He has over 35 years of experience in the electric energy industry. In 1970, ERCOT was formed to comply with NERC requirements. Appointment. Were losing megawatts, but we have more people, more businesses.. We can help. At least one of the plants that delayed its repairs broke down Friday, and industry officials say others did, too. On Wednesday, Jan. 26, the League of Women Voters and state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, hosted the Electric Reliability Council of Texas' interim CEO Brad Jones on a "listening tour" to explain what's being done to prepare the grid for another winter storm. Gov. Ensure doors and windows are sealed properly. [27] At first, rotating outages lasting from 10 to 40 minutes were imposed on millions of customers, but those outages lasted many hours for some and over 48 hours for others, while millions more were spared from any hardship. [52], The ERCOT organization is governed by a board of directors made up of independent members, consumers and representatives from each of ERCOT's electric market segments. We used to stand right at the edge of the cliff before calling one, now were 10 feet back when we start to it manage.. In counties around El Paso in western Texas, El Paso Electric reported that, as a result of it having investing millions in cold weather upgrades after the 2011 cold snap, 3,000 customers lost power for less than five minutes. 90%. They said their agencies are better prepared for times when there is likely to be a smaller share of energy generated by renewable sources. AUSTIN, Texas -- The board overseeing the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the independent nonprofit entity that operates and manages the electricity grid that covers much of Texas, named former executive Brad Jones on Tuesday to be interim president and CEO. The legislation abolished the former system, in which power was both generated and consumed locally. over the last decade to implement meaningful grid-related improvements. 28,461 people like this. TIS members adopted official operating guides for their interconnected power system and established two monitoring centers within the control centers of two utilities, one in North Texas and one in South Texas. Tuesdays hearing was more of a status update on the power grid, but it was the first public opportunity for lawmakers to question the grid operators interim president, Brad Jones, and the three-member board of the Public Utility Commission, which oversees Jones and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. ", One of the main questions from attendees was on equitable load-shedding during a blackout; many emailed asking why Downtown's lights stayed on. | You can get the very latest forecast anytime by bookmarking our weather page and downloading the KSAT Weather Authority App - available for both Apple and Android devices. . During a press conference last week, Vegas and Lake both emphasized that the proposed changes would be technologically agnostic and would not prioritize one source of power generation over another. Pablo Vegaswill take over the president and CEO role for the. [20] The 1999 deregulation was aimed at counteracting a shortage of generation capacity in the state. Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news. "Is ERCOT a government agency? The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) command center in Taylor. Greg Abbott after last years deadly winter storm to regulate utilities and to oversee the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said there will be more reserve power available to the grid this summer than in previous summers, a necessary cushion that Lake said reflects a different approach than before last Februarys disaster. [15] A megawatt of electricity can power about 200 Texas homes during periods of peak demand. Tickets are on sale now for the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival, happening in downtown Austin on Sept. 22-24. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas ensures a reliable electric grid and efficient electricity markets. A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austins independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the communitys political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Instead, the PUC plan would prioritize technology that can quickly switch power on and off throughout the grid to balance drops in renewable power generation when the sun doesnt shine or wind doesnt blow. The United States Energy Information Administration Electric Power Monthly published the following detailed report regarding Texas's Net Generation by Energy Source: Total (All Sectors), 2010-December 2020, (Thousand Megawatthours), Table 1.1, for the Month of December 2020:[10] Nuclear: 69,871 MWh; Board of Directors. Matt Payne reports on Frisco City Hall and its committees, Collin County Commissioners and McKinney business. Patrick Svitek contributed to this story. On May 4, 1976, Central Southwest Holdings attempted to force the issue, with an event that was later called the "Midnight Connection", where it connected the grid to Oklahoma for a few hours. She is a mentor for American Corporate Partners. power. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Brad Jones, interim president and CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, shared new accountability plans and fielded several questions in a town hall coordinated by state Reps Matt . The most recent conservation appeal from ERCOT to Texans and Texas businesses was sent Wednesday. His experience includes serving as online content editor at Fort Worth Magazine and city editor at the Killeen Daily Herald. Battery energy storage systems (BESS), which use rechargeable batteries to close the gap (or "ramp") of about two hours that it takes to bring dispatchable generation online once solar cuts out, are another part of the solution, Jones says: "We have to make sure that we have other resources available to cover those two hours while we're bringing up slower generation." Jon Taylor of Austin is the Corporate Vice President of Fab Engineering and Public Affairs at Samsung Austin Semiconductor, where he is responsible for factory engineering for operations including safety, quality, cost, and productivity for all production equipment and supporting personnel. [39] A 357-page report had been written after the 2011 power outage in Texas,[40] which seemed to have been ignored, because too many critical generators still lacked appropriate weatherization in 2021,[31][41] especially the natural gas system. . Home Tag Electric Reliability Council of Texas . The board said he would serve in those roles for the next two months. Murphy received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the United States Air Force Academy, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law, and a Master of Public Administration from The University of Texas at San Antonio. "Henry Hub Natural Gas Spot Price (Dollars per Million Btu)", "The Price Spike Report issued July 23, 2003", "Extreme winter weather is disrupting energy supply and demand, particularly in Texas", "What went wrong with the Texas power grid? Any blackouts expected each year is unacceptable, Lake said, pointing out that many coal- and natural-gas-fired power plants, which can typically produce power consistently during times when renewables cannot, are being shut down. Other senators questioned why in June, two weeks after the regular legislative session ended, some Texas power plants unexpectedly went offline, spurring ERCOT to ask Texans to set thermostats higher during a heat wave to conserve energy. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. ( ERCOT) is an American organization that operates Texas 's electrical grid, the Texas Interconnection, [3] [4] which supplies power to more than 25 million Texas customers and represents 90 percent of the state's electric load. Lt. Gov. [23], During a major cold-weather event in mid-February 2021, ERCOT declared a statewide emergency, due to a 34,000 MW shortfall in generation that caused widespread blackouts. Updated To remove industry jargon, to speak to you in ways that all of us can understand.. Lake and Jones said asking Texans to conserve electricity is a tool they use to ensure reliability of the power supply and should not be viewed as a sign that the grid is unstable. As always, Your Weather Authority team will keep you updated. Jones says the ideal backup is "micro-grids": Companies like H-E-B and Walmart can use generators to "separate from the grid until ERCOT is safe enough for them to return." Yes, sir, Lake responded. Solar power doesn't work at night without battery storage, which would have to be scaled up to run for several days to get through a weeklong event like Uri. May 17, 20225 PM Central. AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) On July 13 the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) delivered what it calls a "roadmap to improving grid reliability" to . Jones said after ERCOT released an energy conservation notice on Monday, the demand was 2,500 megawatts lower than officials projected. Disclosure: Texas Competitive Power Advocates has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. by Mitchell Ferman The Electric Reliability Council of Texas Board of Directors has selected Brad Jones to serve as interim president and CEO for the organization that manages the Texas power grid.. You can learn more at nbutexas.com and on NBUs Facebook page. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Texas Public Utility Commission Chair Peter Lake, appointed by Gov. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) command center in Taylor. [22], In early February 2011, a major winter storm impacted Texas; freezing and extreme cold at natural gas pipelines and wells, as well as generating units (such as coal-fired power plants and wind turbines) caused power outages across Texas affecting 3.2 million customers. That's the difference.". By Matt Payne Breaking down the state's power sources from gas to wind. She has worked for Occidental since 2003. [59][60][61][62] On February 23, ERCOT announced the resignation of five out-of-state board members effective the end of the board meeting the following day. Rep. Richard Pea Raymond, D-Laredo, said he doesnt understand why lawmakers in the Senate asked the PUC to hit the brakes on its proposal. Mr. Jones has more than 25 years of electric industry . The ERCOT Board of Directors today (April 27) announced the selection of Brad Jones to serve as the interim President and CEO for the Texas grid operator serving 90 percent of the state, effective May 4, 2021. Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Brad Jones, Nate Murphy, George Presses, Edward Stones, Jon Taylor, and Melissa Trevino to the Texas Energy Reliability Council for terms at the pleasure of the Governor. Latest local news from South Texas from KSAT12. [55], During the February 2021 storm, it emerged that a third of ERCOT's board of directors live outside of Texas; this includes the chair Sally A. Talberg, who lives in Michigan, and the vice chair Peter Cramton. [50], ERCOT is governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Texas Legislature. [19], The deregulation of the Texas electricity market occurred in two phases: the wholesale generation market in 1995 and the rest of the sector in 1999. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers -- representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. In a letter last week and in a committee meeting Monday, Texas lawmakers from both the House and Senate have asked the Public Utility Commission, which regulates the states electricity market, to hold off on its planned electricity market redesign until the Legislature can evaluate it. