Version 1.2

POCP Database Help

  1. Adding and Editing user details
  2. Uploading outages to the database
  3. Downloading search results from the database
  4. Search options
  5. Search result viewing options
  6. Outage field descriptions
  7. Bookmarking searches
  8. Example searches

Adding and Editing user details

The User management functions associated with the database are available to administrative users of each Asset Owner only

Administrative users may add or delete new user names and passwords for the Asset Owner they represent. They may also change their Asset Owner name details.

Users with standard password access are able to upload data to the database and edit outage details of the respective Asset Owner they represent. They may also edit their own login name or password, by selecting their user name or description at the top left of the screen.

Uploading outages

Outages can be entered into the database in one of three ways, manual entering using the Add/Edit menu options (Available only to users whose asset owner has requested that they run in manual mode), and uploading entire outage sets using CSV or XML.

XML is the preferred format for uploading outage information to the database, because it:

Asset owners developing an XML interface should contact Richard Clark of Red Spider if they require any assistance. Technical resources available include a testing version of the upload system and file format at http://pocp.redspider.co.nz/xml_test.php.

Asset owners using the XML system are encouraged to use the test facility to ensure their upload system operates correctly before requesting access to the production system.

CSV format files can be uploaded by logging into the database as a user with Edit or higher privileges and clicking "upload outages". The file format definition is available from there as well.

It is important to note, for both XML and CSV uploads, that any outage that is not uploaded, and has not yet passed its end date, is automatically cancelled. This means that the system does not need to be notified explicitly of cancelled outages, they are simply left out of any subsequent uploads.

Downloading results

An excel-compatible (TSV) download of the outage data is available for any search by changing the "View" to "Excel export". For most people, this will place the results directly into excel.

Important note: the format of the results are not the same as the format of the upload for CSV. The upload only requires fields provided by the Asset Owner, whereas the format for the results includes many pieces of information generated by the database itself or the system operator.

Search options

There are a number of different search options, allowing for accurate filtering to provide only the information needed. They can be used in combination.

Plant

The Plant field at the top left of the search screen allows any part of the outage plant/block to be specified. Multiple entries should be separated by a comma, and the '%' symbol can be used as a wildcard.

ID

The ID field allows matching on the asset-owner supplied outage ID. Since the Asset Owner supplies this information directly, more than one Asset Owner may use the same ID. In general however this case is rare and does not cause problems.

Date

The Active fields permit matching by date. Outages are matched if they are active at any time within the region specified.

Owner

Either one or multiple owners may be selected.

Category

There are three generic types of planned outage, which may be searched separately or together:

Direct Connection
Equipment owned or operated by end-users of electricity that are directly connected to New Zealand's power system.
Generation
Equipment owned or operated by Generators
Transmission
Equipment owned or operated by Transmission or Distribution networks

Planning status

One of three outage states defined by the uploading Asset Owner:

Tentative
The planned outage may occur
Confirmed
The planned outage will occur
Cancelled
The planned outage has been cancelled

Assessment status

There are six assessment status. The System Operator sets four of these, "Assessed","Assessed (C)", "Being Assessed" and "Potential EGR Issue" appropriately. The remaining two, "New" and "Changed" are set by the database based on the Asset Owner's upload.

Search result options

There are two fields which determine how the results of a search are viewed or ordered:

Order by

Order by changed the order of the resulting outages on the page, sorting by one of the following fields:

Start time
The results are ordered by start time, with the nearest start time first.
Last modified
The results are ordered by the date of last change to the outage, with the nearest modified time first.
Owner
The results are ordered by Asset Owner, starting at A

View

The view field provides three seperate options for viewing results:

Regular
Default option includes most relevant information for Asset Owners
Operator
Includes additional information required for the System Operator
Excel Export
Creates a new Microsoft Excel document containing the search results. This provides all key information about the outage.

In addition, clicking on the underlined Plant on the left of any row will take you to the outage details screen displaying more information and history of changes.

Outage fields

A description of each field is provided:

Field Description
Plant Plant is identified by the station or transmission circuit asset code.
ID Defines the outage ID used by the Asset Owner. The database uses the outage ID to differentiate new outages from changed outages.
Start The start field shows the date and time of day the outage will commence. Time of day is given in 24 hour format.
End The end field shows the date and time of day the outage will commence. Time of day is given in 24 hour format.
Type Defines the type of outage as either continuous or daily. A continuous outage means that the outage is continuous throughout the time specified between the start and end date/times. Daily outage means that the event occurs each day between the start and end times specified, until the end date.
Owner Defines the Asset Owner responsible for uploading the planned outage data.
Assessment The EGR assessment status, either Assessed, Assessed (C), Being Assessed, Changed, New or Potential EGR issue.

The following information shows the points at which the various Assessment status may be added or changed. These timeframes are indicative only. Lead times will vary due to the number of outages loaded, the complexity of the outages, and the number of outages that are rescheduled or altered in the final weeks leading up to the start of the outage:

Being Assessed
Typically occurs between 4-6 weeks out from the start date of the outage.
Assessed and Assessed (C)
Typically occurs between 2-4 weeks out from the start date of the outage.
Potential EGR issue
Can be identified at any time
Outages that are re-submitted after they have been assessed will revert to Changed status.

Planning Defines the current planning status for the outage, as defined by the uploading Asset Owner. May be tentative, confirmed or cancelled.
MW Remaining Shows the MW remaining while the outage is active. For Load, shows the load still drawn while the outage is active.
MW Lost Shows the MW lost from normal (normal - remaining) while the outage is active. For Load, shows the load no longer drawn while the outage is active
MVar Remaining Shows the MVar remaining while the outage is active. WARNING: counter-intuitively, for Load only, this is field is MVar Lost instead due to the difficulty of estimating the MVar remaining value.
GPs Shows the Grid Points involved in the current outage.
Category Shows the type of outage. May be either transmission, generation or direct connection.
Modified The date and time of the last change to the outage
Recall Time Defines the outage recall time if known
Confidential This field is depreciated and should always be No
Transmission Nature Defines the nature of a transmission outage
Additional comments Any other relevant details provided by the Asset Owner
Current Assessment document If present, a link to a document provided by the System Operator regarding the assessment of the outage.
Constraints Identities of any constraints affecting the system as a result of the outage
History Tracks changes made to the outage previously.

Search bookmarking

The POCP database allows favourite searches to be named, saved and accessed using the "Add to Favorites" function within Internet Explorer and "Add to Bookmarks" within Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox.

Search examples

Example 1

In the following example, a search has been undertaken for generation and transmission outages:

Example 2

In Example 2 (below), a multiple search has been undertaken for generation and transmission outages: