Recommendations made afterward went unenforced. Looking to avert crises like Uri in the future, Jones says, "We want to bring in as much solar and wind as we possibly can. Many are no longer cost competitive. [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. Brad Jones, interim CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, expressed confidence in the states grid heading into summer at a Tuesday press conference. 9:50 AM Dec 2, 2021 CST, 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 Shaheen, R-Plano, and Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, on Dec. 1 at the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center. ERCOT, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Winter Storm Uri, Gina Hinojosa, Brad Jones, Greg Abbott, Austin Energy, blackouts, League of Women Voters, Texas Railroad Commission, Information is power. Creighton added that it may take the PUC and ERCOT months or years to implement some of the changes lawmakers approved in the spring, such as requiring power plants to protect critical infrastructure from extreme weather. Before fielding questions, Jones opened with describing several measures ERCOT has already taken, including facility inspections of weatherization measures by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and introducing statewide emergency alerts through the Texas Division of Emergency Management. [4] Relatively few electric customers lost power in those regions. All four regulators replaced officials ousted after the winter storm that crippled the grid for days during subfreezing weather. 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. My guarantee to you is that we intend to communicate more clearly than weve done in the past, Jones told lawmakers. He is a 2017 graduate of the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas in Denton. Texas is likely to see a hotter and drier summer than normal this year, according to an April climate outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 2021 is likely to rank among the 10 warmest years on record globally. He is a member of the Texas State University Engineering Advisory Board and the American Heart Association Executive Committee. He has over 30 years of experience as a process engineer. [5] ERCOT is the first independent system operator (ISO) in the United States. Solar: 5,381 MWh; The Electric Reliability Council of Texas ensures a reliable electric grid and efficient electricity markets. Community See All. Lt. Gov. Brad Jones, and the three-member board of the Public Utility Commission, which oversees Jones and the Electric . 51878. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. But after recent leadership shakeups at ERCOT and the PUC, it is state lawmakers who are now increasingly coming under pressure to pass substantial legislation that would protect the state from another power failure the next time inclement weather hits Texas. [6] ERCOT works with the Texas Reliability Entity (TRE),[7] one of eight regional entities within the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) that coordinate to improve reliability of the bulk power grid. Michele Richmond, the executive director for Texas Competitive Power Advocates, an industry group that represents large power companies, said her members were prepared to build new gas-fired power plants in Texas between 2024 and 2026 capable of producing 4,600 megawatts of power if the Legislature does not inhibit the implementation and the PUCs rule-making process continues as planned. Any light through the door indicates a penetration of cold air coming into the home. [16], Bill Magness, CEO of ERCOT, was fired on March 4, 2021, for his role in the 2021 power loss incident. On March 15, 2021, at the request of the Board, ERCOT issued a Request for Proposal to identify and contract with a qualified executive search firm to assist the Board with identifying, investigating, qualifying and presenting a pool of qualified candidates for ERCOT's President and CEO position. At least one of the plants that delayed its repairs broke down Friday, and industry officials say others did, too. 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." 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. Now, officials are working to determine how the Texas power market will create and meet the reliability standard also mandated by Senate Bill 3. 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. She has reported on several high-profile stories during her career at KSAT and specializes in trending news and things to do around Texas and San Antonio. Got something to say? Jones received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Arlington. Some key points in the plan include requiring CEOs of energy companies to sign a letter that their equipment is prepared to withstand inclement weather, incentivizing power plant operators to store reserve fuel onsite in case of emergencies and re-writing ERCOTs external communications materials to better inform the public about the state of Texas power supply. Pablo Vegaswill take over the president and CEO role for the. He is a corporate member representative for the Texas Oil & Gas Association, Texas Industrial Energy Consumers, Louisiana Energy Users Group, Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers, Texas Energy Coalition, and the Association of Oil Pipe Lines. Hunter and Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, repeatedly questioned Lake about whether the PUCs vote on the market redesign which is expected in January after the public has an opportunity to comment on the plan would be binding and whether the Legislature would have the opportunity to make changes to it. Lawmakers cannot pass laws to improve Texas power grid during the special legislative session. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "He is an experienced leader and. Regional transmission organization in Texas, The Wall Street Journal, "Texas Power Grid Operator Fires CEO," March 4, 2021, North American Electric Reliability Corporation, deregulation of the Texas electricity market, February 2011, a major winter storm impacted Texas, February 1317, 2021 North American winter storm, Deregulation of the Texas electricity market, "Electric Reliability Council Of Texas Inc 10 10 90 - Nonprofit Explorer", "Pablo Vegas, a utility executive in Ohio, named ERCOT's new CEO", "The Texas Freeze: Why the Power Grid Failed", "Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". Answers to 5 questions about the group that operates Texas' power grid", "Texas has set power-demand records 11 times so far this summer", "ERCOT Expects Record Electricity Demand for Summer Heat But Projects Sufficient Generation for Power Grid", "Texas power grid CEO fired after deadly February power outages", Texas' deregulated electricity market, explained, Electric Deregulation Is Working in Texas, Says Lawmaker Who Led the Effort, Since Deregulation, Texas Utility Rates Have Soared, Texas leaders failed to heed warnings that left the state's power grid vulnerable to winter extremes, experts say. 