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Lake said many of the changes, including better weatherization, have already improved the grids performance and that without the new regulations directed by the Legislature in 2021, the state grid would have experienced emergency condition or blackout eight times in the last 18 months. "The Board looks forward to working with Brad during this time as ERCOT prepares for summer operations," ERCOT Director Mark Carpenter said in a Tuesday release. He has more than 25 years of experience in energy, plastics, and hydrocarbon markets. After the power grid crisis during the February 2021 winter storm that left millions of Texans in the dark during dayslong power outages and caused hundreds of deaths, the Texas Legislature ordered the PUC to make several major changes, including requiring power plants to better prepare for very cold conditions and implementing a reliability standard for the states electricity market. Brad Jones, interim CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, expressed confidence in the state's grid heading into summer at a Tuesday press conference. According to ERCOT officials, the cold weather in the area has resulted in a record-breaking demand on the power grid. However, there are a few ways you can reduce your electric usage at home. Vegas replaces interim CEO Brad Jones, who took over when the ERCOT board. 31,546 people follow this. Double your gift when you give by 6 p.m. Thursday. power load 1,100+. Greg Abbott called for reforming the governance of ERCOT, and legislation to do so is advancing through the Legislature. Companies are unlikely to begin investing in building new plants until the law is clear, she said. Lake and Jones didnt reveal new information on Fridays outages beyond Jones noting that the six plants went down between noon and 4 p.m. that day. The Chronicle welcomes opinion pieces on any topic from the community. Power-generating companies across the state must comply with weatherization standards or face steep fines, according to the new head of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. ", Power plants had until Dec. 1 to file weatherization reports, and all did except eight, who received fines totaling $7.5 million. [4] Relatively few electric customers lost power in those regions. Set ceiling fans to the winter setting by running them clockwise, to pull the warm air down. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 22 million Texas customers. That didnt stop a Senate committee from calling the states top electricity and utility regulators to the Capitol Tuesday morning to discuss the state of the power grid following unexpected power plant outages in June, lingering issues with the states energy infrastructure from Februarys deadly winter storm and plans to implement legislation that lawmakers approved in the spring during the regular legislative session. VP - Commercial Operations | Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Jones expressed some caution about times that are dark and still, meaning when the sun isnt shining to produce solar power and when wind isnt blowing enough to produce wind energy. ERCOT hires Pablo Vegas as new top executive to help manage Texas' power grid. ERCOT_ISO Electric Reliability Council of Texas ERCOT Board of Directors Brad Jones Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Betty Day Vice President, Security & Compliance and Chief . During the war, the grid was interconnected to other states and excess power generation was sent to industries on the Gulf Coast, providing a more reliable supply of electricity for production of metal and other material needed for the war.[19]. When we call for it, I want Texans understand: Thats not because were going into rolling outages. "He is an experienced leader and. [38], On February 16, Governor Greg Abbott declared that ERCOT reform would be an emergency priority for the state legislature, and there would be an investigation of the power outage to determine long-term solutions. Lake said that right now, according to an analysts report commissioned by the PUC, the Texas grid can be expected to experience rolling blackouts at least one day per year on average. NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is urging consumers and businesses to limit their electricity use as much as possible on Sunday. But the gas companies that fuel them, despite being the biggest contributors to the blackout (and to Abbott's reelection campaign), didn't have to. With the states rapid population growth, this situation is getting more difficult and more challenging every year, he said. Lake spoke confidently about the grids summer readiness on Tuesday alongside ERCOT President Brad Jones, who also said he has no concerns about this summer. SAN ANTONIO Officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas were not expecting this summer to be quite so brutal. ERCOT's interim president appeared before a Senate committee on Tuesday to discuss efforts to improve the state's electrical grid. Erin Douglas, Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 20:02. Many are no longer cost competitive. Greg Abbott did not include improving Texas main power grid in his 11-item agenda for the special legislative session that began earlier this month, so lawmakers cannot pass new grid-related laws. Energy experts say lawmakers could have passed legislation to pay consumers to reduce electricity usage or help Texans better insulate their homes and reduce their electricity usage. "He brings the right combination of ERCOT knowledge and broad industry expertise needed to provide the stability and reliability that Texans expect and deserve.". You can do this by setting your thermostat to 78 degrees (or a level that is safe for you); turning off lights and pool pumps; avoiding use of large appliances such as ovens, washing machines and dryers; and turning off or unplugging unused electric appliances. Sources from gas to wind a Senate committee on Tuesday to discuss efforts to improve the state 's electrical.. 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