The Texas Legislature on Tuesday passed legislation that gives incumbent utilities the right of first refusal to build transmission projects in the state.

The Texas PUC held off on giving its final blessing to $1.37 billion worth of transactions involving Oncor, Sharyland Utilities and Sempra Energy.

A combined $1.37 billion worth of transactions involving Oncor, Sharyland Utilities and Sempra Energy all but gained regulatory approval from the PUCT.

The Texas PUC praised ERCOT for its response to criticism over a March cold-weather event that prompted it to ask generators to reschedule planned outages.

The Texas PUC formally approved Rayburn Country Electric Cooperative’s request to move about 12% of its load and transmission facilities from SPP into ERCOT

The Texas Public Utility Commission approved a list of issues to be discussed during a summer workshop on real-time co-optimization.

The PUCT issued preliminary certificates of convenience and necessity for transmission that will integrate some of LP&L’s SPP load into the ERCOT system.

Texas regulators agreed to let state lawmakers help them determine who will own energy storage devices in the ERCOT market.

The mothballing of a coal-fired plant has reduced ERCOT’s reserve margin of 8.1% to 7.4%, prodding the Texas PUC into ordering market changes.

The PUCT is asking legislators to help provide clarity on whether transmission and distribution utilities can own and operate energy storage devices.