The Texas PUC formally approved Rayburn Country Electric Cooperative’s request to move about 12% of its load and transmission facilities from SPP into ERCOT

Asked by Texas’ Public Utility Commission to “reinitiate discussions” with stakeholders, ERCOT held a workshop to look at real-time co-optimization.

The Texas Public Utility Commission approved a list of issues to be discussed during a summer workshop on real-time co-optimization.

ERCOT is “much more likely” to deal with “emergency-alert type conditions” this summer given the system’s 7.4% reserve margin, CEO Bill Magness said.

ERCOT CEO Bill Magness told the Board of Directors the grid operator will use favorable budget variances to fund the addition of real-time co-optimization.

The PUCT issued preliminary certificates of convenience and necessity for transmission that will integrate some of LP&L’s SPP load into the ERCOT system.

Texas regulators agreed to let state lawmakers help them determine who will own energy storage devices in the ERCOT market.

The mothballing of a coal-fired plant has reduced ERCOT’s reserve margin of 8.1% to 7.4%, prodding the Texas PUC into ordering market changes.

The PUCT is asking legislators to help provide clarity on whether transmission and distribution utilities can own and operate energy storage devices.

ERCOT is preparing to take on the Texas heat again in 2019 with reserve margins that have shrunk even further than last summer's.