ERCOT says it plans to complete governor’s data center audit by December
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) plans to complete an audit of data centers mandated by the Governor by December. The audit will evaluate new data centers' energy and water usage, government assistance, ownership, and community impact. This audit follows new standards approved by ERCOT earlier this year for large energy consumers connecting to the Texas power grid.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which oversees the state's primary power grid, announced its intention to finalize a data center audit, directed by the Governor, by December. This update was provided during a Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) meeting.
The audit focuses on new data centers' energy and water consumption, governmental support, tax incentives, ownership details, and their broader community impact. ERCOT will verify information from approximately 250 to 300 large energy consumers, part of "Batch Zero," brought onto the grid under new standards. Additionally, community impact data will be sought from both Batch Zero entities and 157 medium-sized energy consumers, including data centers and cryptocurrency miners, seeking 25 to 75 megawatts of power.
Chad Seely, ERCOT Senior Vice President, emphasized the substantial amount of data to be collected and analyzed, aiming to provide key findings for the commission, legislature, and governor's office. He also mentioned efforts to improve the efficiency of data collection.
Notably, the governor's moratorium on data centers does not apply to facilities already under construction with approved grid connections, data centers using their own power generation, or those located outside the ERCOT grid's jurisdiction.