With ERCOT prices less than $20/MWh, Texas stops disconnects, launches probes

Houston — As Electric Reliability Council of Texas real-time prices averaged less than $20/MWh Feb. 22, state officials have forestalled disconnections for nonpayment and started investigating last week’s winter storm-induced energy emergency, and thousands of retail electric customers will likely be switched to providers of last resort.

Real-time prices averaged negative 56 cents/MWh for the hour ending at 2 pm CT on Feb. 22, with wind output around 11 GW and solar output at 1.8 GW. For the previous 13 hours of Feb 22, real-time prices averaged about $15/MWh. …