improved forecasting tools can help to improve forecasted unit commitment plans of variable renewable power plants by reducing uncertainty gate closure is usually situated between hours and hour ahead of realtime operation the prediction accuracy is improved by a factor of two when moving from a gate closure time of hours ahead to hours ahead luickx delarue and d haeseleer with the introduction of large amounts or variable renewable energies in power systems and improved forecasting tools available system operators and regulators should reconsider gate closure rules