ERCOT

As more and more data center developers submit proposals to build in Texas, questions about how they will impact Texas' grid and contribute to drought conditions across the state are widespread.

On Monday, the governor ordered the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to audit all data centers wanting to connect to the state’s power grid.

Solar and battery power generations have helped bolster ERCOT’s grid, but data center, population and economic growth is slated to surge demand.

ERCOT and the PUCT said they've already taken steps to regulate large energy consumers and called for the state legislature to expand their authority.

Energy experts say a growth in renewables will help the state's power grid meet increasing demand this summer.

The state's grid operator will vote Tuesday on whether to begin a study of data centers, known as "Batch Zero," that would use a new evaluation process for adding projects to the grid.

Texas leaders are grappling with how to handle a large number of data centers looking to connect to the state's power grid.

Five years after the Texas blackout, the power grid is now better equipped to handle winter storms, but what has not been fixed is also becoming clearer.

Scattered outages have been reported as of Monday, but there are no signs of the widespread generation failures that crippled the grid nearly five years ago.

Abbott issued disaster declarations Thursday for more than 130 counties ahead of a winter freeze expected to sweep into Texas over the coming days. “The goal is to make it through with no life lost,” the governor said.

Subfreezing temperatures are expected by Friday as arctic air moves into Texas, with some areas possibly staying below freezing through Monday before warming into the lower 40s on Tuesday.

Individuals and businesses who sued Texas utility companies for cutting power during the deadly 2021 winter storm didn't adequately prove the companies' negligence, the court ruled Friday, but one of their claims can still move forward.