• Abbott said fewer than 10% of data-centre companies responded to a state request for information needed to assess future electricity demand
  • ERCOT is auditing roughly 250–300 projects before they can advance through the grid-connection process

The fact

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said fewer than 10% of data-centre companies responded to a state request for information needed to assess future electricity demand. The disclosure comes after Abbott ordered the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to verify projects seeking connections to the state grid before allowing them to move forward.

ERCOT is tracking more than 474GW of proposed load in its connection queue, with about 90% associated with data centres. Officials have said the audit will initially cover roughly 250–300 projects representing about 200GW of potential demand through ERCOT's Batch Zero process. The review includes information on electricity and water requirements, project ownership, tax incentives, and measures intended to limit effects on nearby communities. Many projects in the wider queue are not expected to reach construction.

The assessment

Texas has a long list of proposed data-centre loads, but ERCOT still needs to know which of them are likely to become real projects. A 474GW queue is difficult to use for grid planning when many developers have provided limited information about their expected demand, financing or customers. Abbott’s disclosure that fewer than 10% responded to the state’s information request makes that gap more visible.

The audit is meant to narrow the list before ERCOT spends more time studying connections. Developers entering Batch Zero will have to provide enough detail for ERCOT and the PUCT to judge whether their projects are ready to move forward. Some proposals may remain in the process, while others could fall away if they cannot provide the required information. For BTW readers, the more useful figure will come after that review. If the audit cuts the proposed load substantially below 474GW, Texas will have a clearer picture of the data-centre demand it may actually need to plan the grid around.

What to watch

Watch how many of the roughly 250–300 projects clear the audit and how much of their estimated 200GW remains in Batch Zero. A revised ERCOT demand forecast, confirmed connection studies and projects removed from the queue would show how much the verification process changes Texas's picture of future data-centre electricity demand.