A short update on Texas Senate bills related to power generation and the grid now in the House Committee on State Affairs.
SB 7 creates a new ancillary service for dispatchable generators and a calculation that the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) can use to require generation to firm up to be more reliable. This bill has been left pending in the House Committee on State Affairs since 5/3/23.
SB 2015 creates a goal of 50% dispatchable energy for the ERCOT grid to level the playing field between dispatchable and renewable generation. This bill has been left pending in House committee since 4/17/23.
SB 1287 requires the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to establish a cost cap for generation interconnection costs to reduce transmission costs for consumers. This bill is pending in House committee since 5/15/23.
SB 2010 requires the Independent Market Monitor to report all potential market manipulations and all discovered or potential violations of PUC or ERCOT rules to be delivered in writing to PUC staff and requires the PUC to produce public annual reports. This bill was placed on the General State Calendar of the House on 5/17/23.
SB 2011 updates Voluntary Mitigation Plan (VMP) requirements to ensure such plans provide meaningful protections against market power abuses. A Favorable House Committee Report was sent to Calendars on 5/8/23.
SB 2012 places “guardrails” on the Performance Credit Mechanism (PCM) adopted by the PUC. A Favorable House Committee Report was sent to Calendars on 5/3/23.
SB 2013 adds protections to prevent attacks on the Texas power grid. This bill is pending in House committee since 5/15/23.
SB 2014 eliminates Renewable Energy Credits from being originated/granted by renewable generation sources. The House Committee on State Affairs heard public comments on 5/18/23. All but one public commenter opposed this bill.
