Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Practice Test

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• The Delivery Plan applies to which ERCOT component?
• What is the maximum duration for hydro generation per deployment, absent an Emergency Event Area declaration?
• Which condition leads to an exemption from PSS/AVR testing requirements?
• Which statement best describes ERCOT's approach to maintaining a voltage profile?
• For under-frequency relays that count cycles, what is the maximum delay?
• What does EEA stand for in ERCOT terminology?
• How many DC (AC-DC-AC) ties connect ERCOT to other interconnections?
• What is the maximum droop setting for All Generating Units/Generating Facilities/CLRs other than a Combustion Turbine (Combined Cycle)?
• The high side winding configuration mentioned in the GMD operating procedure requirement is what?
• Which entities must be notified for a planned change affecting reactive capability of the generator?
• For under-frequency relays that do not count cycles, maximum delay?
• Who submits the outage schedule to ERCOT?
• What term describes a RAS that operates for the system conditions it was designed to operate for but fails to mitigate the power system conditions it was designed to address?
• Is the following statement true or false: ERCOT provides notification of proposed RASs/PCAPs on MIS secure area?
• Which term best describes a unit that must operate to maintain system reliability?
• What is the maximum provisional qualification period for a load resource to provide Ancillary Services?
• Which activity is an operational duty of ERCOT?
• Which ancillary service type in ERCOT is used for recovery after outages?
• When was the first ERCOT system connection established, and which entities were involved?
• Sequence of events recording equipment includes any device capable of recording circuit breaker position (open/close). True or False?
• Which set of UF relay actuation frequencies and corresponding load drops matches the documented table?
• After Non-Spin resources are deployed, what action is taken regarding remaining RRS capacity?
• What does ERCOT employ to maintain system security and reliability?
• Which components constitute Ancillary Services?
• Which statement about voltage ride through (VRT) requirements is true?
• TOAPS notifications are posted in MIS secure area.
• Level 1 maintenance outage is equipment removed from service within how many hours to prevent a forced outage, and requires ERCOT notification and justification?
• Which term correctly describes ERCOT-issued directives to TOs/QSEs to perform specific actions?
• Under what conditions do Resource Entities (REs) communicate directly with ERCOT?
• How are islands connected following blackstart?
• Which of the following is NOT a listed type of transmission outage?
• Which condition indicates that time error correction has secured?
• Level 2 maintenance outage is equipment removed from service within how many days to prevent a forced outage?
• Which statement about Dispatch Instructions is incorrect?
• True or False: Current Transformers or their secondary windings shall be located so that adjacent protection zones overlap.
• How long in advance must the outage schedule be submitted to ERCOT?
• The trip coil of circuit breakers in protective schemes is associated with which function?
• What does HASL stand for in this context?
• During non-peak load seasons, scarcity conditions are triggered when load reaches or exceeds how many MW?
• What are the automatic actions to maintain security of the system called?
• Which threshold triggers EEA Level 3 for the frequency criteria?
• All generation facilities providing voltage support service (VSS) shall comply with all VSS dispatch instructions or ______ voltage set point instruction unless compliance is impossible due to a _________________.
• Which option describes the seven-day forecast for reliability planning?
• The 200 kV threshold in the GMD operating procedure relates to which component characteristic?
• True or False: A communications failure in and of itself is a misoperation.
• What percentage of total Texas load is served by ERCOT?
• Which term describes a protective relay that trips unnecessarily during a fault?
• Unnecessary protective relay operation for a fault not within the zone of protection
• BLT not allowed under which condition?
• During time error correction initiation, what frequency offset is used for fast responding resources?
• ERCOT informs which group of entities of GMD alerts and warnings?
• ERCOT manages the deregulated market for 100% of Texas.
• What are the manual actions to maintain security of system called?
• If PRC and spinning reserves drop below 3,000 MW, the manual deployment of RRS is described as which release?
• Who issues routers, switches, and out-of-band management equipment for WAN?
• What is the time ramp requirement for RRS resources?
• What rating is used pre-contingency by ERCOT?
• Level 3 maintenance outage is equipment removed from service within how many days to prevent a forced outage?
• Which statement accurately describes the relationship between ECRS and Non-Spin?
• Which acronym represents manual actions to maintain system security?
• On-line generation resources must be able to commence their shutdown sequences within ________ minutes of receipt of verbal dispatch.
• Which statement is true about Voltage Support Service (VSS) within ERCOT ancillary services?
