Electric Reliability Council of Texas

At the beginning of World War II, several electric utilities in Texas agreed to operate together as the Texas Interconnected System (TIS) to support the war effort. 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.

Recognizing the reliability advantages of remaining interconnected, TIS members continued to operate and develop the interconnected grid. 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.

In 1970, ERCOT was formed to comply with NERC requirements. However, the Texas grid is not subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act, being an intrastate grid for the purposes of that law. 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. This caused lawsuits about whether federal regulation then applied, however the judgement was that this was not sufficient.{{Cite web |url=http://www.tjogel.org/archive/Vol3No1/Fleisher.pdf |title=ERCOT's Jurisdictional Status: A Legal History and Contemporary Appraisal |access-date=2021-02-19 |archive-date=2021-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216160817/http://tjogel.org/archive/Vol3No1/Fleisher.pdf |url-status=dead }}

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.Dylan Baddour, [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/explainer/article/texas-electric-deregulation-ERCOT-TCAP-7971360.php Texas' deregulated electricity market, explained], Houston Chronicle (June 8, 2016). The 1999 deregulation was aimed at counteracting a shortage of generation capacity in the state.Bruce Hight, [https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/electric-deregulation-working-texas-says-lawmaker-led-effort/ Electric Deregulation Is Working in Texas, Says Lawmaker Who Led the Effort], Texas Monthly (August 6, 2018). Since deregulation, retail providers and power generators were unregulated, although regulations on transmitters continued to control the placement of electrical lines. The legislation abolished the former system, in which power was both generated and consumed locally. Instead, under the deregulated regime, retailers could contract with providers across the state, creating a complex market. The 1999 deregulation also dropped limits on rate increases. Prior to deregulation, residential electricity rates were significantly below the national average; after deregulation, residential electricity rates increased, rising 64% between 1999 and 2007.Jay Root, [https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/since-deregulation-texas-utility-rates-have-soared/2117017/ Since Deregulation, Texas Utility Rates Have Soared], KXAS-TV (February 9, 2009).

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. ERCOT and its regulator, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, failed to adopt a mandatory standard for preparing electricity infrastructure for such occurrences (winterization), despite recommendations from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). Texas's failure to prepare left the state vulnerable to winter-storm blackouts, including the major disaster that occurred ten years later in February 2021.

• Erin Douglas, Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough, [https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/17/texas-power-grid-failures/ Texas leaders failed to heed warnings that left the state's power grid vulnerable to winter extremes, experts say], Texas Tribune (February 17, 2021)
• Bob Sechler, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/02/18/state-energy-winter-protections-lacking-reports-have-suggested/4490501001/ Winter storm blackouts plagued Texas in 2011, too. Recommendations made afterward went unenforced.], USA Today (February 18, 2021).
• Asher Price & [https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/02/17/state-energy-winter-protections-lacking-reports-have-suggested/6780847002/ Did Texas energy regulators fail to mandate winter protections?], Austin American-Statesman (February 17, 2021).

{{See also|February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm|2021 Texas power crisis}}

File:Natural gas prices.webp

File:ERCOT generation 2021 power crisis US Energy Information Administration.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219130518/https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46836 |archive-date=February 19, 2021 }}]]

[[File:Texas power crisis.png|thumb|420px|right|Texas Power Crisis February 2021

{{legend|#56C1FF|Wind power}}

{{legend|#FFF056|Solar power}}

{{legend|#F8BA00|Nuclear power}}

{{legend|#B51700|Combined cycle natural gas power}}

{{legend|#61D836|Natural gas power}}

{{legend|#5E5E5E|Coal power}}

]]

