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.

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is phasing in mandatory quarterly GADS-W reporting requirements over three years for wind plants with an installed capacity over 75 MW and a commissioning date of January 1, 2005 or later. Plants with a capacity of over 200 MW started reporting on January 1, 2018 with 100 MW and 75 MW sites required to begin reporting on January 1, 2019 and January 1, 2020, respectively. 

The quarterly GADS-W reporting consists of submitting three reports: 

1. Sub-Group: consists mainly of site characteristics, location, and equipment information 
2. Performance: general site performance, including unavailability (forced, maintenance, or planned) for reasons outside of management control 
3. Component Outage: identifies the general area of reason for the loss of production using a list of component (system) codes to ensure consistency in reporting