“I will never stop learning. I won’t just work on things that are assigned to me. I know there’s no such thing as a status quo. I will build our business sustainably through passionate and loyal customers. I will never pass up an opportunity to help out a colleague, and I’ll remember the days before I knew everything. I am more motivated by impact than money, and I know that Open Source is one of the most powerful ideas of our generation. I will communicate as much as possible, because it’s the oxygen of a distributed company. I am in a marathon, not a sprint, and no matter how far away the goal is, the only way to get there is by putting one foot in front of another every day. Given time, there is no problem that’s insurmountable.” from the Automattic Creed

On January 14th, 2020, the date support for Windows 7 will end.

With nearly 50% of computers running Windows 7, this will affect many companies.

While this might sound like a long way off, there’s a lot of work your company needs to do to ensure a successful transition.

Reminder:  NERC Training Announcement 

The Generating Availability Data System Working Group (GADSWG) implements a uniform approach to reporting and measuring North American generating plant availability, performance and other related reliability data.

Conventional GADS training will include items such as how GADS data is used, events and performance, combined cycle component versus block reporting, the case for event reviews, review of cause codes, examples of poorly reported events to NERC, understanding Data Reporting Instructions (DRI) Appendix F: Equations and the data submittal process at Open Access Technology International (OATI).

Wind GADS training will include the reporting implementation timeline, entity registration, processes and reports. Additionally, the data submittal process through the NERC GADS Wind reporting application will be covered.

In 2018, the GADSWG will offer training at the following locations:

Week of June 18th at Open Access Technology International, Inc. (OATI) in Minneapolis, MN

Click here for Training at OATI in Minneapolis, MN 

Week of October 15th at SERC Reliability Corporation, Charlotte, NC 

Click here for Training at SERC in Charlotte, NC

Training classes conducted each week are:

• An introductory session for new conventional GADS reporters on Monday
• Conventional GADS material will be covered on Tuesday 
• Appendix F  and analytics in conventional GADS will be covered on Wednesday
• GADS Wind material will be covered on Thursday and Friday

Training Schedule:

• Monday | Noon – 1:00 p.m. Registration | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00.p.m. Introductory Session
• Tuesday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Conventional GADS
• Wednesday | 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Conventional GADS Appendix F Equations and Analytics
• Thursday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Wind GADS
• Friday | 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Wind GADS

Although registration is required, there is no fee for this training.  Continental breakfast and lunch will be included.

For more information or assistance, please contact NERC via email: gads@nerc.net for conventional units or gadswind@nerc.net for wind plants.