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. At 1:25 a.m. on February 15, ERCOT began requesting blackouts from service providers.{{cite news |last1=Douglas |first1=Erin |title=Texas largely relies on natural gas for power. It wasn't ready for the extreme cold |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/16/natural-gas-power-storm/ |work=The Texas Tribune |date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218002049/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/16/natural-gas-power-storm/ |archive-date=February 18, 2021 |url-status=live}} On February 16, electricity shortages caused the price of electricity to spike to over $9,000 per megawatt-hour (MWh),{{cite web |title=LMP Contour Map: Real-Time Market - Locational Marginal Pricing |url=http://www.ercot.com/content/cdr/contours/rtmLmp.html |website=ERCOT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216022444/http://www.ercot.com/content/cdr/contours/rtmLmp.html |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |date=February 15, 2021 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=Real-Time Settlement Point Prices Display for February 16, 2021 |url=http://www.ercot.com/content/cdr/html/20210216_real_time_spp |website=ERCOT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217050804/http://www.ercot.com/content/cdr/html/20210216_real_time_spp |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |date=February 16, 2021 |url-status=live}} whereas the week before, the lowest price of power had been less than $30 per MWh.{{cite web |title=Real-Time Settlement Point Prices Display for February 10, 2021 |url=http://www.ercot.com/content/cdr/html/20210210_real_time_spp |website=ERCOT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217121038/http://www.ercot.com/content/cdr/html/20210210_real_time_spp |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |date=February 10, 2021 |url-status=live}} Some retail electricity providers were possibly facing huge losses or bankruptcy,{{cite news |last1=Eckhouse |first1=Brian |title=Surging Texas Power Prices Promise Both Doom and Riches |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-16/skyrocketing-texas-power-prices-may-enrich-some-bankrupt-others |work=Bloomberg News |date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217024107/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-16/skyrocketing-texas-power-prices-may-enrich-some-bankrupt-others |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |url-status=live}} and customers of Griddy reported receiving absurdly high electric bills.{{cite news |title='People Are Greedy': The Absurd Electric Bills Slamming Texans |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/dollar5152-power-bill-texas-winter-storm-hell-only-gets-worse |work=Daily Beast |date=February 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218094102/https://www.thedailybeast.com/dollar5152-power-bill-texas-winter-storm-hell-only-gets-worse |archive-date=February 18, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Letter from Griddy about the storm and prices |url=https://www.griddy.com/post/letter-from-griddy-about-the-storm-and-prices |publisher=griddy.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216181724/https://www.griddy.com/post/letter-from-griddy-about-the-storm-and-prices |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |date=February 15, 2021 |url-status=live}}

Approximately 4 million customers in Texas were without electricity for various times during the multi-day storm.{{cite news |last1=de Luna |first1=Marcy |last2=Drane |first2=Amanda |title=What went wrong with the Texas power grid? |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Wholesale-power-prices-spiking-across-Texas-15951684.php |work=Houston Chronicle |date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217080525/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Wholesale-power-prices-spiking-across-Texas-15951684.php |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news |title=ERCOT asks Austin Energy to shed more power, could mean outages for emergency services |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/02/16/texas-power-outages-ercot-asks-austin-energy-shed-power/6763860002/ |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216221902if_/https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/02/16/texas-power-outages-ercot-asks-austin-energy-shed-power/6763860002/ |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Oberg |first1=Ted |last2=Rafique |first2=Sarah |title=48 hours without power a 'nightmare' as residents demand answers |url=https://abc13.com/weather/48-hours-without-power-a-nightmare-as-residents-demand-answers/10345836/ |work=KTRK-TV |date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217125927/https://abc13.com/weather/48-hours-without-power-a-nightmare-as-residents-demand-answers/10345836/ |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |url-status=live}} During the power loss, some Texans were forced to survive in record freezing temperatures down to {{convert|-2|F|C}}.{{cite web |title=A Full List of All The Record Cold Texas Temperatures |url=https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/weather/2021/02/15/a-full-list-of-all-the-record-cold-texas-temperatures |publisher=Bay News 9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216194942/https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/weather/2021/02/15/a-full-list-of-all-the-record-cold-texas-temperatures |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |date=February 17, 2021 |url-status=live}}

