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Project Tracking and
Cost Estimation Tool
Member Impacting
Project Overview
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents ... 2 Version Control ... 2 Executive Summary ... 2 Business Impact ... 2 Technical Impact ... 3 Member Requirements ... 3 Implementation/Back-out Plan ... 4 Summary of Timeline ... 4 Assumptions ... 4 Risks ... 4 Additional Documentation ... 4 Communication Plan ... 4 Next Steps ... 5 FAQs ... 5Version Control
Version Date Author Change Description
1.0 3/22 Cary Frizzell Initial draft
4.0 5/22 Cary Frizzell Added Testing requirements and Next Steps
Executive Summary
The implementation of the Project Tracking and Cost Estimation Tool will provide Transmission Owners (TOs) a single point of entry for submitting project tracking updates and cost estimates for transmission and generation interconnection projects.
Business Impact
This project is initiated by two business needs within the Engineering Department:
1) In accordance to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order 890, Southwest Power Pool (SPP) tracks the progress of transmission and generation interconnection projects that are planned or being constructed by its members. On a quarterly basis, SPP requests updates from TOs on a set of project metrics, such as total cost estimate and the projected in-service date. These updates are completed via Excel spreadsheets that are emailed to and from SPP and TOs. That data is then compiled by SPP and a report is generated each quarter. The report is submitted to various stakeholder groups and posted to SPP’s website.
This project will create a web-based software application that will allow TOs to update their project data within the SPP project tracking database that houses the project data directly. This will eliminate SPP’s manual process of updating the database from the spreadsheets. 2) By charge of the Regional State Committee (RSC), the cost estimation update process has been made more rigorous. This movement created a business need for SPP to implement software functionality that facilitates this process for TOs. TOs will now be required to
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submit cost estimates for transmission and generation interconnection projects during various defined planning phases. All estimates will be submitted through a Standardized Cost Estimate Reporting Template (SCERT).
This project will generate a web-based software application that allows TOs to submit cost estimates in the SCERT format directly into the SPP project tracking database. The SPP project tracking database will be expanded to accommodate any new data required from the SCERT.
Users Impacted
All TOs with planned or existing transmission or generation interconnection projects being constructed within SPP’s footprint.
Business Functions Impacted
The submission of project tracking updates and cost estimates for transmission and generation interconnection projects by TOs.
Technical Impact
SPP Systems/Processes ImpactedSPP’s project tracking database will be expanded to accommodate any new data required from the SCERT. The Quarterly project tracking process will be modified to to accommodate the new method of receiving data updates.
Anticipated Member Systems/Processes Impacted
Project tracking data updates and cost estimates will no longer be submitted by TOs via email. All data submissions to SPP will occur through the new Project Tracking and Cost Estimation Tool.
Member Requirements
TOs will be required to utilize a digital certificate to access a web-based Graphical User Interface (GUI). The web-based GUI will be available within a secured environment.
Testing
- Member testing will consist of connectivity and application functionality testing. - SPP will provide scripts for the test group participants to complete.
- Please note that additional details around testing will be provided in the Member Test Plan and during the training sessions.
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Implementation/Back-out Plan
TBDSummary of Timeline
Date Responsible Party Action
3/16/2012 Accenture/SPP Functional Requirements and Scope Complete 4/6/2012 Accenture/SPP Technical Design Complete
4/9/2012 - 5/25/2012 Accenture Project Build
5/28/2012 - 6/15/2012 SPP SPP User Acceptance Testing 6/11/2012 SPP/Members Member Testing Q&A session 6/18/2012, 6/25/2012 SPP/Members Member Training Demonstration 6/19/2012 – 6/29/2012 SPP/Members Member Acceptance Testing
7/2/2012 – 7/6/2012 SPP Deployment to Production
Assumptions
- All members that are TOs will participate in Member Acceptance Testing
- If any modifications are identified by the member test team that are deemed necessary may impact the delivery timeline
Risks
None identified.
Additional Documentation
The Quarterly Project Tracking Report archive can be viewed here: http://www.spp.org/section.asp?group=1867&pageID=27
The latest version of the SCERT can be viewed here:
http://www.spp.org/publications/SCERT%20Version%201.2.xls
Communication Plan
All project communication and information will be posted to the SPP Change Working Group Project Documentation folder. This MIPO will be updated upon change or with any new information, a redline version posted to the project documentation folder, and the CWG notified.
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Members can contact Cary Frizzell ([email protected], 501-688-1792) with any questions regarding the project.
Each Member will identify a Business Contact who will serve as a member liaison to the Project Team.
Next Steps
Action Assignee Status & Due Date
Project liaisons and testing participants
identified Members Due 6/1/2012
Testing participants check connectivity
with ITE environment Members/SPP Due prior to 6/18/2012 training session
