Gas-Electric Coordination
Natural gas facilities are critical to the resiliency of the ERCOT grid and make up more than 45% of the power produced in the ERCOT market. Situational awareness regarding the natural gas system, and the ERCOT generation resources that rely on it, is vital to support grid reliability.
Since 2021, ERCOT has focused on enhancing gas-electric coordination efforts and establishing formal working relationships with natural gas entities, including fuel suppliers for generation resources. Enhanced coordination efforts help ERCOT gather operations and delivery information to increase reliability and stability of the electricity supply chain.
ERCOT’s goal is to establish ongoing collaborative, information-sharing relationships with the natural gas industry and support industry standards and Protocols to ensure the reliable operation of the bulk power system.
Enhanced communications efforts have focused on:
- Creating a dedicated ERCOT contact for gas entities in the event an emergency arises that could impact natural gas flows or grid reliability
- Opening channels of communication with gas entities as it relates to maintaining reliability, including staying abreast of operational issues that could have an impact on generation capacity
ERCOT has also increased its gas-electric coordination efforts with the intent to better utilize natural gas supply chain information for planning and Real-Time Operations. Gas-electric coordination activities within ERCOT include:
- Monitoring daily projected use of natural gas inside the ERCOT footprint, with gas use being broken down by pipeline and location inside the ERCOT grid
- Monitoring external factors that impact natural gas availability (such as LNG exports and gas deliveries outside of ERCOT)
- Monitoring pipeline sources for information, including outages and line maintenance
- Monitoring pipeline sources for information relating to potential supply disruptions caused by Operational Flow Orders or other pipeline operational issues
- Establishing communications with pipeline representatives to identify any reliability issues that could potentially impact generation
ERCOT contact
Jim Stevens
Gas Coordination Lead, Resource Forecasting & Analysis
Gas-Electric Coordination Committees and Groups
Gas-Electric Coordination Committees and Groups
In addition to dedicated forums within the ERCOT stakeholder process, ERCOT participates in committees and groups focused on enhanced gas-electric coordination, communication, and increased reliability.
- Gas Electric Working Group (GEWG) serves as a forum for ERCOT, its stakeholders, and natural gas pipelines who serve natural gas-fired generation in the ERCOT region to engage in open dialogue on issues pertaining to both electric generation and natural gas pipeline operations. The GEWG discusses topics such as natural gas pipeline maintenance impacts on electric generation potential, consideration of gas pipeline facility loads in Transmission and Distribution Service Providers (TDSP) load shed plans, and coordination of natural gas facilities pertaining to Black Start.
- Black Start Gas Coordination Group (BSGCSG) is a subgroup of GEWG focused on coordination of natural gas facilities pertaining to Black Start. BSGCSG is a closed working group, and any member must sign the appropriate ERCOT Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and receive approval from ERCOT. Contact ERCOT Legal at nda@ercot.com to ask questions or obtain a copy of the ERCOT NDA.
- North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) serves as an industry forum for the development and promotion of standards, which will lead to a seamless marketplace for wholesale and retail natural gas and electricity. In addition to standards development, NAESB looks at critical challenges facing the industry, including hosting forums focused on “Gas-Electric Harmonization.”
- North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) is a not-for-profit international regulatory authority whose mission is to ensure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid. NERC’s Electric-Gas Working Group is drafting standards to address the ability to serve demand and ensure the reliable operation of the bulk power system for unassured deliverability of fuel supplies. Participants within the working group include representatives from Independent System Operators (ISOs) across the country looking to explore ways to maintain adequate flow of natural gas and maintain reliability across the grid.
- Texas Energy Reliability Council (TERC) was formally established by the 87th Texas Legislature to ensure that the energy and electric industries in the state meet high-priority human needs and address critical infrastructure concerns and enhance coordination and communication in the energy and electric industries. TERC is led by the Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and includes leadership from ERCOT, Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and Texas Transportation Commission along with appointees from the electric and gas industries.
ERCOT Nodal Protocols
ERCOT Nodal Protocols
The Protocols outline the procedures and processes used by ERCOT and Market Participants for the orderly functioning of the ERCOT System and nodal market. ERCOT stakeholders meet regularly in a number of forums to discuss and develop Protocols and procedures that govern the ERCOT System. In the ERCOT stakeholder process – from working groups, task forces, and subcommittees, to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the ERCOT Board of Directors – Market Participants, along with ERCOT staff, work together to ensure a reliable bulk electric system and equitable access to the ERCOT market. Access additional information regarding the Nodal Protocol Revision Request (NPRR) submission process and the current list of pending NPRRs.
