Texas Electric Watch

Texas Electric Watch
Copyright 2015 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

A News Service Covers Big Pictures Issues that Have a Broad Impact on the Market and are often Being Considered Simultaneously at the PUCT, ERCOT, and the Legislature. The issue (usually about 7 to 10 pages long) comes out at least twice per month.

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Subscription—Texas Electric Watch          $95 per month (for up to 3 readers)
 If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.
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New: Will the swearing-in of the incoming FERC Chair happen in time for him to participate in the NOPR decision-making process?
In September, Energy Secretary Rick Perry asked FERC to promulgate a rule that would stem coal and nuclear plant retirements. Not all in the electric industry welcomed the move, but the deadline to act on it is fast approaching. To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: Is Sempra’s offer to buy Oncor strong enough to succeed, where two other bidders had failed?
In considering Oncor’s sale for the third time, the previous Commission still had some doubts about the latest proposed transaction. How will the Commission’s new composition affect the outcome of this case? To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: Which of the several alternatives to improve price formation in ERCOT should the Commission choose?
In the second half of a recent PUCT workshop on possible market revisions, participants heard additional proposals from stakeholders, and debated their merits vis-à-vis the paper on price formation by Prof. Hogan and Dr. Pope.   To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New What is the solution to the persistently low prices in ERCOT?
At a recent PUCT workshop on price formation rules, there was hardly any consensus on how to proceed and, in fact, the more participants talked, the more apparent their differences became. To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New :Reversing the System Benefit Fund Rules – What Remains?
What is the appropriate way to modify or repeal rules, following the elimination of the System Benefit Fund? The fund took several years to set up, eventually enrolling over 700K eligible Texans. Its unwinding is also taking place over a period of years and, in the end, it may re-emerge as a voluntary program.To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: Can AEP overcome resistance to its battery proposal?
Last year, AEP filed with the PUCT for approval of battery installations in two rural locations. Even though it would be a more economical solution to its distribution service problems, significant stakeholder opposition remains. To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: What is the appropriate way to handle transmission in the ERCOT market?
At the 8/10/117 PUCT workshop on price formation issues, participants discussed a number of potential improvements to the current market design, including changing transmission planning and cost recovery and allocation. On the other hand, is an occasional RUC or RMR an acceptable price to pay for a market that delivers certain benefits and enables economic growth?To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: Will changing price formation rules resolve Texas’ generation adequacy concerns?
This issue of Texas Electric Watch reviews and summarizes the recently filed paper by Prof. Hogan and Dr. Pope, which proposed a number of modifications to ERCOT’s energy-only market. To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: Will ERCOT Implement Real-Time Co-optimization
The Real-Time Co-optimization of Energy and Ancillary Services has been discussed in ERCOT for several years. Will ERCOT and stakeholders finally be able to agree on a design and accept the cost and implementation timeline? To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

Progress Report on Lubbock’s Integration into ERCOT
In 2013, Lubbock Power & Light decided to pursue an integration bid with ERCOT. Since then, various analyses have been done to assess the proposal – including the recent ones, filed by ERCOT and SPP. What were their findings and what may be the cost impacts? To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: Progress Report on Lubbock’s Integration into ERCOT
In 2013, Lubbock Power & Light decided to pursue an integration bid with ERCOT. Since then, various analyses have been done to assess the proposal – including the recent ones, filed by ERCOT and SPP. What were their findings and what may be the cost impacts? To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

85th Legislatue – How Did Energy-Related Bills Fare?
The legislature passed 1211 bills in the last regular session. How many of those – and which ones – related to electric energy issues? To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