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.{{cite web |title=Governor Abbott Declares ERCOT Reform An Emergency Item |url=https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-declares-ercot-reform-an-emergency-item |website=Office of the Texas Governor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216214320/https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-declares-ercot-reform-an-emergency-item |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |date=February 16, 2021 |url-status=live}} A 357-page report had been written after the 2011 power outage in Texas,{{cite web |title=Report on Outages and Curtailments during the Southwest Cold Weather Event of February 1-5, 2011 - Causes and Recommendations |url=https://www.ferc.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/08-16-11-report.pdf |publisher=Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217213504/https://www.ferc.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/08-16-11-report.pdf |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |date=August 2011 |url-status=live}} which seemed to have been ignored, because too many critical generators still lacked appropriate weatherization in 2021,{{cite news |last=Englund |first=Will |title=The Texas grid got crushed because its operators didn't see the need to prepare for cold weather |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/16/ercot-texas-electric-grid-failure/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217080624if_/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/16/ercot-texas-electric-grid-failure/ |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Natter |first1=Ari |title=Texas Was Warned a Decade Ago Its Grid Was Unready for Cold |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-17/texas-was-warned-a-decade-ago-its-grid-was-unprepared-for-cold |work=Bloomberg News |date=February 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218030900/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-17/texas-was-warned-a-decade-ago-its-grid-was-unprepared-for-cold |archive-date=February 18, 2021 |url-status=live}} especially the natural gas system.

Texans outside the ERCOT-controlled grid had a different power experience. Relatively few electric customers lost power in those regions. 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. In counties around Beaumont in eastern Texas, Entergy suffered relatively few outages either, because of previous winterization efforts.{{cite news |last1=Rogalski |first1=Jeremy |title=Texas counties with fewer power outages are not part of state grid |url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigations/texas-power-outage-counties-with-fewer-power-outages-are-not-part-of-state-grid/285-67277280-7fce-42ca-b55b-f8fc639c0889 |work=KHOU TV |date=February 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218065745/https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigations/texas-power-outage-counties-with-fewer-power-outages-are-not-part-of-state-grid/285-67277280-7fce-42ca-b55b-f8fc639c0889 |archive-date=February 18, 2021 |url-status=live}}

The first lawsuits against ERCOT grid mismanagement were filed on February 19, 2021.{{Cite web|title=Lawsuits against ERCOT allege warnings about Texas grid issues 'consciously ignored'|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/lawsuits-against-ercot-allege-warnings-about-texas-grid-issues-consciously-ignored/ar-BB1dRHz4|access-date=2021-02-21|website=www.msn.com}}{{Cite web|last=Barrabi|first=Thomas|date=2021-02-19|title=Texas power grid operator ERCOT sued over blackouts|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-power-grid-operator-ercot-sued-over-blackouts|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Fox News|language=en-US}} On March 8, 2021, ERCOT began releasing a weekly market notice that includes entities that have paid previously identified short-pay amounts and provides an updated estimate of the aggregate outstanding short-pay amount.{{Cite web|title=Regulatory Coverage: ERCOT Discloses Short-Pay Balance of $2.5B; Organization to Release Weekly Short-Pay Report Starting March 8|url=https://reorg.com/electric-reliability-council-of-texas-short-pay-balance/|access-date=2021-03-11|website=www.reorg.com}}

