Texas Senate bill proposes new standards for state power grid

Hannah Norton | Source: Community Impact Austin | Posted 03/03/2025

Keyword Tags:

Demand on the state grid reached a record 85,508 megawatts in August 2023, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas has estimated it will grow to about 150,000 megawatts by 2030.SB 6 would also adjust how ERCOT measures future demand. King said current formulas rely too much on hypotheticals.

AI generated summary

Texas is facing a significant increase in power demand, with projections indicating that the state's power grid will need to nearly double its capacity in the next five years. This surge is driven by population growth and the influx of large energy-consuming facilities, such as data centers and manufacturing plants. Senator Phil King has introduced Senate Bill 6, aimed at strengthening the power grid, protecting residential customers, and improving supply and demand forecasting. The bill is currently pending further revisions to address concerns from industry stakeholders.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has warned that peak electric demand could exceed supply as early as 2027, potentially leading to significant shortfalls. To mitigate risks, SB 6 proposes measures such as requiring large power users to switch to backup generators during emergencies and enhancing the ability to manage non-critical loads. The bill also seeks to improve the accuracy of demand forecasts to avoid overbuilding or underbuilding the grid. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit edits to the bill, which aims to balance economic development opportunities with the need for reliable grid operations.

Link to Original Article

Please find the link to the full article below. (Please note that content provider might require a paid subscription)

Source Link: https://communityimpact.com/austin/south-central-austin/texas-legislature/2025/02/28/texas-senate-bill-proposes-new-standards-for-state-power-grid/

Create a free trial account: Sign Up

Grid monitor is free to try. No credit card required

Texas Senate bill proposes new standards for state power grid

AI generated summary

Link to Original Article

Create a free trial account: Sign Up

Already have an account? Login