Will Autonomous Electric Cars Upend our World?
As electric cars become more commonplace, the real transformation awaits us when most of them turn autonomous. A recent paper argues that this will happen much sooner than imagined, unleashing developments that will completely change the way we live. To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: Growing Electrification — a New Utility Paradigm?
The growth of renewables, electric cars, and autonomous vehicles seems to be unstoppable. In this new world, is there still room for the traditional utilities – and if yes, can they reinvent themselves?To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: Outlook for Our Electric Future: GCPA 2017 Spring Conference
The GCPA 2017 Spring Conference offered up many views of the future covering cutting edge aspects of the electricity markets, and offered solutions to some of the most pressing issues of the day.To learn more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: Next Steps in the Oncor Acquisition Case
In spite of a four-day hearing, revised regulatory commitments, and particularly given the 3/30/17 PUCT open meeting discussion, NextEra’s effort to buy Oncor seems no closer to completion than at the start. What will it take for NextEra to succeed in its quest for Oncor? detailed information about the case, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: 85th Texas Legislature — Filed Energy-Related Bills
Texas legislators filed more than 100 energy-related bills, even though this session was not expected to focus significantly on energy issues. Pending legislation covers topics such as grid security, nuclear waste disposal, and rate making process. To see the complete list of bills, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: DERs in California – A Complicated History
With the publishing of a new action plan, California hopes to streamline its work in promoting and integrating Distributed Energy Resources into the market. The plan is ambitious and far-reaching – but will it be sufficient to tackle successfully this difficult topic? For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: DERs in ERCOT and NYISO – Two Different Approaches
In January, NYISO issued a paper on integrating Distributed Energy Resources into its market design. What are its main features, and how does NYISO approach to DERs differ from that of ERCOT? For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: What’s Next for the Southern Cross Case?
In August, it seemed like the long-delayed Southern Cross line would finally become a reality after the PUCT approval. But after SC filed a motion for rehearing, a trip to the courthouse appears more likely. For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: Is NextEra’s Oncor Purchase in the Public Interest – Summary of Testimony 
Testimony in the Oncor acquisition case has been filed, but none of the witnesses offered unqualified support for the proposed transaction. Instead, they made a number of recommendations, and the question now is which of them, if any, will the Commission impose.For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: Can ERCOT’s RMR Process Be Improved?
The effort to improve ERCOT’s Reliability Must Run process continues, with the PUCT staff filing a strawman rule and holding a workshop. But with 21 parties filing comments, consensus remains elusive. For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: Are Changes Needed to Transmission Ratemaking Process?
PUCT staff proposed substantial revisions to the rule on transmission rates, but are registering mostly opposition from TDSPs. Given the level of resistance, is any change to the ratemaking process possible? For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: PUCT Scope of Competition Report – Summary
The 2017 Report on the Scope of Competition in Electric Markets in Texas has been filed, but still contains no legislative recommendations. The summary of the report identifies several topics that may be ripe for a Commission’s suggestion, including low-income discount, ratemaking alternatives, and/or accommodation of new technologies. For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

New: TEW: Are Some Texas Utilities Over-earning?
The number of utilities in Texas has grown in the last 10 years, along with the number of projects. Has this also translated into higher rates – as was noted at a recent open meeting? For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW: Integrating DERs into Electric Markets
Integrating Distributed Energy Resources into electric markets has proven difficult, but it may become a necessity – particularly, if more corporate customers follow Walmart’s lead, For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW: NextEra’s Oncor Offer — Will It Finally Work?
For several years now, NextEra has tried to buy Oncor. But soon after the bankruptcy court approved its plan, the PUCT Commissioners expressed “deep concern” with the proposal. What are those concerns and is there a way out?For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW: Can Utilities Benefit from Electric Cars?
Imagining today the full impact of electric vehicles may require a certain leap of imagination, but it is necessary. Or so says a new report from the Rocky Mountain Institute on EVs as Distributed Energy Resources – and the time to do it is now, before EVs really take off. For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW:  Southern Cross Transmission Line – Finally to Be Built?
Pattern Energy and its partners have finally received the long-awaited approval for a transmission line that will enable the company to export wind power out of ERCOT. But the hard work of getting the project done is just beginning. For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW:  PUCT Workshop: Does TExas Need New Ratemaking Regime?
The PUCT was charged by the legislature with exploring alternative ratemaking mechanisms (ARMs). Is a reform really needed in Texas, or is it a “remedy in search of a problem,” as described by one commenter at a recent workshop on ARMs? For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW:  How to Price Certain RMR Units – Appeal of NPRR784 Shows Market Split
NRG’s Reliability Must Run contract is leading to a growing list of proposed Protocol revisions. While there may be agreement on some of those, others – as the appeal of NPRR784 shows – have the market evenly split. What accounts for the split and what is the solution?   For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW:  Does ERCOT RMR Process Need Reform?
ERCOT’s Reliability Must Run (RMR) contract with NRG has stirred many discussions among stakeholders and led to two workshops. The initial concerns about costs have morphed into worries that transmission will “always” be the solution to unit retirements. .For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW:  Alternative Ratemaking Report Raises a Number of Issues for the PUCT
The PUCT recently received a new report on alternative ratemaking from a consultant, hired pursuant to SB774.  The report raises interesting issues and the PUCT Chair said that she will await parties’ comments.For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW:  Planning for the Grid with Changing Resource Mix
What is the best way to prepare for the changing energy landscape, featuring new resource mix and growing environmental regulations? A major part of the answer, according to the Brattle Group, is pro-active – or anticipatory – long-term transmission planning..For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW:  PUCT Workshop: Costs and Benefits of LPL Joining ERCOT
As part of the ongoing evaluation of Lubbock Power and Light’s integration into the ERCOT market, the PUCT staff and stakeholders held a workshop on 5/3/16. It, however, raised more questions than answers. Among those opposing the move was a representative from Xcel Energy. And now comes the news that Xcel has filed with FERC a request to get LPL to pay a nearly $90 million switching fee if it moves to ERCOT.For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