• Clock synchronization requirement for fault recorders relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) with or without a local time offset for Central Prevailing Time (CPT) is within what tolerance?
• Through whom must a Generation Resource licensed by a federal regulatory agency provide grid interconnection and performance licensing requirements to ERCOT and the TSP?
• Which data types are exchanged over the ERCOT WAN?
• In EEA Level 3, automatic load shedding occurs when PRC is less than what MW value?
• During the Adjustment Period, which action is performed by ERCOT?
• How often must a QSE schedule reactive verification testing?
• What does QSE stand for in ERCOT market participants?
• RASs are included in which processes?
• During an EEA Level 2 event, which ERS deployment option is used?
• Which ERCOT communication category is issued during emergencies requiring attention?
• Mitigation Plans are used to manage what?
• What ERS is deployed during EEA Level 1?
• Remedial Action Schemes (RAS) or AMPs are intended to allow resources to operate at what rating?
• Block Load Transfer (BLT) schemes are implemented under which conditions?
• Under which conditions can Block Load Transfer (BLT) schemes be implemented?
• What percentage range describes the share of ERCOT's energy market made up by bilateral transactions?
• Load-following units are used to follow the load curve and may go offline at night.
• Which of the following is NOT one of the eight components of the ERCOT Nodal Market?
• What is the primary purpose of ERCOT?
• What frequency is the Load Frequency Control (LFC) system set to?
• What is ERCOT's minimum obligation for Responsive Reserve Service (RRS) in megawatts?
• What are the manual actions used to manage localized voltage issues called?
• How much of the time does ERCOT operate without deploying RRS?
• Which Emergency Notice is issued when PRC falls below 2,300 MW and is not projected to be recovered above 2,300 MW within 30 minutes?
• Telemetry testing for a Load Resource is conducted how often and validated how often?
• What is the minimum generator size for requiring a PSS?
• Which Emergency Notice will be issued when the clock-minute average system frequency falls below 59.91 Hz for 20 consecutive minutes?
• During black start recovery, which facility is considered critical?
• Which statement best describes Base Load Units?
• What is the maximum governor dead band for controllable load resource (CLR)?
• What size blocks are used to shed load?
• In the ANCF formula, what unit is used for Annual Total Net Generation?
• Which term is used to describe the RUC process after the DRUC?
• At what voltage does a Resource or Customer-owned switching device that can interrupt flow through network transmission equipment require an agreement with the Transmission Operator (TO) to schedule Outages on and perform emergency switching of the device?
• Which components are included in fixed costs?
• A forced outage is initiated by protective relay or manually in response to observation by field personnel or transmission operator that equipment poses a threat to personnel or equipment. What action is required?
• Time error correction will terminate after the period of correction reaches how many hours?
• What is the emergency voltage range for 138 kV lines?
• ANCF is expressed as a percentage of what?
• Generator UF relays trip and time delay exists for which frequency ranges and delays?
• Which statement best describes the RRS ramp and responsiveness requirement?
• After all available Non-Spin has been deployed, ERCOT releases all remaining RRS capacity from Generation Resources and Controllable Load Resources when PRC is at or below what MW?
• The rate segments for Emergency Ramp Rate are expressed in which unit per minute?
• Manual deployment of RRS would be recalled under which condition?
• Which of the following is NOT a component of ERCOT's ECRS?
• In a load shed situation, how much load is automatically shed by UF relays?
• As part of restoring voltage after a contingency, which action is ERCOT authorized to take?
• What is the maximum droop setting for a Combustion Turbine (Combined Cycle)?
• Which formula correctly calculates total production cost?
• Who requires notification if the owner determines that the protective relay system has failed?
• True or False: A Remedial Action Scheme (RAS) and/or AMPs may also be implemented in order to allow Generation Resources or Transmission Facilities that would otherwise be subject to restrictions to operate to their full Rating.
• ERCOT designates mandatory fault recording at which locations?
• For controllable load resources, what is a requirement for UF relays?
• What are the automatic actions used to manage localized voltage issues called?
• What does RRS stand for in the ERCOT context?
• The purpose of providing RRS is to supply what?
• What does LSE stand for in ERCOT market participants?
• True or False: The Generation Resource must notify the facility licensee through its QSE of any requirements that cannot be satisfied.
• What are different types of CMP?
• Which statement describes peaking capacity units?
• What action is ordered when PRC falls below 1,000 MW and is not projected to be recovered above 1,000 MW within 30 minutes, or when the clock-minute average frequency falls below 59.91 Hz for 25 consecutive minutes?
