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HomeMy WebLinkAboutContract 47103 cn,y si xmm fie, r,. , ELECTRIC RELIABILITY COUNCIL OF TEXAS,INC. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND AGREEMENT FOR MEMBERSHIP YEAR 2016 This Membership Application and Agreement (Agreement) is by and between Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc. (ERGOT) and City of Fort Worth (Applicant). In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereby agree that the Applicant shall become an ERCOT Member and receive the ERCOT Member Services and benefits described herein, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be effective as of the date signed by the Applicant provided that the Applicant meets all of the qualifications for ERCOT Membership. Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning as defined in the ERCOT Bylaws or the ERCOT Protocols. A. Membership Application Information 1. Name of Entity applying for Membership: City of Fort Worth 2. Type of Membership: Check ONE type of Membership. Affiliated Entities as defined in the ERGOT Bylaws may hold only one Corporate Membership. Entities applying for additional Memberships, such as an Associate Membership, must use a separate Agreement for each Membership. The applicable fees are listed below and entitle Members to services ERCOT provides such as hosting ERCOT meetings, providing Members with necessary information and such other Member Services as may from time to time be offered. Please note that any Member may request that the Member's Annual Member Service Fees be waived for good cause shown. ® Corporate. Voting. $2,000 per Membership Year (except Residential and Commercial Consumer Members fees are $100 per year). Corporate Membership includes the right to vote on matters submitted to the general membership such as election of Board Directors, election of Technical Advisory Committee (TAG) Representatives and TAC subcommittees thereof and amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and the ERCOT Bylaws. Residential Consumer Members do not elect a Director to represent the Residential Consumer interests as the Public Counsel is mandated to represent these interests. ❑ Associate. Non-voting. $500 per Membership Year (except Residential and Commercial Consumer Members fees are $50 per year). Associate Membership includes no voting rights. However, an Associate Member may be elected by Corporate Members to serve as a voting member of the Board, TAC or a TAC subcommittee thereof. ❑ Adjunct. Non-voting. $500 per Membership Year. Entities not meeting the Segment requirements for Membership may join as Adjunct Members upon Board approval. Adjunct Membership does not include voting rights or the right to be elected to the Board, TAC or a TAC subcommittee thereof. 3. The Applicable Annual Member Services Fee must accompany this Agreement and be delivered to ERCOT by the Record Date in order for the Member to participate in the elections for the Membership Year. Please make checks payable to ERCOT and mail to ERCOT, Attention: t Treasury Department, 7620 Metro Center Drive, Austin, Texas 78744. Please send an email to �p�(reot„_coo iiui for wire instructions. F d IC Lit,N'. d is ) ray. 4. Segment Participation: (Check ONE Segment designation.) LK Consumer. Any Entity representing the interests of end-users of electricity in the ERCOT Region. Check ONE Subsegment designation: ❑ Residential Consumer ❑ Small Commercial Consumer(Peak demand of 1000 KW or less) ® Large Commercial Consumer(Peak demand greater than 1000 KW) ❑ Industrial Consumer (Average monthly demand greater than 1 megawatt and engaged in an industrial process) ❑ Cooperative. An Entity operating in the ERCOT Region that is: (i) a corporation organized under Chapter 161 of the Texas Utilities Code or a predecessor statute to Chapter 161 and operating under that chapter; (ii) a corporation organized as an electric cooperative in a state other than Texas that has obtained a certificate of authority to conduct affairs in the State of Texas; (iii) a cooperative association organized under Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat. 1396-50.01 or a predecessor to that statute and operating under that statute; or(iv)a River Authority as defined in Tex. Water Code §30.003. ❑ Independent Generator. Any Entity that is not a Transmission and Distribution Entity (T&D Entity) or an Affiliate of a T&D Entity and (i) owns or controls generation of at least 10 MW in the ERCOT Region; or (ii) is preparing to operate and control generation of at least 10 MW in the ERCOT Region, and has approval of the appropriate governmental authority, has any necessary real