New: TEW:  Federal Energy Reform Legislation
Recently, the two houses of Congress passed two very different versions of energy reform legislation. How do they differ and is there any chance of enacting a reform bill this year at all?, For more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW:  LPL in ERCOT — What Are the Benefits and Costs?
The 4/11/16 comments in Project No. 45633 was the first opportunity for stakeholders to weigh in on the 2014 proposal by Lubbock Power & Light to join ERCOT. With ongoing studies, the costs and benefits of the proposed transaction remain to be defined. For more background and comments summary, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW:  Unhedgeable Harm:  Reducing HDL Overrides and Appeal of NPRR649
What is the best way to resolve compensation concerns of some market participants for ERCOT’s use of High Dispatch Limit (HDL) overrides? That is the question the Technical Advisory Committee will take up today, when it considers the remand of NPRR649, Addressing Issues Surrounding HDL Overrides. For more background and workshop summary, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW:  ORDC Review: Summary of Stakeholder Comments
The recently filed comments in Project No. 45572, Review of the Parameters of the Operating Reserve Demand Curve, only confirmed the split that exists in stakeholder opinions on how or whether to revise the ORDC. Some even argued that changes would be counter-productive. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

New : TEW:  Stakeholder Workshop on DREAM TF, 2/25/16
ERCOT stakeholders, through the Distributed Resource Energy and Ancillaries Market Task Force (DREAM TF), spent many months identifying issues for better integration of distributed resources. Last week, they presented their report with the main findings, and agreed on the next steps.   To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

New!: TEW:  ERCOT Workshop on Future Ancillary Services 2/1/16
The 2/1/16 ERCOT workshop on Ancillary Service redesign was organized with the intent to review and possibly finalize the associated revision request (RR). But that is not what happened, as consensus on the RR seems even farther from reach. And now a competing RR has been filed, as stakeholders seek a cheaper solution. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW:  Lubbock-ERCOT Integration:  Work Continues
ERCOT and Lubbock Power and Light continue their work to assess the best way to integrate the two entities, as both consider input from stakeholders. To read the latest on the ERCOT study scope and stakeholder comments, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW:  Oncor Acquisition:  Hearing on the Merits
The four-day hearing on the merits, held in the Oncor acquisition case, clarified some issues, resulting in revised regulatory commitments.Some concerns, however, remained, presenting the PUCT with difficult decisions.To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: To Approve or Not to Approve – A review of Intervenor Testimony in Hunt’s Oncor Case
On 12/9/15, the news broke that the PUCT staff filed a recommendation for the Commission to reject the Hunt companies’ application to buy and restructure Oncor. What are the reasons for the staff’s position? And how do other intervenors view the proposed transaction? To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW:  What’s Causing High Rates in Sharyland’s West Texas Area?
In the early spring of 2015, the PUCT heard growing complaints about excessively high T&D rates in Sharyland’s West Texas area. A complaints project was opened, and the PUCT staff analyzed likely causes. What did the analysis reveal and was it the full picture? To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: Lubbock in ERCOT — a Win-win for All?
Lubbock Power & Light’s move to ERCOT seems almost certain now. The only questions are how best to do it and at what cost. Last month, ERCOT stakeholders got a first view of the possible options and cost projections. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: Future Ancillary Services – Cost/Benefit Analysis
On 11/9/15, the Brattle Group presented its draft cost/benefit analysis of ERCOT’s proposed Future Ancillary Services. Given the significant implementation costs, is it worth proceeding with the project? On the other hand, considering the pace of technological change, can things stay the same?    To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: Oncor’s Storage Pilot
Last fall, Oncor made a splash with its announcement about the possibility of a multi-billion dollar energy storage investment in Texas.While the plan met resistance and stalled, Oncor built a prototype with microgrids and storage, to test and demonstrate the idea. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: Energy Storage – How to Make it Work in ERCOT?
While energy storage is slowly gaining traction around the country, in ERCOT, significant obstacles remain to its fuller utilization.Oncor’s call for 5GW of storage did not get far, but discussions at ERCOT continue on issues around the deployment of storage.  To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: Proposed Oncor Sale: A Good Deal for Texas Consumers?
One step that could speed up conclusion of the EFH bankruptcy proceeding is the August 2015 agreement for Hunt Consolidated Inc. to purchase Oncor, EFH’s transmission arm and most valuable asset.  This deal is partly possible because Oncor – as EFH’s one regulated entity – has a ‘ring fence’ around it, separating it from the rest of EFH and the corresponding liabilities.   But what exactly is in this agreement and what are the chances for its approval? To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW:  ERCOT’s Proposal for Distributed Energy Resources
The effort to find ways of integrating Distributed Energy Resources into the ERCOT market has taken off, particularly after the establishment of a task force and publication of the staff’s whitepaper on DERs. What are the main concepts in the paper and how are these reflected in the TF’s goals?  To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW:  The Finalized Clean Power Plan – an Improvement?
The final EPA’s Clean Power Plan, unveiled on 8/3/15, contains significant changes from the original, based on many stakeholder discussions and extensive public input. What exactly are these changes? And do they improve the plan? Find out from the latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch, which provides a comprehensive overview of the modifications as compared to the initial draft. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW: Distributed Energy Resources Efforts in TX, CA, and NY
As ERCOT embarks on a new effort to design rules for the Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) integration, California and New York have moved past approvals of similar plans and onto implementation. This issue of the Texas Electric Watch looks at the work the three states are doing on DERs. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW: Electricity Industry Shifting in Ways Small and Large
In this issue of the Texas Electric Watch, we look at the latest transformative trends in the electric industry – or, ‘seismic shifts,’ as one report calls them – and also at how one company, NRG Energy, plans to stay relevant into the future.  To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