• How long do transmission operators have to notify ERCOT if there's a change in status of a transmission facility?
• How is load forecast calculated?
• What is the purpose of the Delivery Plan described as?
• What does RE stand for in ERCOT market participants?
• Post-contingency with an approved RAP uses what ratings within 15 minutes?
• What systems provide operational and market information to QSEs/TOs?
• True or False: Generators owned by a federal regulatory agency do not need to communicate through the QSE.
• Which nominal voltages are defined for Normal and Emergency Voltage Limits?
• What is the most important part of writing switching orders?
• If an UF relay connected load is dropped, what action will the DSP take?
• Interrupted Load restoration requires ERCOT operator approval.
• How many miles of 345 kV transmission lines does ERCOT own?
• What is the emergency voltage range for a 69 kV line?
• What are the costs associated with power production?
• What is the minimum recording rate for fault recording equipment?
• What action does a Resource Entity take when there is a planned change affecting the reactive capability of the generator?
• In response to a change in AVR status, what action is required from the Resource Entity?
• Which factor is the main determinant of load forecast?
• How often is the TO's UF relay compliance tested and who receives the results?
• Which statement best describes the role of the QSE in ERCOT communications?
• What are the types of resource outages?
• What are the operating time limits for hydro generation when deployed for RRS?
• What is the Adjustment Period in ERCOT operations?
• What EEA level is triggered when the clock-minute average system frequency falls below 59.91 Hz for 25 consecutive minutes, or below 59.5 Hz for any duration?
• How much time does ERCOT allow for a QSE that fails to provide seasonal test data on unit capability?
• In the Delivery Plan context, which component is included as part of a RMR unit?
• During EEA Level 3, firm load shedding occurs when PRC falls below what MW?
• If it requires breaker or switch manipulations of a non-MW producing generator, it should be complete ASAP not to exceed ______ minutes.
• What does TDSP stand for in ERCOT market participants?
• Outages at or above which voltage must be submitted to ERCOT?
• RASs are automatically armed.
• Must-run units are defined as units that are necessary for voltage support and stability and may be under an agreement with ERCOT; they may not be economical.
• Which term describes a protective relay that trips when there is no fault?
• For which type of transformer are internal bushing types preferred over external slip-over types?
• What can be deployed by LFC to maintain frequency?
• Which market is included in managing the Ancillary Services Market?
• Under voltage ride through (VRT) requirements, Vt deviations greater than 5% but less than 10% of the rated design voltage are allowed for less than how many seconds?
• What term describes an event beyond the reasonable control of an entity that prevents performance?
• Which of the following is an ERCOT ancillary service type?
• Which item is not considered part of the protective relay system architecture?
• In normal operations, who directs Voltage Set Points for Generation Resources interconnected to a Transmission Service Provider's facilities, and how is this accomplished?
• Who coordinates the operation of Reactive Power devices controlled by a TO or a QSE?
• Which statement describes how ERCOT's ECRS is dispatched?
• VRT does not apply to generator faults between terminals and the transmission side of step-up transformers when what occurs?
• The range between High Sustained Limit and Low Sustained Limit defines what?
• Which of the following are considered critical loads for load restoration?
• Which MIS area is used to post an OCN?
• What does CR stand for in ERCOT market participants?
• What are the UF relay requirements for load resources used as RRS?
• Which Emergency Notice is issued at the most severe level described in the material?
• What voltage level triggers ERCOT notification for all protective system misoperations?
• What is the normal voltage range for a 69 kV line?
• RASs are included in SCED, Outage coordination, and Reliability Unit Commitment (RUC).
• What is the normally specified full reserve requirement amount?
• When is a Watch issued by ERCOT?
• What is the maximum governor dead band for a Hydro Turbine with a Mechanical Governor?
• The Average Seasonal Net Max Sustainable Rating is derived from data submitted via which system?
• What is the normal voltage range for 138 kV lines?
• Which acronym represents automatic actions to maintain system security?
• What is the total mileage of ERCOT's transmission lines?
• Which of the following is among ERCOT Responsibilities?
• For a planned change affecting reactive capability, which two entities must be notified at least 60 days in advance?
• What is the purpose of developing a Constraint Management Plan (CMP) in voltage management?
• True or False: All Remedial Action Scheme (RAS) misoperations shall be documented and ERCOT shall be notified.
• Which resources are classified as Static Reactive Power resources used to adjust voltage under TO control?
• Incremental costs always rise as output increases.
