How to become an Outage Planning & Scheduling Agent
The responsibilities of Outage Planning Agents (OPA) and Scheduling Agents (SA) are defined respectively in the OPA contract and the SA contract.
OPA contract & SA contract
Coordination by Elia of technical units is governed:
- in the OPA contract(Outage Planning Agent contract) for the outage planning process and
- in the SA contract(Scheduling Agent contract) for the scheduling and redispatching processes.
Technical facilities with a maximum power of 25 MW or more that are connected to the Elia grid or to a Closed Distribution System (CDS) connected to the Elia grid, are subject to these contracts. Other technical facilities may also be included in these contracts according to the modalities described in the SA and OPA contracts in order to assist with the coordination process carried out by Elia (units which are liable to seriously affect the Elia grid) or offer specific system services (if the signing of a OPA contract and/or a SA is a prerequisite for provision of the service).
In accordance with the Code of Conduct (Article 243), during a transitional period running until the implementation of the second phase of iCAROS, the BRP will, by default, act as the Outage Planning Agent and Scheduling Agent. The specific conditions for the appointment of Outage Planning Agents and Scheduling Agents are defined, respectively, in the OPA and SA contracts.
Future evolution
The framework of outage planning, scheduling and redispatching is evolving in the context of the iCAROS program and in line with theregulatory framework laid down by the European Guideline on Electricity Transmission System Operation.