TEW: ERCOT Workshop on Distributed Energy Resources
The 6/18/15 ERCOT workshop on Distributed Energy Resource (DER) was the first meeting to discuss this new type of a market participant and issues related to its integration into the grid. The TEW summarizes the staff’s proposal and the many complex issues that arose during the discussion. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: Electricity-Related Bills Enacted by the 84th Legislature
In this issue of the Texas Electric Watch, we highlight the 20 electricity-related bills – and legislation on billing for gas in an outage – that were enacted by the 84th Legislature, including bill analyses and effective dates. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: MIT’s Report on the ‘Future of Solar’
Recently, MIT Energy Initiative published a comprehensive study of the future development of the solar industry, concluding that “solar electricity generation is one of very few low-carbon energy technologies with the potential to grow to very large scale.” The latest Texas Electric Watch summarizes some of the main points of the study and highlights recommendations for policy makers. Plus this 5/1/8/15 article reviews some of the shortcomings of MITEI’s report. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW:  House Committee Hearings, 4/28/15 and 4/29/15
The latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch provides a summary of recent hearings at two House committees on House Bill 3732, exempting large storage facilities from certain taxes, and HB 962, on prohibiting a capacity market in Texas. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW: Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee Hearing, 4/14/15; House State Affairs Committee Hearing, 4/15/15
This TEW reports on the electric bills discussed at two hearings at the Texas Legislature:  the 4/14/15 hearing of the Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee, and the 4/15/15 hearing of the House State Affairs Committee.  Bills discussed include: the highly contentious Senate Bill 1945, related to Austin Energy, and also SB 1122, HB 2563, and HB 3428. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW:  House State Affairs Committee Hearing, 4/8/15
This issue of TEW reports on four electric bills considered at the 4/8/15 hearing of the House State Affairs Committee.  These include HB 2561 relating to the allocation of congestion rents in the ERCOT wholesale market, HB 3288 relating to regulation of congestion charges in the electricity market, HB 3457 relating to the methods of recovery of stranded environmental compliance costs by certain non-ERCOT electric utilities, and HB 862 relating to requiring an electric utility to notify certain landowners of its application for a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) for a proposed transmission line facility. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW:  House State Affairs Committee Hearing, 3/25/15
This issue of TEW covers the House State Affairs Committee Hearing on 3/25/15.  The electric bills considered included HB1535 relating to rates of and certificates of convenience and necessity for certain non-ERCOT electric utilities; HB 1926 relating to the governance of certain municipal power agencies; providing authority to issue bonds; HB 2184 relating to liability of certain electric utilities that allow certain uses of land that the electric utility owns, occupies, or leases; HB 2254 relating to certain fees, charges, or credits based on a customer’s electricity use in areas where competition has been introduced; HB 2327 relating to a study on periodic rate adjustment by electric utilities; and HB 3343 relating to the development of electricity demand response programs. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW: Hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development, 3/24/15
This issue of TEW is a short report on the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development Hearing on 3/24/15.  It covers SB 774, SB776, SB777, SB933, and SB 931.  Also in the report are the hearing results for the energy-related bills SB1165, SB931, and the House 3/23/15 hearing results for HB 40 and HB539. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW: Texas Electric Bills filed 2/1/15 – 3/13/15
The 3/20/15 Texas Electric Watch contains an extensive listing of electric and PUCT-related bills, entered through the 3/13/15 legislative filing deadline. A brief summary of each bill is included. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW: Hearing of Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development
The 3/18/15 Texas Electric Watch covers in detail Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development, which considered nine electric and PUCT-related bills. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: Electric-Related Bills Filed between 2/1/15 and 2/15/15
The lastest issue of Texas Electric Watch details electric-related bills that were filed at the Texas Legislature from Feb 1, 2015 through Feb 15, 2015. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW: Energy-Related Bills Filed in the 84th Legislature
The latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch contains a comprehensive review of the 29 energy-related bills that have been filed through 2/1/15, including those on environmental topics and oil and gas.  An overview is also provided for relevant Legislative Committees appointed to date. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW: 1/28/15 Meeting of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development
On 1/28/15, the new Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development had its first meeting to hear updates from the PUCT, TCEQ, RRC, ERCOT, and Water Development Board. While most of the updates were positive, both the legislators and agency heads expressed continued concerns about EPA’s emissions rules and their impact on Texas economy. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW: Is Shopping for Electricity in Texas Really a “Great Sham?”
The new issue of the Texas Electric News delves more deeply into the recent reports about consumer difficulties when shopping for electric providers. Are the concerns real and what can be done about them? To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW: Addressing Subsynchronous Oscillation in the ERCOT Market
The PUCT has two active projects on issues arising from the phenomenon of Subsynchronous Oscillation (SSO) in the ERCOT region. The latest issue of the Texas Electric News summarizes the 11/19/14 workshop held to discuss Project No. 43506 and the SSO study parameters. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW: Upgrading the Power-to-Choose Website
The Power-to-Choose website is used by many Texans to review electric offers and shop for power. The PUCT staff held a workshop to discuss improvements to the website; they will accept comments through mid-February.  To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

