"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. Box 12428 She is a mentor for American Corporate Partners. Breaking down the state's power sources from gas to wind. Last week, senators from the Business and Commerce Committee, after hearing similar testimony from Lake, wrote a letter to PUCs commissioners expressing their concern that the PUCs proposal may fail to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 3 and would not guarantee that new generation will be built in a timely and cost effective manner., Also last week, Patrick held a press conference in which he called for legislation that would cause additional natural-gas-fired power plants to be built in addition to the PUCs proposed market changes. 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. [56] 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. Wholesale electricity prices increased 65 percent in 2021, without taking into account the blackouts cost, due in large part . Lake said that the agency was simply moving forward with what the Legislature asked it to do last year with Senate Bill 3 but later said, We dont plan on operationalizing any market designs until we receive guidance from the Legislature.. Erin Douglas, Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 20:02. 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. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Updated Industry veteran Brad Jones is taking over as interim president and CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of . 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. Dan Patrick has already demanded: a guarantee that more natural gas plants will be built in Texas. Taylor received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire. Amplify your impact and donate now. This caused lawsuits about whether federal regulation then applied, however the judgement was that this was not sufficient. 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.. 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. Jones' hiring as interim president and CEO, after stints as a vice president and chief operations officer at ERCOT between 2013 and 2015, provides more time for the organization to find a permanent leader. What percentage of Texas energy is renewable? Based on our data team's research, Brad Jones is the Electric Reliability Council of Texas's CEO. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) Board of Directors (board) selects ERCOT's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), sets overall goals, and guides our direction. 51878. The agency has already implemented the winterization regulation the Legislature passed in 2021. 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. During PUC Chair Peter Lakes testimony before the House State Affairs Committee on Monday, lawmakers questioned whether the proposal would actually achieve what many Republican members appeared to most want, and what Lt. Gov. Seems to me we asked you to do something, and youre doing it, he said. 28,461 people like this. [36][37] During the power loss, some Texans were forced to survive in record freezing temperatures down to 2F (19C). 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). 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. 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. The threat is real, and its happening, he said. | He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Independent System Operator from October 2015 - October 2018. Texas Public Utility Commission Chair Peter Lake and ERCOT President Brad Jones said the power grid is prepared for record-breaking summer electricity demand. Overall, Jones says, "We've been bringing on additional reserves to make sure we have an abundance of caution. September 28, 2021 | Austin, Texas 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. ", One of the main questions from attendees was on equitable load-shedding during a blackout; many emailed asking why Downtown's lights stayed on. He did not elaborate. Senate Bills 2 and 3 included a few key changes to the grid that experts said will begin to address some issues, such as requiring power companies to upgrade plants to withstand more extreme weather and creating a statewide emergency alert system. Many are no longer cost competitive. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has declared an Energy Emergency Alert Level 1 and is urging consumers and businesses to limit their electricity use as much as possible on Sunday. Brad Jones will fill the role in an interim capacity in early May. This spring, ERCOT forecasters predicted just a 5% chance that this summer's peak load demand would reach the levels it has. According to an ERCOT report, the major sources of generating capacity in Texas are natural gas (51%), wind (24.8%), coal (13.4%), nuclear (4.9%), solar (3.8%), and hydroelectric or biomass-fired units (1.9%). Lawmakers also didn't provide direct aid to people harmed by the February crisis. The operator of the state's main electricity grid has hired a new CEO, ending a 16-month period in the aftermath of . ", "Texas largely relies on natural gas for power. In counties around Beaumont in eastern Texas, Entergy suffered relatively few outages either, because of previous winterization efforts. Recognizing the reliability advantages of remaining interconnected, TIS members continued to operate and develop the interconnected grid. The Public Utility Commission of Texas approved Vegas' selection Tuesday and he will begin his new position Oct. 1. The document is filed in PUC Project No. Demand is growing at a pace that is outpacing [quickly available power] generation in the state, Pablo Vegas, CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state power grid, told lawmakers on Monday. Jones credited Texans for helping out and told the paper this is where I get impressed by the Texas spirit, the spirit of people who wanted to help each other.. [63][64][65], It has a headquarters in Austin and an additional complex in Taylor.