The PUC is set to vote Thursday to satisfy one of the final steps in implementing changes to ERCOT mandated by the Legislature.The marching orders from the Texas Legislature to the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT coming out of the 2021 session, and the February 2021 freeze, were stern: Don't let the lights go out again.
Gov. Greg Abbott, PUC Chairman Peter Lake and thermal generators such as natural gas and coal-fired units operating in the state have thrown their weight behind a plan that would create a new market to coexist with ERCOT's current market.Critics say the process to get to this point has been dominated by market insiders, lobbyists and those with large financial stakes in the decision.
But the conversations about how, and what, should be done to tweak or totally change the state's deregulated power market have evolved from SB 3's original intent, said state Sen. Charles Schwertner, who was the bill's main author.