TEW: Tesla’s Batteries Deepen Utility Worries
The new Tesla giga-factory, with its extensive plans for battery production, may be very positive for utilities struggling with stagnant sales, or it may become an existential threat to the 100-year-old utility model. It all depends on whether one views Tesla as predominantly a car company or a battery manufacturer.   To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.  

Inside Oncor’s Call for 5GW of Energy Storage
In early November, Oncor announced its intention to ask for regulatory approval of a plan to deploy up to 5GW of energy storage. It commissioned the Brattle Group to analyze the proposal. Read about the testing, available details of the plan, and the analysis, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: PUCT Workshop on System Costs Associated with Renewables
Last summer, the PUCT opened a project to explore whether renewables lead to increased procurement of Ancillary Services and, thus, higher cost. Since then, the staff published questions, held a workshop, and stakeholders filed at least three rounds of comments, but the extent of the problem remains unclear. Moreover, the comments summarized in this report reveal some surprising answers. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: GCPA 2014 Annual Fall Conference – Change is in the Air
The Fall 2014 Gulf Coast Power Association Conference focused on industry changes, including the recent ERCOT market revisions and coming transformations. In the future, four Ds will affect the market: deregulation, digital capabilities, decentralized generation, and demand destruction. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: EPA’s GHG Rule–Different Perspectives
The latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch delves deeper into the EPA’s proposal for a ‘Clean Power Plan’ rule, looking at specific requirements, legal issues, and regulators’ views. Recently, a New Mexico regulator added his opposition to the rule. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: PUCT Workshop on DG Requirements, 8/29/14
The PUCT staff’s second workshop in Project No. 42532, Rulemaking to Amend P.U.C. Subst. R. 25.211, Relating to Interconnection of On-Site Distributed Generation, addressed questions on the type and content of Interconnection Agreements, potential market arrangements for DG, and TDSP issues stemming from the growth of DG.  To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: PUCT Workshop on EPA GHG Emissions Rule, 8/15/14
The 8/15/14 PUCT workshop on EPA’s proposed greenhouse gas emissions rule contained many dark predictions about the rule’s feasibility and dire effects on Texas, its businesses, and consumers. A few voices argued for utilizing the state’s innovative spirit in crafting a made-in-Texas solution, but the regulators seemed unconvinced. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW:  ERCOT Future Ancillary Services Workshop 8/25/14
It has been almost one year since ERCOT staff proposed a major redesign of Ancillary Services (AS) to account for recent changes in technologies. Starting this summer, the Technical Advisory   Committee (TAC) will be focusing on finalizing their proposal and also requirements for a cost/benefit analysis. To read more about the first TAC workshop on Future AS, please subscribe to the Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: PUCT Workshop on Subsynchronous Oscillation in ERCOT
Both the PUCT and ERCOT staff have been working on issues related to Subsynchronous Oscillation in the ERCOT region, including holding a recent workshop at the PUCT. The questions under discussion focused on transmission outage definition, acceptable risk, mitigation/protection, and cost allocation. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