On February 16, 2021, it was reported that at least 10 deaths were linked to the 2021 ERCOT grid power outages.{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=Texas Tribune|date=2021-02-16|title=Winter storm in Texas: At least 10 deaths linked to statewide disaster; Austin outages may last another day or more|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/16/texas-winter-storm-power-outage-ercot/|access-date=2021-04-03|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en}} By late March, the total number of deaths surpassed 110.{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Paul J. |last2=Stengle |first2=Jamie |date=2021-03-26 |title=Texas death toll from February storm, outages surpasses 100 |url=https://apnews.com/article/hypothermia-health-storms-power-outages-texas-ffeb5d49e1b43032ffdc93ea9d7cfa5f |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=AP News |language=en}} A comprehensive review of news reports, death certificates, and lawsuit filings from every county in Texas led a team of journalists in Houston to set the death toll at 194,{{Cite web |last=Ament |first=Jill |last2=Brisbin |first2=Shelly |date=2021-04-06 |title=Nearly 200 People Died In February’s Winter Storm, Double The State’s Initial Estimate |url=https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/nearly-200-people-died-in-februarys-winter-storm-double-the-states-initial-estimate/ |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=Texas Standard |language=en-US}} while a later review of excess deaths by journalists at BuzzFeed estimated the full true, indirect mortalities to be between 426 and 978, four to five times higher than the final toll.{{Cite web |last=Hirji |first=Peter Aldhous, Stephanie M. Lee, Zahra |date=2021-05-26 |title=The Texas Winter Storm And Power Outages Killed Hundreds More People Than The State Says |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/peteraldhous/texas-winter-storm-power-outage-death-toll |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=BuzzFeed News |language=en}} An 11-year-old boy, Cristian Pavon, who died of suspected hypothermia was among the deaths caused by ERCOT's grid system. Pavon's family sued Entergy Texas and ERCOT for gross negligence.{{Cite news|last=Salcedo|first=Andrea|date=February 22, 2021|title=Family of 11-year-old boy who died in unheated Texas mobile home sues power companies for over $100 million|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/02/22/texas-boy-death-winterstorm-lawsuit/|access-date=April 3, 2021}}

Bill Magness, CEO of ERCOT, was fired on March 4, 2021, for his role in the 2021 power loss incident.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/03/04/ercot-ceo-bill-magness-terminated-power-outages-texas/6917885002/|title=Texas power grid CEO fired after deadly February power outages|first=Madlin|last=Mekelburg|website=USA TODAY}} The board delivered a 60-day termination notice to Magness, who had been president and CEO since 2016. The board said he would serve in those roles for the next two months.The Wall Street Journal, "Texas Power Grid Operator Fires CEO," March 4, 2021 [https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-power-grid-operator-fires-ceo-11614834450?mod=hp_lead_pos12]

In 2023, Texas's energy landscape saw significant growth in solar capacity, notably on the ERCOT grid, with solar installations, including those with storage, increasing by 35% from the previous year, leading to a reduction in midday natural gas usage. Solar generation peaked at 5.3 GWh in the summer and 3.8 GWh in the winter, while wind generation remained the largest renewable contributor at 108,000 GWh. ERCOT anticipates a substantial rise in solar capacity, with plans for 24 GW of solar and 13 GW of battery storage additions by 2025, compared to a modest 3 GW increase in both wind and natural gas capacities.{{Cite web |last=Antonio |first=Katherine |last2=Peterson |first2=Kimberly |date=April 9, 2024 |title=Solar capacity additions are changing the shape of daily electricity supply in Texas |url=https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61783 |access-date=10 April 2024 |website=www.eia.gov}} ERCOT reported that energy demand on the power grid reached a record 85 gigawatts in 2023 — the hottest year recorded in Texas. In 2024, ERCOT projected that demand could reach 150 gigawatts by 2030. The increase in demand is the result of large users, including data centers and crypto currency mining operations, as well as oil and gas production that is switching from gas- and diesel-generated power to electricity.{{Cite web |last=Guo |first=Emily Foxhall and Kayla |date=2024-06-20 |title=Texas electricity demand could nearly double in six years, grid operator predicts |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/20/texas-electricity-demand-forecast-ercot/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}