Recent revisions to the ERCOT Protocol have improved situational awareness regarding fuel supply.
- NPRR 1170, Submission of Gas Supply Disruption, added Section 3.25, Submission of Gas Supply Disruption. This Protocol defines the instances in which a Qualified Scheduling Entity (QSE) that represents a generation resource that relies on natural gas as the primary fuel source should notify ERCOT about disruptions to the resource’s natural gas supply. The Protocol will improve communications regarding natural gas fuel availability, providing generation resources with a way to send ERCOT any gas supply concerns, pipeline force majeure declarations, or other issues that could potentially impact generator availability. This information will provide ERCOT Operations an enhanced level of situational awareness regarding Real-Time and planned resource dispatch. This data will help support improved communication, collaboration, and planning between electric and gas entities.
- NPRR 1181, Submission of Coal and Lignite Inventory Notifications, added Section 3.24, Notification of Low Coal and Lignite Inventory Levels. This Protocol provides guidance and requirements for QSEs to notify ERCOT in the event of potential disruptions to coal supply that could impact generation availability. This includes a seasonal declaration of coal and lignite inventory levels notifications to ERCOT in the event when coal or lignite inventory drops below target and critical levels. This information will be passed to ERCOT real-time and planning staff for evaluation.
ERCOT Declaration of Natural Gas Pipeline Coordination
ERCOT Declaration of Natural Gas Pipeline Coordination
On an annual basis, ERCOT requires all generation resources that use natural gas as the primary fuel source to provide information for each generation facility and its physical connections to the natural gas system. This information is provided concurrent with the Declaration of Preparedness required by 16 Texas Administrative Code § 25.55 and includes a notarized attestation sworn by an official with binding authority over the resource entity.
The ERCOT Protocols require the generation resource to identify the primary natural gas pipeline for delivery, as well as backup pipelines directly connected to the resource, and provide contact information including name, phone number, and email for each pipeline operator. The resource must also attest to making a documented effort to communicate with the operator of the natural gas pipeline to coordinate regarding potential impacts to the generation resource’s availability to operate during peak seasons. The resource is also required to disclose any activities or conditions that may increase the risk it would be unavailable.
In the event of an emergency, such as an extreme weather event, ERCOT Operators can utilize this information to forecast natural gas usage by zone and identify any areas of concern for the ERCOT Control Room. Better information regarding pipelines allows ERCOT to estimate how much generation capacity may be offline during an event and how many of the impacted generation resources could potentially pull gas from alternative sources to maintain production.
Additional information regarding the Declaration of Natural Gas Pipeline Coordination is available in ERCOT Protocols Section 22, Attachment K.
Please contact the ERCOT group that handles Weatherization Declaration Attestations Submittals with questions regarding the Declaration and Attestation process.
Texas Electricity Supply Chain Map
Texas Electricity Supply Chain Map
In 2021, the 87th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 3, creating the Texas Electricity Supply Chain Security and Mapping Committee. The Committee was charged with mapping the state’s electricity supply chain, including identifying and designating electric and natural gas facilities necessary to operate critical infrastructure. The Committee includes representatives from ERCOT along with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), Railroad Commission of Texas RRC), Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), and Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT).
The Texas Electricity Supply Chain Map was launched in 2022 and displays:
- More than 12,740 facilities, including electricity generation plants powered by natural gas, electric substations, natural gas processing plants, underground gas storage facilities, oil and gas well leases, and saltwater disposal wells
- More than 21,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines and approximately 60,000 miles of electric transmission lines
- Approximately 13,000 water and wastewater treatment plants
- A basemap layer of TxDOT roads
ERCOT and state agency partners utilize the map to designate priority service needs to prepare for, respond to, and recover from extreme weather events. The Committee has developed a communication system between critical infrastructure sources, ERCOT, the PUCT, and RRC to prioritize electricity and natural gas supplies during an event to ensure grid reliability.
Legislation prohibits the public release of some layers of the map to protect the safety and integrity of the electricity supply chain. Additional information about the Texas Electricity Supply Chain Map, including the public map layers, is available on the PUCT website.
Helpful Resources
Helpful Resources