[66]. Its our 10th year participating in Amplify, and to celebrate, weve got $15,000 in matching funds from four generous Tribune supporters. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands. Dan Patrick had called for Magness and DeAnn Walker, then the head of the PUC, to resign. 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. Turn off lights, computers, and other electronic devices whenever possible. A long-time leader among ERCOT stakeholders, Brad chaired ERCOT's Technical Advisory Committee, a Jobs [47] 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,[48] while a later review of excess deaths by journalists at BuzzFeed estimated the full indirect mortalities to be between 426 and 978. Board of Directors. It should be included in the next special session, said Tom Smith, longtime former director of Public Citizens Texas office. Community See All. As always, Your Weather Authority team will keep you updated. Appointment. 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. [27] At 1:25a.m. on February 15, ERCOT began requesting blackouts from service providers. Set thermostats to 68 degrees while at home, or as low as comfortably tolerable. AUSTIN, Texas -- During February's deadly winter storm, Gov. "He brings the right combination of ERCOT knowledge and broad industry expertise needed to provide the stability and reliability that Texans expect and deserve.". [5] Petroleum Coke: 742 MWh; 9:50 AM Dec 2, 2021 CST Natural Gas: 125,704 MWh; 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. 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 . Jones, who worked for Texas energy companies and in senior roles at ERCOT before leading New York state's power grid operator as president, takes ERCOT's top job from Bill Magness, who was fired as president and CEO in early March after a winter storm in February left millions of people in the dark for days amid freezing temperature and claimed more than 100 lives. Hydroelectric Conventional: 23,086 MWh; Got something to say? Austin Texas 78711 Its a scenario that ERCOT forecasters originally only gave a 5% chance of happening, Jones told the Houston Chronicle. AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) On July 13 the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) delivered what it calls a "roadmap to improving grid reliability" to . by Mitchell Ferman Jones acknowledged the problem, adding that the state hasnt invested enough in part of our generation fleet.. Get your TribFest tickets by May 31 and save big! Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Greg Abbott's now-infamous guarantee that last year's Winter Storm Uri catastrophe won't be repeated, Jones said, "We've done everything possible to make sure that the lights do stay on." May 17, 20225 PM Central. [20] The 1999 deregulation also dropped limits on rate increases. 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]. [34][35], Approximately 4 million customers in Texas were without electricity for various times during the multi-day storm. Solar: 5,381 MWh; Its our 10th year participating in Amplify, and to celebrate, weve got $15,000 in matching funds from four generous Tribune supporters. Amplify your impact and donate now. 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.. Double your gift when you give by 6 p.m. Thursday. [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. Gov. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. 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 . power. by Mitchell Ferman Ensure doors and windows are sealed properly. That's the difference.". 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. In response to Gov. "He is an experienced leader and. Log In. Supply and Demand. There are many things that are on us, Creighton said. 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. Other Gas: 972 MWh; 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. 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. July 13, 20214 PM Central. 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. However, due to the extreme heat this summer, its now estimated that the peak demand load could exceed 81,000 megawatts. 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. The TAC is assisted by five standing subcommittees as well as numerous workgroups and task forces. . [21] Since deregulation, retail providers and power generators were unregulated, although regulations on transmitters continued to control the placement of electrical lines. 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. Brad Jones, interim CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, expressed confidence in the state's grid heading into summer. He has more than 25 years of experience in energy, plastics, and hydrocarbon markets. Thanks to an updated method for conservation notices, ERCOT has also been able to cut demand beyond what officials expected. The legislation abolished the former system, in which power was both generated and consumed locally. [15] A megawatt of electricity can power about 200 Texas homes during periods of peak demand. [17] The board delivered a 60-day termination notice to Magness, who had been president and CEO since 2016. 