MarkeTrak application

fails as wellfails as well Resolution:Resolution:

► Application instability and limitations:Application instability and limitations:• Version upgrade that will address these issues has been in process since Version upgrade that will address these issues has been in process since

late ’07, two versions of the upgrade have failed ERCOT testing and have late ’07, two versions of the upgrade have failed ERCOT testing and have had to be returned to the vendor for fixeshad to be returned to the vendor for fixes

• Most recent version upgrade is in ERCOT testing and if successful it will be Most recent version upgrade is in ERCOT testing and if successful it will be promoted to production during the May releasepromoted to production during the May release

► Storage hardware failuresStorage hardware failures Project to replace aged hardware has been in progress since late ’07 and Project to replace aged hardware has been in progress since late ’07 and

is scheduled for implementation during the first weekend in Mayis scheduled for implementation during the first weekend in May

RMS Update to TACRMS Update to TAC

► Creation of Market Impact Assessment Task Creation of Market Impact Assessment Task ForceForce

Purpose: Assess and quantify impacts to Market Purpose: Assess and quantify impacts to Market Participants and End-use Consumers from ERCOT Participants and End-use Consumers from ERCOT service degradation issues in March.service degradation issues in March.

Scope: Create a thorough report on the cause, Scope: Create a thorough report on the cause, severity and impacts. severity and impacts.

Product: Formal report to RMS inclusive of Product: Formal report to RMS inclusive of definition of opportunities to mitigate market definition of opportunities to mitigate market impact through refinement of SLA and inclusion of impact through refinement of SLA and inclusion of Market Impacts in the ERCOT Incident Log.Market Impacts in the ERCOT Incident Log.

Update TAC of findings in June if complete.Update TAC of findings in June if complete.

RMS Update to TACRMS Update to TAC

►RMS Leadership MeetingRMS Leadership Meeting Reviewed TAC and Subcommittee Reviewed TAC and Subcommittee

ProceduresProcedures►Market Rules Presentation/DiscussionMarket Rules Presentation/Discussion

Reviewed Leadership Roles and Reviewed Leadership Roles and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities►RCS Presentation/Discussion with process RCS Presentation/Discussion with process

recommendations for Leadership and ERCOT recommendations for Leadership and ERCOT Meeting Facilitator, SME , support roles and Meeting Facilitator, SME , support roles and processes.processes.

RMS Update to TACRMS Update to TAC

►Advanced Metering Implementation Advanced Metering Implementation TeamTeam Technical Approach DiscussionsTechnical Approach Discussions

► Central Repository or Multiple TDU LocationsCentral Repository or Multiple TDU Locations► Web Portal Host(s)Web Portal Host(s)► Interim and Long term considerationsInterim and Long term considerations

Use Case and Task AssignmentsUse Case and Task Assignments Customer Education WorkshopCustomer Education Workshop ERCOT Settlement DiscussionsERCOT Settlement Discussions Home Automation NetworkHome Automation Network

Questions?Questions?