Electricity

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

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S&P Global Platts

Author: Mark Watson

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. …

Generation

Dept. of Energy Blocked Texas from Increasing Power Ahead of Enduring Storm

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YourNews.com

By Adan Salazar

A week before, Texas begged for help and asked for DOE to lift federal regulations barring state’s energy output.

An Emergency Order from the Biden administration’s Department of Energy shows Texas energy grid operator ERCOT was instructed to stay within green energy standards by purchasing energy from outside the state at a higher cost, throttling power output throughout the state ahead of a catastrophic polar vortex.

Going into effect Sunday, Feb. 14, Emergency Order 202-21-1 shows the Energy Dept. was aware of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide disaster declaration and that ERCOT was readying gas utilities in preparation for a demand surge. …