property rights, has given the connecting transmission provider written authorization to proceed with construction and has provided security to the connecting transmission provider. ❑ Independent Power Marketer. Any Entity that is not a T&D Entity or an Affiliate of a T&D Entity and is registered at the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) as a Power Marketer to serve in the ERCOT Region. ❑ Independent REP. Any Entity that is certified by the PUCT to serve in the ERCOT Region as a Retail Electric Provider(REP) under PURA §39.352 and that is not an Affiliate of a T&D Entity operating in the ERCOT Region. ❑ Aggregators may register to participate in this Segment if unable to qualify in any other Segment. ❑ Investor-Owned Utility. (i) An investor-held, for-profit "electric utility" as defined in PURA §31.002(6) that (a) operates within the ERCOT Region, (b) owns 345 kV interconnected transmission facilities in the ERCOT Region, (c) owns more than 500 pole miles of transmission facilities in the ERCOT Region, or (d) is an Affiliate of an Entity described in (a), (b) or (c); or (ii)a public utility holding company of any such electric utility. Municipal.An Entity operating in the ERCOT Region that owns or controls transmission or distribution facilities, owns or controls dispatchable generating facilities, or provides retail electric service and is either: (i) a municipally owned utility as defined in PURA §11.003 or(ii)a River Authority as defined in Tex.Water Code §30.003. 5. Identify your designated representative for required notices to ERCOT Members, participation in meetings of the Corporate Members and voting issues: Name: Jesus J. ChWa Title: Assistant City Manager Address: 1000 Throckmorton St City, State,Zip: Ft. Worth,Texas Phone: (817,39L2-5804 Fax: Email: Jesus. Chapa@fortworthtexas.gov 6. List any other ERCOT Memberships held by the Applicant or any Affiliates(attach extra pages if necessary): (a)Entity name: Segment: (b)Entity name: Segment: (c)Entity name: Segment: B. Membership Agreement 1. Membership. Membership in ERCOT is open to any Entity that meets any of the Segment definitions set forth in the Bylaws. Members must be an organization that either operates in the ERCOT Region or represents consumers within the ERCOT Region. Members may join as a Corporate, Associate or Adjunct Member subject to the criteria set forth in the ERCOT Bylaws. Members must apply for Membership through an authorized officer or agent. 2. Fees. Annual Member Services Fees are described in the ERCOT Bylaws and may be changed through the procedure set forth therein. Any change in fees shall automatically become effective as to all ERCOT Members without the necessity of amending this Agreement. All Memberships are year to year and must be renewed annually. Annual Member Services Fee renewals shall be due by the record date for the annual membership meeting. Membership fees may not be prorated. This Agreement shall renew in yearly increments upon ERCOT's receipt of the following (1) Member's Renewal Application and (2) Member's applicable Annual Member Services Fee. Any Member may request that the Member's Annual Member Service Fees be waived for good cause shown. 3. Application for Membership. Members will submit the following items in order to apply for Membership: (i) payment of the Annual Member Services Fee and (ii) a signed copy of this Agreement. Upon approval, ERCOT will promptly notify Member Applicant of the same. 4. Change of Designated Representative. An ERCOT Member may change its representative at any time by written request (signed by a duly authorized representative of the ERCOT Member) _ . submitted to the ERCOT Legal Department at r�p���r����;�•°�iao w���J,��q��a��,�,a.���,,,,, 5. Suspension and Expulsion. All ERCOT Members shall abide by the ERCOT Bylaws, as they may be amended from time to time, and any other rule or regulation duly adopted by the Board of Directors. Any ERCOT Member, who willfully violates any provision of this Agreement, the ERCOT Bylaws, or any other rule or regulation duly adopted by the Board of Directors, may be reprimanded, suspended, and/or expelled in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or set forth in the ERCOT Bylaws. Such action will affect all persons deriving Membership privileges through such ERCOT Member. 6. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded, canceled, renewed, or extended and the terms and conditions hereof may be waived only by a written instrument executed by both parties hereto or, in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. 7. