Issue 38 - System Operator Newsletter

Winter Initiatives

The purpose of the winter initiative changes is to alleviate concerns about whether there will be adequate offered generation capacity to meet peak energy demand.

We identified a number of extensive changes to our market tools to implement the winter initiative changes and other improvements suggested by the Short Term Security Forum. Our progress in implementing these changes is set out below:

• Phase 1 of the information improvements was delivered on the 11th of May and included:
  • changes to reduce the number of SRC notices being sent
  • the addition of aggregate cleared wind for the SWS and SDPQ
  • the addition of aggregate quantities (offers) for the SDPQ
• Phase 2 of the information improvements is on schedule for introduction on 1 July and includes the addition of:
  • aggregate quantities (load) for the WDS and SDPQ
  • aggregate quantities (offers) for the WDS
  • aggregate reserves quantities for the SWS
  • reserve prices for the WDS
• Updates to the Market System to implement the Full Variable Reserves solution are to be delivered by 1 July. Changes to IT systems in support of Constrained-on payments for Instantaneous Reserves are also underway.

Reserve Management Tool (RMT)

Changes to the Reserve Management Tool (RMT) to facilitate commissioning of Contact Energy's new Stratford gas turbine plant were successfully implemented on 13 May.

National Winter Group

The Initial National Winter Group Report has now been released on our web site. This report was prepared by System Operator on behalf of and with input, from the National Winter Group and provides the initial outlook for winter 2010 to minimise risks in meeting the peak demand over this period.

AUFLS Review Update

The AUFLS Review project team is putting the finishing touches on the AUFLS technical report and the presentation material that will be used for the next System Operator Workshops. We are planning for the report to be released externally in mid July.

AUFLS is a key security tool relied upon by the System Operator to manage extended contingent events and other rarer, undefined events. Accordingly, it is important that the findings from the AUFLS Review are well understood and discussed. With this in mind, the focus of the next round of System Operator workshops will be the AUFLS Review, these workshops are planned for early to mid August.

More information on the AUFLS review can be found on our website. Comments or enquiries can be sent to system.operator@transpower.co.nz or directly to Natalie Bartos.

Simultaneous Feasability Test (SFT) Update

The majority of business process testing for SFT has now been completed with only retesting to be completed. The parallel operations phase of the project will be three to four weeks later than anticipated due to delays in updating the market system. Once the timetable has been finalised participants will be notified and the SFT Implementation website will be updated.

SFT Data with the new Branch Group Constraint naming convention, is available from the Constraints page in WITS UAT.  This information is available in the Dispatch and SDS schedules published between 13th May 2010 11:01 and 18th May 2010 07:00.
Both your production username and password will be valid in WITS UAT.

Any questions contact Peter Monney
DDI: 04 819 7617
Mobile: 021 0202 4604
Email: peter.monney@transpower.co.nz

If you wish to be kept informed on the progress of this project please subscribe to the page by subscribing to the “Market” section.  When we publish new information under the Market area you will receive an email notification.