News, Events & Publications
News
ERCOT Emergency Operations Plan Annual Drill
It's time for ERCOT Generation and Transmission Entities to conduct the annual drill for the Emergency Operations Plan, required by the PUCT. This is a great time to let us show you how EPE develops and manages these and similar ERCOT regional requirements, and how we can help you gain efficiencies and cut operating costs. EPE has extensive experience with weatherization of Bulk Electric System equipment and all compliance matters, and we’re happy to help you succeed in these areas. Contact...
ERCOT Retires RARF in Favor of RIOO-IS for Resource Entity Full Registration
Any resource planning to go online in ERCOT is required to register as an ERCOT Resource Entity once it has met the requirements of Planning Guide Section 6.9 - Addition of Proposed Generation to the Planning Models. Earlier this year, ERCOT retired the Resource Asset Registration Forms (RARF) that were previously used for this purpose and released a new version of the online Resource Integration and Ongoing Operations - Interconnection Services (RIOO - IS). As part of this process, Resource...
Congested Transmission Lines Wasting Texas’ Renewable Power
Transmission system congestion is an issue that is plaguing our nation's electric grid, and Texas/ERCOT is no exception. The Lonestar State is known for consuming the most energy of any state in the U.S., but it has also integrated the most renewable resources. On June 28, renewable energy resource contribution reached a whopping 41.6% across ERCOT's territory, primarily from solar and wind power at peak hours. During this time, electric demand was also setting a new high record in late June....
Events
Representatives from EPE will Attend the 2023 Grid Security Conference
Representatives from EPE will be at the 12th annual Grid Security Conference on October 17 - 20 in Québec City, Canada. Hosted by NERC, the E-ISAC, and the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC), GridSecCon brings together cyber and physical security leaders from industry and government to deliver expert training sessions, share best practices and effective threat mitigation programs, and present lessons learned. You can join EPE in Québec City by registering for the conference.
EPE will Exhibit at the GCPA Fall Conference in Austin, TX
EPE will exhibit at the Gulf Coast Power Association Fall Conference, held on October 3 - 4, 2023, in Austin, TX. The Fall Conference is GCPA's largest event of the year. The conference brings together professionals, experts, and stakeholders from the energy industry, with an emphasis on power generation, transmission, and distribution. EPE will host a client appreciation event offering complimentary food and drinks on Tuesday, October 3, at 6:30 PM at Stephen F's Bar & Terrace. To...
Representatives from EPE to Attend the 2023 Ontario Energy Conference
Representatives from EPE will be at the 2023 Ontario Energy Conference on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, in Toronto, Canada. The Ontario Energy Conference is the second conference collaboration between the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO) and the Ontario Energy Association (OEA), building on the success of the 2022 event. This year we focus on practical realities needed to drive a decisive and orderly transition. The Ontario Energy Conference is a must for all professionals...
Publications
The Importance of Integrated Resource Planning for Electric Utilities
Integrated resource planning (IRP) is a process used by electric utilities to identify and evaluate the most cost-effective and reliable mix of resources for meeting the electricity needs of their customers. This includes not only traditional generation sources such as coal, natural gas, and nuclear, but also renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric, as well as demand-side management programs that aim to reduce overall electricity consumption. Energy storage systems are...
EPE Compliance & Reliability Newsletter: NERC/ REGIONAL ENTITY/ ISO EDITION – US – May 22 – June 2, 2023
IMPORTANT ENERGY, COMPLIANCE, & RELIABILITY NEWS: Meta to power US data center with 200 MW solar project Canadian Solar kicks off ‘transition year’ with 18MWh of storage shipments in Q1 US natgas rises 3% to 10-week high on low wind power, Canada wildfires First large-scale US offshore wind farm wins whale lawsuit The future of wind energy in the US is floating turbines as tall as 30 Rock Siemens Energy close to selling stake in Windar Renovables ERCOT Predicts Brownouts This Summer Bill...
Substation Physical Security
Darrel A. Grumman, Manager of NERC Compliance Programs at EPE, shared this update on the implementation of physical security measures for electric utility assets: As a Compliance Professional who interacts with both cyber and physical security requirements across the energy sector, I understand the importance of protecting electric utility assets from physical attacks. These attacks can have severe consequences, from service disruptions to property damage and even loss of life. Therefore, it...