Texas Could Be Required to Connect with Other States’ Electric Grids
While the rest of the lower 48 states are on either the Eastern or Western Connection Power grids, Texas’ ERCOT grid stands alone. For decades, Texas has operated its own power grid outside of the authority of the federal government. This has allowed Texas’ “…Public Utility Commission to decide how power prices are set in Texas to…theoretically optimize the Texas economy.” Though, recently faced with winter ice storms and relentless heat spells, the Texas grid has become a cause for reliability concerns.
According to a recent story from Texas Standard, Federal regulators have been considering a rule that would force Texas to connect to the nationwide grid allowing for an easier exchange of power.