• QSEs are tested every 3 years to respond within how many minutes to an order to use CFC?
• When would ERCOT instruct QSEs to deploy available contracted ERS-10 Resources, undeployed ERS-30, and/or deploy ERCOT Contingency Reserve Service (ECRS) or RRS supplied from Load Resources?
• Which of the following is a core ERCOT Process?
• What tool disseminates information to market participants?
• What term describes the cost of economical system balance?
• ERCOT's RRS can be deployed through which of the following methods?
• During the Adjustment Period, which group can request resource de-commitments?
• What makes up the Day-Ahead Operations?
• What are the physical facility communications equipment requirements for WAN participants?
• Which of the following best describes a variable production cost?
• Which action is a QSE explicitly required to perform upon a change in resource status?
• Under what condition can ERCOT remove contingencies from the RUC process?
• The ramp rate range is defined by which two limits?
• Which Emergency Notice is issued when PRC falls below 2,300 MW and is not projected to recover above 2,300 MW within 30 minutes?
• What is the maximum governor dead band for a Steam Turbine with a Mechanical Governor?
• Which statement about outages eligibility applies to 60 KV or above devices?
• How many entities make up the Eastern Interconnection?
• Who isolates blackstart resources from the BES during a blackstart condition?
• Which term describes a protective relay that fails to trip when a fault occurs?
• Which term describes a protective relay that trips more slowly than intended during a fault?
• Oncor is responsible for what percentage of total ERCOT load shed?
• During a forced outage, which notification is required?
• Within what time frame must ERCOT allow access to its facilities after notice?
• How is a reactive capability limit curve sent to ERCOT?
• What are the miles associated with 69 kV transmission lines?
• Recall condition for manual RRS deployment includes which expression?
• What is the purpose of the Day-Ahead Reliability Unit Commitment (DRUC)?
• Who directs setting voltage set points? How do they do it?
• What is the maximum rate of change (up and down) in MW per minute of a Resource to provide Responsive Reserve (RRS) deployed by ERCOT, described by up to ten segments across its capacity?
• CenterPoint is responsible for what percentage of total ERCOT load shed?
• During termination of an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA), which action typically follows restoring full reserve requirements?
• Which term does CMPs stand for in ERCOT operations?
• During EEA termination, which parties are notified of the termination?
• Which of the following is an ERCOT Nodal Market component?
• Do Municipally Owned Utilities have to opt into retail competition?
• When PRC drops below 2500 MW, what will ERCOT issue?
• Which of the following is NOT a ERCOT Core Process?
• If ERCOT loses its AGC control and all backup facilities are unavailable, what control mode are QSEs ordered to use for the duration of the loss?
• How long must the clock-minute average frequency stay below 59.91 Hz to trigger load shedding in the specified condition?
• When a QSE providing regulation loses Automatic Generation Control (AGC), what action does ERCOT take?
• How many miles of transmission line does ERCOT own at the 138 kV level?
• When does ERCOT have to implement time error correction?
• Post-contingency transmission voltage must not deviate from the nominal per-unit voltage by more than what percent?
• Which hardware specification is required for WAN participant racks?
• Which fuels are typically associated with Base Load Units?
• What action is taken if an outage cannot meet credible N-1 criteria?
• Who is responsible for load shed?
• Which entity is NOT a recipient of a Transmission Operator's notification upon receipt of an OCN?
• What size generators require VSS?
• What is the minimum initiation frequency for under-frequency relays?
• Which Emergency Notice may be issued when the clock-minute average system frequency falls below 59.91 Hz for 15 consecutive minutes?
• What is the maximum governor dead band for All Generating Units/Generating Facilities (Other than those with mechanical governors)?
• What equipment ratings are used when developing RAPs?
• Which statement correctly describes the relationship between OCNs and CMPs?
• How often are AVR systems tested, and what is the timeline after a modification?
• Who will maintain their control system time within ±3 seconds of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) time signal?
• In calculating ANCF, which hours are not included in the Annual Hours total?
• Which statement best defines Transmission Congestion?
• What does ERCOT issue in an emergency condition that could cause uncontrollable separation or large-scale disruption?
• Which formula correctly defines ANCF?
• What components comprise production costs?
• What are the types of transmission outages?
• Which entity is NOT a recipient of a Qualified Scheduling Entity's notification upon receipt of an OCN?
• How does ERCOT issue operation information to TDSP/QSE?
• After submission of coordinated reactive capability testing, by what time does ERCOT/TO have to approve or deny the request?
