Time-based management of large scale network models

Founded in 1970, ERCOT is an independent, not-for-profit organization responsible for overseeing the reliable and safe transmission of electricity over Texas´ main electricity power grid. ERCOT is one of 10 electricity reliability regions in North America operating under the reliability and safety standards set by the North American Electricity Reliability Corporation (NERC). As the independent system operator (ISO) since 1996, ERCOT has been the broker between competitive wholesale power buyers and sellers. ERCOT ISO also provided the platform upon which Texas´ electric utility industry made the transition to state-legislated retail competition, which began on January 1, 2002. Today, ERCOT is engaged in a Zonal Market with a rapid steady progression towards a nodal market environment projected to be in effect no later than January 1, 2009. The change in market type and functionality, put into motion by the Public Utility Commission of Texas Project 26376 in September 2003, is proposed to provide improved price signals, improved dispatch efficiencies, and direct assignment of local congestion. A historical and futuristic outlook will be provided here to promote a fundamental understanding of modeling history within ERCOT.