ERCOT is poised to start testing real time co-optimization of energy and ancillary services in a few weeks and bring the change live this December, which will mark the biggest paradigm shift in Texas' wholesale markets in 15 years.

ERCOT’s plans to continue running a 55-year-old San Antonio gas plant scheduled for retirement are being endangered by "pretty significant findings" that increase costs and delay the schedule.

ERCOT stakeholders have endorsed several protocol changes related to the ISO’s real-time co-optimization project, keeping on track a project seen as a cornerstone for future market improvements.

ERCOT stakeholders have begun discussions on a pair of protocol revision requests related to the grid operator’s real-time co-optimization and battery project, set to go live in December.

The Texas grid operator raised eyebrows in April when it said its load-growth forecasts had ballooned by 40 GW over the previous year. It said it anticipates about 152 GW of new load by 2030.

ERCOT has set a December 2025 target go-live date for its real-time co-optimization project, which is expected to add millions in savings to its market.

ERCOT says it may move up the real-time co-optimization project’s go-live date from its previous September 2026 target, welcome news about a mechanism that will be integral to the future market design.

ERCOT stakeholders endorsed the charter and leadership for a task force that will report to the Technical Advisory Committee and provide recommendations on real-time co-optimization and energy storage resources’ state of charge.

ERCOT stakeholders have endorsed a $329 million reliability project in the San Antonio area, sending it on the Board of Directors for final approval.

ERCOT staff said it faces a tight timeline to add a new ancillary service by Dec. 1, 2024, as required by the recent Texas legislative session.