Texas regulators approved ERCOT’s methodologies for determining minimum ancillary services for 2026 while hinting at the same time that they are considering discontinuing the use of conservative operations.

ERCOT can ensure long-term reliability with its energy-only market, but it must operate its grid less conservatively for that to happen, said Potomac Economics President David Patton.

ERCOT’s Board of Directors approved staff’s recommended methodologies for acquiring minimum ancillary service requirements in 2026, despite concerns over conservative operations and target procurement levels.

The PJM Market Implementation Committee endorsed by acclamation an RTO-sponsored issue charge to consider changes to how resources committed in advance of the day-ahead market are offer capped.

PJM spent $53.5 million on conservative, out-of-market dispatch procedures to maintain reliability during the January 2024 Winter Storm Gerri.