ERCOT To Conduct Mass Transition (POLR Drop) Test, All POLRs (Non-Volunteer and Volunteer) Must Be Prepared To Participate

ERCOT informed retail electric providers that it is planning a Mass Transition test during Q2 2019 to test Provider of Last Resort (POLR), competitive TDSP and ERCOT Mass Transition capabilities, communications and processes prior to summer 2019.

The test will simulate the default and Mass Transition of a placeholder Competitive Retailer (CR) with approximately 3,500 Electric Service Identifier IDs (ESI IDs).

All designated Volunteer Retail Electric Provider (VREP) and Large Service Provider (LSP) POLRs will be included in the test.

ERCOT is working directly with impacted TDSPs to facilitate synchronization of necessary testing data.

Although the test will be held during the second quarter of 2019, ERCOT does not plan on publishing the test date in advance to better reflect an actual Mass Transition, ERCOT said in the notice

POLRs and competitive TDSPs must ensure that their dedicated test environments, as required under the Texas Market Test Plan, are available to process POLR transactions during the Mass Transition test.

The Texas SET Working Group is documenting Mass Transition test scope and execution scripts. All affected POLRs are encouraged to participate in Texas SET Working Group and Retail Market Subcommittee (RMS) meetings to ensure they have access to current information with respect to the test. Current Texas SET Working Group material relating to the test is available here.

In addition, ERCOT staff will communicate individually with affected POLRs to address specific questions.