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas that apply to contracts executed in and performed entirely within the State of Texas, without reference to any rules of conflict of laws. Parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of Texas. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Member certifies that (i) the Member meets the requirements for ERCOT Membership in the Segment designated herein; (ii) all information provided herein is true and correct to the best of the Member's knowledge; and(iii)through its authorized representative the Member agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement,the ERCOT Bylaws and any other requirements duly adopted by the Board of Directors. Y Printed Name: Jesus J. Chapa Title: Assistant City Manager Date: f AS TO AMSTANT )CITY ATTORNEY r ,J. i e K NO M&C 0 mi REQUIRED WIIAAR IX Lloyd 816 Congress Avenue,Suite 1900 Austin,Texas 78701 Gosselink Telephone:( 322-5800 Facsimile:(512)12)472-0532 ������ ATTOR [VEYS AT LAW voww.lglawfirm.com Mr.Brewster's Direct Line:(512)322-5831 Email: cbrewsterAlglawfirm.com Fax: (512)472-0532 MEMORANDUM TO: City and Other Political Subdivision Members of ERCOT FROM: Chris Brewster DATE: October 2,2015 RE: ERCOT Membership Renewal for 2016 The purpose of this memorandum is to recommend that your city or other political subdivision renew its membership in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas("ERCOT") for 2016. For the reasons that we detail below, an ERCOT membership continues to be a straightforward and cost-effective way for your city to influence electric policy in Texas, and we recommend that you submit your ERCOT membership renewal by November 6,2015. The membership fee is $100 per year. What is ERCOT? ERCOT is the entity that is responsible for operating the electric grid in the deregulated portion of Texas. Furthermore, ERCOT maintains the set of complicated rules that frame the way that electricity is bought and sold in the deregulated wholesale market. Through a process of negotiation and deliberation within committees of interested parties, the ERCOT stakeholder process is constantly reviewing and revising these rules, known as the ERCOT protocols. Most of the issues addressed at ERCOT are addressed nowhere else — the Public Utility Commission ("PUC")has largely delegated these issues to the ERCOT stakeholder process. What role do cities play in the ERCOT process? Consumers, such as cities and other political subdivisions, have a voice in ERCOT's decision-making process. Each segment of the ERCOT market has a vote on issues before ERCOT, through its representatives on the Technical Advisory Committee ("TAC") and the Board of Directors. TAC and the Board are the bodies responsible for making the most important decisions about the detailed workings of the ERCOT market. These decisions can have bottom-line impacts on electricity prices. A total of 142 cities and other political subdivisions joined ERCOT in 2015. With this membership strength, cities successfully elected two city representatives to TAC and one director to ERCOT's Board of Directors for 2015. A strong contingent of city members would make continuation of this strong presence likely for 2016. 5292210.1 Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle &Townsend, P.C. ERCOT Member Cities October 2, 2015 Page 2 As you know, consumers in ERCOT face constant efforts by power generators and power marketers to modify the electricity market in ways that would increase prices. In 2016, ERCOT will begin work on several major market redesign initiatives, and will be re-examining how certain kinds of renewable resources, customer-owned generation, and energy storage will interact with the market. This means that cities' presence in the ERCOT process as a voice for consumers is of continued importance. What does an ERCOT membership require? It is not difficult to renew your ERCOT membership. A simple form is required, along with payment of a $100 membership fee. In the pages that follow, you find a guide to completion of the form. We are also available to assist you; please feel welcome to call me (Chris Brewster) at my phone number at the top of this memorandum, or email me at cbrewster @lglawfirm.com. In order to vote for candidates for the 2016 Technical Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors, ERCOT must receive your renewal application and $100 fee by Friday, November 6, 2015. In completing the attached form, please note the following: • Only corporate members may vote in ERCOT matters. In response to Question No. A.2 on the form, we recommend that cities renew as Corporate, rather than associate, members. [for your convenience,we have already checked this option] • For corporate