• Where in the MIS does ERCOT post all CMPs and RASs?
• How many segments describe the available rate of change for a Resource's capacity in the RRS description?
• Can Hydro-Generators be used for RRS, and if so, how?
• A RAS operates for the system conditions it was designed to operate for but the RAS operation results in an unintended adverse power system response
• True or False: ICCP links are secure and do not require redundancy.
• What does NOIE stand for in ERCOT market participants?
• Which Emergency Notice will be issued when PRC cannot be maintained above 1,375 MW or when the clock-minute average system frequency falls below 59.91 Hz for 25 consecutive minutes?
• Which devices can a Transmission Operator operate to adjust voltage?
• Which of the following is NOT a category of ERCOT communications?
• If a Load Resource fails to provide annual and biennial verification data for two consecutive years, what action does ERCOT take after a 30-day deficiency correction period?
• Generator OF relays trip and time delays occur for which frequency ranges and delays?
• Who is responsible for reporting and correcting accumulated time error?
• Who interfaces with the Wide Area Network (WAN) Participants?
• What is the difference between Non-Spin and CLRs as it relates to deployment?
• Which conditions trigger EEA Level 2?
• Non-coordinated reactive capability testing must be submitted at least how many hours before the test?
• Which action is ERCOT authorized to take by temporarily changing limits on resources or transmission facilities?
• For coordinated reactive capability testing, what time is preferred for submitting the test through the QSE to ERCOT/TO the day before the test?
• Who is required to have a vegetation management program?
• Who is the point of contact for initiation of generation interconnection?
• True or False: Resource Entities may violate their Corrected Unit Reactive Limit (CURL) or URL if ordered by ERCOT.
• Where does ERCOT get GMD data from?
• Which item is part of the ERCOT Core Processes?
• Which ERS is deployed during EEA Level 2?
• Which is not a type of CMP?
• Is the following statement true or false: ERCOT provides notification of proposed TOAPS on MIS secure area?
• A Power System Stabilizer is used to dampen frequency oscillations within which range?
• True or False: Resource Entities are staffed and monitored 24x7, regardless of resource schedule.
• Who creates the short supply and emergency condition procedures?
• Which statement accurately describes QSE availability for scheduling?
• Post-contingency without an approved RAP uses what rating in the initial period, and how long to reach normal rating?
• What must be committed for day-ahead and real-time load?
• During time error correction initiation, what frequency offset is used for slow responding resources?
• True or False: ERCOT does not require the physical security system requirements of NERC.
• How does ERCOT initiate/secure time error correction?
• Which of the following is a valid reason for not complying with VSS dispatch or voltage set point instructions?
• What is issued when PRC falls below 3000 MW and an EEA level 2 or 3 is expected?
• After a modification, when must the PSS be tested?
• Unnecessary protective relay operation when no fault or abnormal condition has occurred
• Which duty includes performing load flows and security analyses of outages submitted by QSEs, TSPs, or DCTOs as a basis for approval or rejection?
• During Peak Load season, scarcity conditions are triggered when total load reaches or exceeds how many MW?
• What are the two categories of outages?
• If a resource providing Ancillary Services fails to meet ERCOT requirements for two consecutive months, what action does ERCOT take?
• Which CIP standards address physical security requirements for WAN participants?
• What is it called when ERCOT does the RUC process after the DRUC?
• Where is the inadvertent energy between ERCOT and non-ERCOT areas (via DC Ties) tracked and accounted for?
• If a resource providing AS fails to meet ERCOT requirements for four consecutive months?
• Who must be notified if system frequency falls below 59.91 Hz for 30 minutes?
• Which statement about OCNs is correct?
• What term describes ERCOT-issued instructions to TOs/QSEs that must be followed?
• What is the purpose of firm load shedding?
• Voltage and current sensing devices providing inputs to protective relays perform what role?
• A TO is required to implement a GMD operating procedure when it operates transmission equipment that includes a power transformer with a high side winding that is wye-grounded and terminal voltage greater than what threshold?
• Which task involves examining outages to ensure N-1 credibility?
• What is the threshold frequency used to trigger a frequency-based action in ERCOT procedures?
• Which data type uses XML formatting on the ERCOT WAN?
• At what voltage do protective relays become required in systems?
• What is the plan containing the hours and levels of operation that a RMR unit, including a synchronous condenser unit, is instructed to operate called?
• Which set of subcommittees accurately makes up the ERCOT technical advisory committee?