Texas PUCT large load interconnection rule (2026)

PUCT Project (Control) No. 58481, 'Rulemaking to Implement Large Load Interconnection Standards under PURA 37.0561' (PURA §37.0561 added by SB 6, 89th Leg., 2025; see Texas SB 6 (Data Center Grid Law)). PUCT interchange docket: item 218, 9/18/2026, 'Order Adopting New 16 TAC §25.194'; item 219, 9/18/2026, 'Texas Register Acknowledgement of Receipt - Effective 10.08.2026'. Utility Dive (published Mon. Sept. 21, 2026): commission 'voted Friday' (= Sept. 18). Scope (Colocation Scout, Compute Law): new or expanded interconnections of 75 MW or more at a single site in ERCOT. Final terms: flat $100,000 study fee for all large loads (proposal had size tiers); proposed non-refundable $50,000/MW interconnection fee eliminated; financial security $50,000/MW of requested peak demand (agreement stage: greater of $50,000/MW contracted peak demand or allocated system upgrade costs, per Colocation Scout); the interconnecting DSP/TSP must notify ERCOT of non-utilized capacity after a 24-month miss measured against the energization schedule as a whole (proposal: 30 days after a 6-month miss); within 60 days of that notice, security is applied to amounts owed and the balance returned (proposal: 20% refunded, 80% applied/rate-base offset). Effective Oct. 8, 2026. Adopted during the Governor's Aug. 3 audit directive (Texas Gov. Abbott data center grid-connection audit freeze). The adoption order text itself was not read.