Report:  ERCOT Workshop on Future Ancillary Services
On 7/25/14, the Future Ancillary Services Team (FAST) held a workshop to review the latest efforts in this major AS redesign, including detailed proposals and a draft NPRR. This Electric News Watch offers a summary of the meeting and lays out the next steps and schedule with, not surprisingly, a revised implementation date.  To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

Hawaii – First in Energy Independence through Renewables?
In 2008, Hawaii embarked on a Clean Energy Initiative, together with the U.S. Department of Energy.  The partnership’s objective was for Hawaii to produce 70% of its electricity from clean energy by 2030, through a combination of increased renewable energy production (40% of total generation) and energy efficiency (30%, or a reduction in electricity demand of 4,300GWh). To read more about this effort and the necessary legislative support, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

New Energy Consumer – What to Expect?
For several years now, Accenture has been doing research into how technological and electric-industry changes are altering consumer behavior and re-shaping expectations. The company published several reports on this topic, including the latest The New Energy Consumer – Architecting for the Future. The latest issue of Texas Electric Watch reviews this work and the resulting findings (as confirmed, for example, in a recent purchase by Google’s Nest of the monitoring firm Dropcam). To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

New York: Reinventing Delivery and Use of Electric Energy
“… an energy modernization initiative that will fundamentally transform the way electricity is distributed and used in New York State. This unprecedented effort will create the power grid of the future and forever change the way consumers buy and use energy.” These words describe the State of New York’s recent efforts to “reinvent the delivery and use of electric energy.”  To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

TEW: Trends in Electric Energy – The Future Is Here Part II
FERC has been approving experimental tidal energy projects – surprisingly, the topic has been considered by the Commission, starting in 2002. You can read about these efforts and several other “disruptive” technologies that are gaining ground in the latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch.  To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

Nuclear Energy – Developments and Prospects
On the heels of some plant closings and company consolidations, what is the future of nuclear energy in the U.S.? We ask this and other questions, including about innovation and safety concerns in the latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch.  To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

Price Manipulation in the ERCOT Market – Suit against GDF Suez
Copyright 2014 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

The latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch looks at the lawsuit, filed on 4/21/14, against GDF Suez for alleged market manipulation, including the history of the relevant PUCT rules and earlier developments at ERCOT, to provide context to this legal action. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch . If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

Report: Spring 2014 GCPA Conference – Looking Beyond Texas
Copyright 2014 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

The four keynote speakers at the recent Gulf Coast Power Association (GCPA) conference in Houston covered a wide spectrum – from retail services and transmission investments to an overview of several important topics for power producers. For a summary of their presentations, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

Trends in Electric Energy — The Future is Here
Copyright 2014 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

This issue of Texas Electric Watch looks at the latest progress of the “disruptive technologies,” and how these rapid changes could reshape the electric industry and utilities. From fuel cells and storage to wind and solar power, the TEW describes some of the trends-within-trends affecting power production today. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch . If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

Demand Response – Latest News and Developments
Copyright 2014 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

The latest issue of the Texas Electric News discusses Demand Response programs around the country, including the latest developments at ERCOT.  If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.  

The Future Infrastructure for Electricity: Where Do We Go From Here?
Copyright 2014 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

This issue of the Texas Electric Watch is like no other previously published. It is an opinion piece by veteran industry analyst Denise Stokes on her view of the future electricity infrastructure.  The TEW discusses current trends in the energy industry, and what changes we can expect in the future.  If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.  

Sustainable Energy in America – Bloomberg Report
Copyright 2014 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

As costs come down and development progresses, the use of renewable energy in the U.S. is growing.  The latest Texas Electric Watch summarizes the recently published Sustainable Energy in America 2014 Factbook, which looked at the numbers and important issues affecting this trend. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.  

Assessment of the US Retail Electric Market
Copyright 2014 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

For several years now, the Distributed Energy Financial Group LLC (DEFG) has published its Annual Baseline Assessment of Choice in Canada and the United States (ABACCUS), which has presented an evaluation of the electric retail market across the country and, not surprisingly, Texas has come on top for much of that time.  Texas Electric Watch has summarized the 2014 assessment’s main findings for residential and commercial customers, and also looks at Texas in greater detail.   To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.  