After the 2021 outages, the state pass laws mandating weatherization of power plants against cold, streamlined emergency communications, and provided some aid for backup fuel supplies. The increase in solar generation and an increase in grid-scale power storage improve reliability, but were the result of private investments. The state has taken no action to improve energy efficiency standards, add connections to neighboring states, or regulate natural gas to ensure availability to power plants.{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/02/14/nx-s1-5289877/texas-power-grid-after-outage |title=Four years after deadly blackout, doubts remain over reliability of Texas' power grid |date=February 14, 2025 |publisher=NPR |author=Mose Buchele}}

ERCOT is governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Texas Legislature.{{cite web|url=http://www.ercot.com/about/governance/|title=Governance|website=www.ercot.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ercot.com/about/|title=About ERCOT|website=www.ercot.com}}

The PUC has primary jurisdiction over activities conducted by ERCOT. Three PUC commissioners, including the chair, are appointed by the governor of Texas.{{Cite web |url=http://www.puc.texas.gov/agency/rulesnlaws/statutes/Pura11.pdf |title=Public Utility Regulatory Act |access-date=2013-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202183521/http://www.puc.texas.gov/agency/rulesnlaws/statutes/Pura11.pdf |archive-date=2013-02-02 |url-status=dead }}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.ercot.com/about/governance/directors.html|title=Board of Directors|website=www.ercot.com}}

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) makes policy recommendations to the ERCOT Board of Directors. The TAC is assisted by five standing subcommittees as well as numerous workgroups and task forces.{{cite web|url=http://www.ercot.com/committees/board/tac/|title=Technical Advisory Committee|website=www.ercot.com}}

The ERCOT board appoints ERCOT's officers to direct and manage ERCOT's day-to-day operations, accompanied by a team of executives and managers responsible for critical components of ERCOT's operation.{{cite web|url=http://www.ercot.com/about/governance/executives.html|title=Executive Team|website=www.ercot.com}}

