Texas Bill Would Grant Texas PUC Authority To Review Interconnections That Import/Export ERCOT Power
March 05,2015
SB 933 has been filed with the Texas legislature, which would grant the Public Utility Commission of Texas with authority to review transmission interconnections that enable imports or exports from the ERCOT power grid
Specifically, SB 933 provides:
"Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, an electric utility or municipally owned utility may not interconnect a facility to the ERCOT transmission grid that enables additional power to be imported into or exported out of the ERCOT power grid unless the electric utility or municipally owned utility obtains a certificate from the commission stating that public convenience and necessity requires or will require the interconnection. The commission shall apply Section 37.056 [the CCN process] in considering an application under this subsection. In addition, the commission must determine that the application is consistent with the public interest before granting the certificate. The commission may adopt rules necessary to implement this subsection. This subsection does not apply to a facility that is in service on December 31, 2014."