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)". Mr. Jones was elected by the Board to serve as interim President and CEO until the permanent position has been filled, up to a term of one year (pursuant to ERCOT Bylaws). 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. [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. The board said he would serve in those roles for the next two months. [20] Instead, under the deregulated regime, retailers could contract with providers across the state, creating a complex market. 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. He implored his colleagues to focus on the task at hand: What I hope, members, is that we can try to figure out how to get Texas to the next step, to the next decade [because] the demand continues to go up, and continues to go up.. 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. 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.. Patrick Svitek contributed to this story. (Jordan Vonderhaar For The Texas Tribune, Jordan Vonderhaar For The Texas Tribune). Matt Payne reports on Frisco City Hall and its committees, Collin County Commissioners and McKinney business. Mary Claire Patton has been a journalist with KSAT 12 since 2015. [9], ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation,[12][13] and its members include consumers, electric cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers), and municipally owned electric utilities. [28] On February 16, electricity shortages caused the price of electricity to spike to over $9,000 per megawatt-hour (MWh),[27][29][30] whereas the week before, the lowest price of power had been less than $30 a MWh. So I am concerned about their reliability all the way through the summer, but right now they are performing extraordinarily with low outage rates, Jones told the paper. 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. George Presses of San Antonio is Vice President of Fuel & Energy for H-E-B, where he has worked since 1998. P.O. [20] The 1999 deregulation was aimed at counteracting a shortage of generation capacity in the state. Presses received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Environmental Science from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Hydroelectric Pumped Storage: -368; [57][58] 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. of Texas. Edward Stones of Houston is the Global Business Director for Energy & Climate Change for Dow, Inc. 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. Jones said the June power crunch was caused by issues stemming from the February freeze. Public Utility Commission of Texas Chairman Peter Lake and Electric Reliability Council of Texas CEO Brad Jones will hold a press conference to discuss the readiness of the Texas power grid for the 2022 summer Set ceiling fans to the winter setting by running them clockwise, to pull the warm air down. The board oversees major functions of ERCOT: open access to the transmission grid on nondiscriminatory terms, system reliability and adequacy, and . [11] ERCOT also performs financial settlements for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 7 million premises in competitive choice areas. You can learn more at nbutexas.com and on NBUs Facebook page. In a Monday committee hearing, lawmakers questioned whether a Public Utility Commission proposal to redesign Texas electricity market would lead to the building of more natural-gas-fired power plants. 148 talking about this. On Tuesday, Abbott amended his statement in regards to this week's ice storm: "No one can guarantee there won't be a load shed event. We can help. Magness will soon depart ERCOT following a 60-day termination notice handed to him by ERCOT's board of directors in March. What ERCOT did by making the announcement on Friday was a greater level of transparency that did not exist before [Winter Storm] Uri, Abbott said. 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. Find a complete list of them here. He oversees Market Operations, Settlement and Retail Operations, Market Design and Development, Credit and Client Relations. The most recent conservation appeal from ERCOT to Texans and Texas businesses was sent Wednesday. The Chronicle welcomes opinion pieces on any topic from the community. The ERCOT region's all-time record peak hour occurred on July 20, 2022, when consumer demand hit 79,828 MW. "The Board looks forward to working with Brad during this time as ERCOT prepares for summer operations," said ERCOT Board Director and HR&G Committee Chair Mark Carpenter. 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. An ISO schedules power on an electric grid and ensures the grid can . However, the Texas grid is not subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act, being an intrastate grid for the purposes of that law. by Erin Douglas Lawmakers cannot pass laws to improve Texas power grid during the special legislative session. Brad Jones, Interim CEO, Electric Reliability Council of Texas WHAT: Summer 2022 Texas grid readiness and CDR/SARA overview WHERE: . Prior to becoming President and CEO of the New York ISO, Brad served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
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