ERCOT’s Revised Load Forecasting – Workshop II
Copyright 2014 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

The second load-forecasting workshop at ERCOT delved into the details of the proposed methodology, model validation, and reviewer’s recommendations. The stakeholders asked for additional information and some suggested changes to the forecast.  To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.    

Report: Future Ancillary Services in ERCOT – Workshop II
Copyright 2013 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

On 12/13/13, ERCOT held a second workshop as part of its effort to develop new Ancillary Services (AS).  The first one, on 10/24/13, presented initial information about the proposed services and concluded with a request for comments.  In the subsequent weeks, at least eight parties filed comments on the redesign of the current AS into five plus one new AS.  The latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch summarizes the comments and outline of the six-month stakeholder review process, as proposed by ERCOT staff at the workshop. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

Does ERCOT Need New Ancillary Services?      
Copyright 2013 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

Earlier this year, ERCOT staff undertook a comprehensive redesign of the existing Ancillary Services and published a white paper with the new proposal on 9/30/13.  Since then, they held a workshop to discuss the proposed services and implementation, revised the paper, and received comments.  A second workshop has been planned for 12/13/13.  Read the details of the proposal and preliminary stakeholder discussions in the latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch. To read more,, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

ERCOT Load-Forecast Methodology
Copyright 2013 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

On 12/16/13, ERCOT staff held a workshop to review the newly proposed revisions to the load forecasting methodology.  The same presentation was made to the ERCOT Board in December, after a November decision to postpone the release of the Capacity, Demand, and Reserves (CDR) report.  The staff announced that ERCOT had just signed a contract with Itron to perform an independent review of the new methodology by mid-January, and that the CDR report is expected to be released in late January or early February.  The latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch captures the discussion at the workshop, in addition to the summary of the original and revised methodologies and resulting decreases in load growth.  To read more,, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

Report: ERCOT Planning Reserve Margin Workshop 10/8/13
Copyright 2013 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

The debate about resource adequacy and what type of a market construct to have in ERCOT continued during the October workshop at the PUCT.  The Commission, perhaps for the first time, delved into the pros/cons of a capacity market and considered differing viewpoints of various market participants.  Read more about this debate in the latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch, including why the Independent Market Monitor does not believe that the centralized, forward capacity market is the way to go. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

Reserve Margin Comments in Project No. 40000

The latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch (TEW) provides a summary of all 24 comments filed in Project No. 40000 on the Commission’s questions related to setting the planning reserve margin (PRM) and reliability standard.  While a few parties offered suggestions on the PRM, most commenters expressed support for a capacity market, including renewable and Demand Response providers.  Find out also about the TIEC’s alternative to a capacity market. After the 9/23/13 filings in Project No. 40000, two additional filings were made by a Demand Response provider, supporting a capacity market in ERCOT, and by the Texas  Public Policy Foundation, which vehemently opposes such a market.  A Supplemental TEW offers a brief summary of the new comments. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue (including the supplemental issue), please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

Report: Load Participation in the ERCOT Market
Copyright 2013 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

Efforts to increase load’s participation in the ERCOT market are finally bearing fruit, with the running of several pilots and proposed implementation of Loads in SCED (Security Constrained Economic Dispatch) for the summer of 2014.  These efforts go back more than a decade, but gained greater urgency with the recent resource adequacy concerns.  The latest issue of TEW looks at load participation programs currently in operation at ERCOT

Aug 5, 2013:Stakeholders Weigh in on the ORDC Options and Analysis
Copyright 2013 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

The previous 30 days brought a number of developments in P.U.C. Project No. 40000, on resource adequacy, including a memo with options from Commissioner Anderson, an open-meeting discussion and a request for ERCOT to analyze several Operating Reserve Demand Curve (ORDC) options, discussions at the Resource Adequacy Task Force (RATF), and the filing of comments by stakeholders and the Independent Market Monitor (IMM).  A new issue of Texas Electric Watch looks in greater detail at the proposed options, analyses, and comments. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

July 5, 2013: Report: PUCT Continues to Tackle Resource Adequacy

This 10-page Texas Electric Watch captures in detail the latest PUCT workshop on resource adequacy, which focused on the Option B+ proposal, as drafted by Prof. Hogan and ERCOT staff.  The points covered include the main issues of contention and history of the proposal, staff presentations of several recent studies, stakeholder positions, and the Commission’s questions and discussions (including at the latest open meeting). Read more about this report, please subscribe to TEW. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

Short Report: PUCT Workshop on Resource Adequacy, 6/27/13

The 6/27/13 PUCT workshop contained a thorough discussion of resource adequacy issues and whether the B+ proposal would be a good way to address them.  After improvements were urged for the proposal, the Commission took a cautious approach, resolving to study and discuss issues further.  Read a summary of the main points in the latest short version of TEW. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

Report: Preparing for the PUCT Workshop on Generation Adequacy

In preparation for the tomorrow’s (6/27/13) PUCT workshop on resource adequacy, a number of parties filed comments on the B+ solution.  These comments include proposed improvements and opposing views. A summary of the comments is included in the latest issue of Texas Electric Watch. (To read more, subscribe to the Texas Electric Watch.) If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151. 