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. Turn off lights, computers, and other electronic devices whenever possible. The Texas Energy Reliability Council was established to ensure that the energy and electric industries in this state meet high priority human needs and address critical infrastructure concerns, and enhance coordination and communication in the energy and electric industries in this state. When we call for it, I want Texans understand: Thats not because were going into rolling outages. The best way to say it is that before, operators had gotten comfortable standing at the edge of the cliff and looking down, and now we stand 10 feet back. September 28, 2021 | Austin, Texas Based on our data team's research, Brad Jones is the Electric Reliability Council of Texas's CEO. 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] A long-time leader among ERCOT stakeholders, Brad chaired ERCOT's Technical Advisory Committee, a Jobs Erin Douglas, Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 20:02. If the agency completes its rule-making as scheduled, Lake said during the hearing, he expects that the plan would be fully implemented by 2026. The winter storm that has moved across our region has caused temperatures to drop well below average for this time of year. Support the Chronicle, A wintry scene in North Austin during last February's Winter Storm Uri, Solar and wind could do the job more efficiently, advocates say, Google, Cognizant accused of illegal union-busting, Legalizing fentanyl test strips is only step one, advocates say, One click gets you all the newsletters listed below, Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events. 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]. Brad Jones, interim CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas . Heres how you can help reduce electricity use, according to ERCOT: According to officials, at this time, ERCOT has additional resources that are only available during tight conditions, so rotating outages are not likely.. 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. Recognizing the reliability advantages of remaining interconnected, TIS members continued to operate and develop the interconnected grid. Nate Murphy of San Antonio is Senior Counsel for Valero. [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. Get your TribFest tickets by May 31 and save big! Brad Johnson June 22, 2022. [36][37] During the power loss, some Texans were forced to survive in record freezing temperatures down to 2F (19C). [20] Instead, under the deregulated regime, retailers could contract with providers across the state, creating a complex market. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 46,500 miles of transmission lines and 710+ generation units. From left: Peter Lake, chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and Brad Jones, then-interim president and CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, speak at a May 17 press . That also means avoiding rolling blackouts. The most recent conservation appeal from ERCOT to Texans and Texas businesses was sent Wednesday. Brad Jones became ERCOT's vice president of Commercial Operations in April 2013. "Is ERCOT a government agency? Energy experts have raised concerns about the states aging energy infrastructure following the February storm, and state Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, questioned the grid officials about those concerns. Brad Jones of Liberty Hill is the Interim CEO of ERCOT. State leaders continue to probe what went wrong with the power grid during the Feb. winter storm and what can be done to keep it from happening again. Latest local news from South Texas from KSAT12. This spring, ERCOT forecasters predicted just a 5% chance that this summer's peak load demand would reach the levels it has. 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 . 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. READ MORE: 6th ERCOT board member resigns during emergency meeting on winter storm outage. In the weeks since the winter storm, both ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the regulatory body that oversees it, have been lambasted for failures in preparing for and responding to the storm. 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. 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. You can learn more at nbutexas.com and on NBUs Facebook page. 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. This caused lawsuits about whether federal regulation then applied, however the judgement was that this was not sufficient. Double your gift when you give by 6 p.m. Thursday. [17] The board delivered a 60-day termination notice to Magness, who had been president and CEO since 2016. 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. Board of Directors. miles of transmission lines. While Magness was fired, Walker resigned after also coming under harsh criticism from lawmakers. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has named its new leader more than a year after the previous CEO was terminated. 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. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Independent System Operator from October 2015 - October 2018. ", "I commend the ERCOT Board for confirming a leader of Brad's caliber as interim CEO," said PUC Chairman Peter Lake. Can't keep up with happenings around town? [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. Stones received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University. Its our 10th year participating in Amplify, and to celebrate, weve got $15,000 in matching funds from four generous Tribune supporters. See more of Electric Reliability Council of Texas on Facebook. Pavon's family sued Entergy Texas and ERCOT for gross negligence. 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. [42], The first lawsuits against ERCOT grid mismanagement were filed on February 19, 2021. broke down Friday, and industry officials say others did, too. [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. George Presses of San Antonio is Vice President of Fuel & Energy for H-E-B, where he has worked since 1998. Its our 10th year participating in Amplify, and to celebrate, weve got $15,000 in matching funds from four generous Tribune supporters. She is a mentor for American Corporate Partners. The board said he would serve in those roles for the next two months. In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, ERCOT Interim president and CEO Brad Jones said forecasters for the organization did not anticipate the extreme heat and projected that on the hottest day of summer, the grid demand could reach a max of 77,300 megawatts. 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. 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. What percentage of Texas energy is renewable? Copyright 1981-2023 Austin Chronicle Corp. All rights reserved. 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. Wholesale electricity prices increased 65 percent in 2021, without taking into account the blackouts cost, due in large part . 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.. [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. His experience includes serving as online content editor at Fort Worth Magazine and city editor at the Killeen Daily Herald. 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