During the February 2021 storm, it emerged that a third of ERCOT's board of directors lived outside of Texas: Chairperson Sally A. Talberg lived in Michigan, Vice-Chair Peter Cramton lived in California and worked for universities in Germany and Maryland, and three board members lived in Toronto, Illinois, and Maine respectively.{{cite web |last1=Mekelburg |first1=Madlin |title=ERCOT is in charge of Texas' power, but one-third of its board lives out of state |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/16/ercot-board-under-fire-texas-five-out-state-members/6768919002/ |publisher=Austin American-Statesman |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217154057/https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/16/ercot-board-under-fire-texas-five-out-state-members/6768919002/ |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |date=February 16, 2021 |url-status=live}} This revelation drew considerable anger from the public as well as elected representatives, and the board members' names and photographs were temporarily removed from the ERCOT website due to death threats.{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Ewan |title=ERCOT Removes Names of Board Members from Site Following Death Threats Over Texas Outages |url=https://www.newsweek.com/ercot-board-members-death-threats-texas-1570128 |work=Newsweek |date=February 18, 2021}}{{Cite news|title=ERCOT Will Restore Board of Directors' Names to Website After Death Threats Prompted Their Removal|url=https://www.newsweek.com/ercot-will-restore-board-directors-names-website-after-death-threats-prompted-their-removal-1570320|access-date=2021-02-21|date=2021-02-18|work=Newsweek|last=Fallon|first=Nicole}} The board was also criticized for its meeting days before the storm: though the meeting lasted more than two hours, the members spent less than a minute discussing storm preparations and readiness.{{Cite web|last=Mekelburg|first=Madlin|title=ERCOT officials spent 40 seconds on winter storm preparedness at Feb. 9 meeting|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2021/02/19/winter-storm-texas-ercot-officials-spent-40-seconds-preparedness-meeting/4512191001/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last1=Collier|first1=Dillon|last2=Cienfuegos|first2=Luis|date=2021-02-18|title=ERCOT board meeting last week included joke about cowboy boots, less than 40 seconds of storm talk|url=https://www.ksat.com/news/defenders/2021/02/18/ercot-board-meeting-last-week-included-joke-about-cowboy-boots-less-than-40-seconds-of-storm-talk/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=KSAT|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Listen to ERCOT leaders spend 40 seconds on preparedness before Texas winter storm|url=https://www.statesman.com/videos/news/2021/02/19/listen-ercot-leaders-spend-40-seconds-preparedness-before-texas-winter-storm-power-outage-crisis/4508794001/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=ERCOT leaders spent less than a minute discussing winter storm preparedness at Feb. 9 meeting|url=https://www.kiiitv.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-power-outages-ercot-meeting-before-winter-storm-hit/269-86a97580-81b0-48da-821e-fa9167aa42b9|access-date=2021-02-21|website=kiiitv.com|date=19 February 2021 |language=en-US}} On February 23, ERCOT announced the resignation of the five out-of-state board members effective the end of the board meeting the following day.{{Cite web|last1=Douglas|first1=Erin|last2=Ferman|first2=Mitchell|date=2021-02-23|title=ERCOT board members who live outside of Texas are resigning in the aftermath of the power outage, winter storm|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/23/ercot-members-resign-texas/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-24|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223211936/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/23/ercot-members-resign-texas/ |archive-date=2021-02-23 }}{{Cite web|title=4 ERCOT board members to resign amid backlash over Texas storm|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/4-ercot-board-members-to-resign-amid-backlash-over-texas-storm/ar-BB1dX7nh|access-date=2021-02-24|website=www.msn.com}}{{Cite web|title=5 ERCOT board members who live outside of Texas resign in aftermath of power outage, winter storm|url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/ercot-board-members-who-live-outside-of-texas-resign/285-8221ebf4-c902-413b-b55b-215a035a4456|access-date=2021-02-24|website=khou.com|language=en-US}} In October 2021, El Paso billionaire Paul Foster became the new Chairperson even though El Paso is not part of the Texas power grid. The other open positions were filled afterwards.{{cite news |last1=Kolenc |first1=Vic |title=El Paso businessman Paul Foster named chairman of ERCOT board that manages Texas power grid |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2021/10/19/paul-foster-chairman-ercot-board/8523739002/ |access-date=18 June 2024 |work=El Paso Times |date=19 October 2021}} Foster resigned in June 2024.{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Adam |title='These statements don’t line up'. ERCOT says it's ready for summer but experts remain skeptical |url=https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/summer-outlook-power-grid-texas-ercot-prepared-experts-skeptical/269-86830578-10c3-44b1-8726-2eff0a3ef130 |access-date=19 June 2024 |work=KVUE (ABC news affiliate) |date=18 June 2024}}

It has a headquarters in Austin and an additional complex in Taylor.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ercot.com/about/locations|title=Locations|publisher=ERCOT|access-date=2021-02-21|quote=Austin Campus Executive and Administration Center 7620 Metro Center Drive Austin, Texas 78744 [...] Taylor Campus Operations Center 800 Airport Road Taylor, Texas 76574 [...] Mailing Address 2705 West Lake Drive Taylor, Texas 76574 }}

• Deregulation of the Texas electricity market
• List of power stations in Texas
• Energy in Texas

;Related Energy Entities

• Energy Information Administration (EIA)
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
• North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
• Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT)
• Texas Reliability Entity (Texas RE)

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web |title=Report on Outages and Curtailments during the Southwest Cold Weather Event of February 1-5, 2011 - Causes and Recommendations |url=https://www.ferc.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/08-16-11-report.pdf |publisher=Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |date=August 2011}} 357 pages.

• [http://www.ercot.com ERCOT website]
• [http://www.ercot.com/content/cdr/contours/rtmLmpHg.html Real-time price map]
• [http://www.ercot.com/gridinfo/csc/index Real-time grid status]
• [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360544219314136 Assessing climate sensitivity of peak electricity load for resilient power systems planning and operation: A study applied to the Texas region]

{{Regional transmission organization (north america)}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Electric power transmission system operators in the United States

Category:1970 establishments in Texas

Category:501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations

Category:Energy in Texas