Report: Energy-Related Bills Approved by Legislature

With over 35 bills, this issue of TEW contains a comprehensive overview of energy-related legislation, as approved in the latest regular session.It also includes bill analyses, effective dates, and a snapshot of the PUCT appropriations. (To read more, subscribe to the Texas Electric Watch.) If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

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Report: Enrolled Version of PUCT Sunset Bill

The PUCT Sunset bill was sent to the governor for signature. This issue of TEW lists the major provisions of the bill and associated dates. (To read more, subscribe to the Texas Electric Watch.) If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

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Report: Update on Resource Adequacy in ERCOT

As ERCOT staff release an implementation estimate for the Hogan/B+ proposal to address resource adequacy, some stakeholders question whether the recently filed back-cast of the proposal accurately reflects behavioural changes caused by potentially higher prices. This issue of TEW is 8 pages of text and covers the CDR, SARA, ERCOT staff’s filing, ERCOT CEO’s letter to NERC’s CEO on resource adequacy, and select legislative, PUCT, and ERCOT activities related to the issue of power supply. (To read more, subscribe to the Texas Electric Watch.) If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here.  If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

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Exclusive Interview With Pat Wood—Former FERC and PUCT Chairman

At the recent GCPA conference in Houston, the former FERC and PUCT Chairman Pat Wood affirmed his support for a capacity market in ERCOT.   We caught up with him after his speech for a comprehensive, in-depth interview, in which he explains his evolution on this issue, how the market would work, and his views on the role of renewable power in Texas.  Asked if his embrace of a capacity market means that we didn’t get it right in Texas, he responded “Heavens, no! It’s more like….”  (To read more, subscribe to Texas Electric Watch or Purchase this TEW issue: Former FERC Chair Explains Why a Capacity Market is the Answer in ERCOT.)

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Report: PUCT Workshop on Demand Reponse 3/14/13

At the recent PUCT workshop on Demand Response (DR),Commissioner Anderson commented that the role of the Transmission-Distribution company should be limited, with main interaction to be between the customer and the Retail Electric Provider.  A large commercial consumer noted that DR programs are very difficult to develop, and need consistent message and conditions to grow.  The loss of forward-price visibility in the transition from the zonal market has made DR participation more difficult.  To get more DR participation, it is important “to keep things simple.”  Chairman Nelson observed….(To read more, subscribe to the Texas Electric Watch.) If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

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PUCT Workshop on Potential Changes to CDR Inputs

On 3/14/13, the Public Utility Commission of Texas held a workshop on inputs that go into the Capacity, Demand, and Reserves (CDR) Report, which is produced by ERCOT twice a year. Various changes to inputs, including load forecasts, wind power and its effective load carrying capability, and ways to make the CDR more accurate, were discussed. (To read more, subscribe to the Texas Electric Watch). If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

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Legislators Wary of ERCOT Capacity Issues; Hear Consumer Outcry Against Mandatory Smart Meters

Texas Senators, at a hearing on 4/9/13, noted that they expect consumers to look to them rather than generators if there is an electricity shortage, and this spurs them to ponder the tough issues of how to avoid possible capacity shortages that may occur in the ERCOT region. Senator Troy Fraser wants to see a requirement that a cost-benefit study be performed if a proposed change in the electric market, such as moving from an  energy-only market to a capacity market, would result in costs of $1 billion or greater to consumers.  Senator Watson would have short-term capacity shortfalls forecast a year in advance filled with a demand-response portfolio. …(To read more, subscribe to Texas Electric Watch, or Purchase this TEW issue: Texas Senate Business & Commerce Committee Hearing 4/9/13.) 

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What Is the Role of Energy Storage in Electricity Markets?

Regulators see obstacles to operating energy storage facilities when transmission and generation functions are kept separate in the market structure.   The potential for energy storage, however, includes helping to assure grid stability, and integrating renewables into the grid.  The use of energy storage in electric markets was explored in some detail at the recent Infocast Sixth Annual Storage Week, whose speakers included PUCT Commissioner Ken Anderson and FERC staff. ….(To read more, subscribe to Texas Electric Watch,or Purchase this TEW issue: Energy Storage Workshop.)