NERC 1600 Data Request: Cold Weather

As part of its responsibilities under the revised cold weather standards, NERC is collecting updated cold weather preparedness data for all BES generating units under Generator Owner (GO) scope with a target date of 5/15/2025 and a final due date of 6/15/2025. This data request supports implementation and oversight of EOP-012-2 and related Reliability Standards aimed at improving grid resilience during extreme cold weather.

GOs are required to submit one spreadsheet row per generating unit even if the unit did not experience issues or constraints. The information will be submitted via NERC’s secure data collection platform and includes EIA identifiers, GADS codes, ECWT calculations, and winter performance characteristics.

NERC has provided a comprehensive guide for submitting the information. Pages 7 & 8 of this document walks you through the required fields for units that did not declare any Generator Cold Weather Constraints and are capable of operating at the ECWT, using the official NERC column references (A–AC) and pointing to where supporting data can be found in public EIA filings or obtained from NERC.

USV is happy to assist with preparing this submission. The only items we need from your entity are:

• Confirmation that there were no cold weather constraints or reliability events, and
• Either the 3-digit GADS Unit ID (for conventional generation) or the 7-digit GADS Plant ID (for wind or solar), since this information is not publicly available.

USV has also noticed a number of consistent mistakes when submitting the required information. Below is a breakdown of submission examples that will guide users in what sections should be left blank or language to be written where the answer is not clear and should be zero (0). Please note that entities should include their site’s NCR# in the file name when submitting their responses! 

General & Registration Info 

• GO – NCR #: Your company’s NERC Compliance Registry number (format: NCRxxxxx)
• GO Name: As listed in the NERC registry

GADS Identifiers 

• Company GADS Identifier: For conventional/thermal units: Use the 3-digit code from Appendix C
  Use 000 if not GADS-reporting, or leave blank for inverter-based units
• Unit GADS Identifier: Confidential 3-digit code for conventional units; leave blank for inverter-based If unknown, contact gads@nerc.net
• Plant GADS Wind/Solar Identifier: Confidential 7-digit ID for solar/wind; leave blank for conventional units. If unknown, contact gads@nerc.net 

EIA Data (from 3_1_Generator_Y2023.xlsx) 

• Plant EIA Code: Comes from column C (Plant Code)
• Unit EIA Code: Comes from column G (Generator ID)
• Unit Name: Comes from column J (Unit Code)
• Unit Postal Zip Code: If not known, pull from 2___Plant_Y2023.xlsx by matching Plant Code

Operational Region Info 

• NERC Region: Select from list
• BA Area: Select from list

Cold Weather Status 

• Unit Self-Commits or is Required to Run at or Below 32°F (Y/N): Y
• Unit ECWT (°F): Contact your USV lead for help or use this guide
• Date ECWT Calculated: MM/DD/YYYY
• Minimum Ambient Operating Temperature (°F): Choose from:
  • Nameplate/design
  • Historical (≥1 hour)
  • Engineering analysis
• Maximum Ambient Operating Temperature: Leave blank (not needed unless there’s a constraint)

Capacity Details 

• Net Winter Capacity (MW): From column S of EIA file
• Capacity Operable at ECWT (MW): Portion of Q that runs at ECWT
• Capacity Under a CAP (MW): Enter 0
• CAP Development Date: Leave blank
• Projected CAP Completion Date: Leave blank

Event/Constraint Info (All Not Applicable)

• Reliability Event This Past Winter?: N
• Under CAP Due to Similar Equipment?: N
• Description of Similar Equipment: Leave blank
• Cold Weather Constraint Identified?: N
• Date Constraint Identified: Leave blank
• Constraint Category: Leave blank
• Constraint Description: Leave blank