TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – The Public Utility Commission of Texas will vote today on ERCOT’s proposal to streamline the power approval process for data centers. Currently, data centers seeking to connect to the Texas power grid must go through two agencies: ERCOT, which runs the grid, and the Public Utility Commission, which oversees ERCOT.
Under the current system, every data center proposal is studied individually in extreme detail prior to approval. That process can take years. ERCOT wants to move to a batch approach, studying groups of projects at once. Engineers would no longer process requests one-by-one. The first batch will focus on proposals that already have land and financing – aiming to separate real projects from what’s called “paper projects.”
ERCOT’s proposed change comes amid concern over the growing number of data centers planned across the state. The Public Utility Commission will weigh and vote on ERCOT’s proposal today in an open meeting. The meeting is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. in Austin.
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