THE COLONY, Texas — Governor Greg Abbott on July 24 released a response from the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas outlining steps the two bodies say will keep residential customers from absorbing the cost of the state's rapidly expanding data center industry.
The measures answer a June 10 directive in which Abbott told the commission to make data centers pay for the electric infrastructure they use, to ensure new connections do not raise household bills, and to work with ERCOT on further ratepayer safeguards. According to the governor's office, the agencies have begun putting those instructions into effect.
Among the actions listed, the commission said large data centers will be asked to help cover the cost of transmission upgrades built to serve them and to contribute toward lowering residential rates. Officials also described new rules meant to stop big data centers from pulling existing power off the ERCOT grid, a fresh screening step for grid connections, and a requirement that new facilities cut their power use quickly when ERCOT directs.
"Residential ratepayers will not foot the bill for this industry's growth. These actions keep electric bills affordable and protect the water our communities need." — Gov. Greg Abbott