members in the Small or Large Commercial Consumer Segment, the renewal fee is$100. The form designates how the payment is to be made in paragraph A.3. • Question No. A.4 asks that you designate the segment in which you are renewing. Cities qualify for membership in the Consumer segment, and within that segment you must choose either the Small or Large Commercial Consumer sub-segments. In the listing of cities on the attached page,we have noted which cities joined in each of these categories for 2015. We recommend that you choose the same segment when renewing your membership for 2016. Please call me (Chris Brewster) at 512-322-5831 (or email: cbrewster @lglawfirm.com) if you have any questions about this. • In response to Question No. A.5, please designate as your authorized representative an employee of your city that can receive notices from ERGOT. ERCOT contacts its members very rarely; this person will not be inundated with emails. During the coming year, please feel free to forward anything you receive from ERCOT to me at the email address above. • There is no need to answer Question No. A.6, as it is not relevant to cities' memberships in ERCOT. 5292210.1 ERCOT Member Cities October 2, 2015 Page 3 • Item A.3 on the form states the address at which to mail the form to ERCOT, but this can also be done by email: membership@ercot.com or fax: (512) 225-7079. Please note that if you submit your application via email or fax,you must still send the $100 renewal fee to ERCOT by mail or wire. After you have sent your application to ERGOT, please forward a copy of your application to us at my email address or fax number shown above. This will help us track pending applications, and will allow us to follow up with ERCOT if issues arise. Please feel free to call or email us if you have any questions in completing the form or about ERCOT in general. 5292210.1 ERCOT Member Cities October 2, 2015 Page 4 ERCOT Membership List for 2015 Small Commercial Large Commercial Aransas County Municipal Utility District No. 1 Aquilla Water Supply District City of Andrews City of Abilene City of Belton City of Alamo City of Benbrook City of Allen City of Breckenridge City of Arlington City of Burkburnett City of Brownwood City of Caddo Mills City of Canton City of Cedar Hill City of Carrollton City of Celina City of Coppell City of Cleburne City of Corpus Christi City of Clyde City of Dallas City of Comanche City of Decatur City of Commerce City of Denison City of Copperas Cove City of Duncanville City of Corinth City of Euless City of Crockett City of Farmers Branch City of Crowley City of Forest Hill City of Deer Park City of Fort Worth City of DeSoto City of Galveston City of Dilley City of Grand Prairie City of Dublin City of Grapevine City of Early City of Harlingen City of Eastland City of Hewitt City of Fate City of Houston City of Frisco City of Killeen City of George West City of Kingsville City of Glenn Heights City of Krum City of Hamilton City of La Feria City of Harker Heights City of Lake Jackson City of Howe City of Lewisville City of Hutto City of Mansfield City of Ingleside City of McAllen City of Josephine City of Mercedes City of Justin City of Mesquite City of Keller City of Mission City of Kerens City of Missouri City City of Lake Worth City of Morgan's Point City of Little River-Academy City of North Richland Hills City of Lorena City of Odessa City of Los Fresnos City of Pearland City of Mont Belvieu City of Port Lavaca City of Murchison City of Portland City of Murphy City of Richland Hills City of Oak Point City of Rio Grande City City of Ovilla City of Robinson City of Paris City of Rockport City of Point Comfort City of Sachse City of Pottsboro City of San Angelo City of Ranger City of Seadrift City of River Oaks City of Sherman City of Rosenberg City of Stephenville City of Rotan City of Sugar Land City of Rowlett City of Sweetwater City of Seagoville City of Taylor Lake Village City of Simonton City of Temple City of Snyder City of The Colony City of Spring Valley Village City of Tyler 5292210.1 ERCOT Member Cities October 2,2015 Page 5 Small Commercial Large Commercial City of Springtown City of Vernon City of Sulphur Springs City of Victoria City of Texas City City of Waco City of University Park City of Watauga City of Venus City of Waxahachie City of Webster City of Wichita Falls City of Weston Lakes Johnson County Special Utility District City of Wharton South Texas Water Authority City of White Settlement Town of Addison City of Whitney City of Woodway City of Wylie Town of Argyle Town of Fulton Town of Highland Park Town of Prosper Town of Sunnyvale Town of Trophy Club Town of Woodsboro 5292210.1