Bob Sechler
Officials in charge of the state’s electricity grid have repeatedly said Texans are benefitting from their efforts to manage the system more cautiously and with a greater cushion in the aftermath of its near collapse in February 2021 during a severe winter freeze.
But the cost of that insurance policy is only now becoming clear: $685 million to $860 million just within the first five months this year.
The estimate includes money spent by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the grid, to procure higher levels of reserve power than before and to make it available faster.
It also includes the impact of policy changes designed to make wholesale electricity prices rise quicker initially as conditions on the grid tighten, before topping out at …