Texas Retail Market Testing

Texas Retail Market Testing is an end-to-end test of the retail commercial processes that occur in the Texas market. Any Competitive Retailer (CR) or Transmission/Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) intending to participate in the Texas retail market must successfully certify its commercial applications through a market test flight.

Find current Retail Market Test Flight Information, including registration information on this website. There are currently three testing periods each year; a test flight is scheduled approximately every four months.

The Texas Standard Electronic Transaction Working Group (TX SET Working Group) develops the market test plan and schedules each testing flight. Testing is facilitated by the ERCOT flight administrator to ensure that it is conducted fairly and objectively for all participants. The flight administrator notifies ERCOT Retail Client Services of the Market Participants (MPs) that have successfully completed the testing process, their trading partner relationships, and the functionality tested.

See the registration information below for mandatory steps to be completed prior to the flight application deadline. All steps must be completed and successfully processed by ERCOT before the registration deadline.

Pre-Flight Activities

To enter a retail market test flight, an MP must accomplish the following:

• Apply for and receive a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number that is accessible by ERCOT on www.dnb.com (Note: ERCOT must be able to view and access the DUNS Number through www.dnb.com by the Application Processing Deadline; merely obtaining a DUNS Number from Dun and Bradstreet the day of the Application Processing Deadline is not sufficient, as it may take Dun and Bradstreet several days to enter the DUNS Number into their system.); 
• Register with the Texas Secretary of State (TXSOS). (Note: ERCOT must be able to view and access the TXSOS registration by the Application Processing Deadline.);
• Submit a Load Serving Entity (LSE) Application for Registration form and the appropriate application fee to ERCOT:
  • • The form can be found in Section 23 Form B of the Protocols.
• Submit an Attestation Regarding Market Participant Citizenship, Ownership, or Headquarters form to ERCOT:
  • • The form can be found in Section 23 Form Q of the Protocols.
• Submit an Attestation Regarding Purchase of Critical Electric Grid Equipment (CEGE) and Critical Electric Grid Services (CEGS) from a Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act (LSIPA) Designated Company or LSIPA Designated Country form to ERCOT:
  • • The form can be found in Section 23 Form S of the Protocols.
• If registering as a Retail Electric Provider (REP), apply for REP certification with the Public Utility Commission of Texas; and
• For more information, send an email to RetailMarketTesting@ercot.com.
  

The North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) Electronic Delivery Mechanism (EDM) 1.6 must be established before beginning a testing flight. The NAESB EDM connectivity testing schedule can be found below in the Approved Test Flight Schedule under Key Documents.

Recommended Training

Please visit the Course Recommendations page to locate the recommended training for LSEs.