ERCOT says generation, transmission ready for winter following on-site inspections

Generation and transmission facilities in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market are ready for winter, ERCOT said Dec. 30 after inspecting more than 300 generation units and 22 transmission facilities representing 85% of the megawatt hours lost during the deadly mid-February winter storm.

"Texans can be confident the electric generation fleet and the grid are winterized and ready to provide power," said Woody Rickerson, ERCOT vice president of grid planning and weatherization. "New regulations require all electric generation and transmission owners to make significant winterization improvements and our inspections confirm they are prepared."

In the Public Utility Commission of Texas' Project Nos. 52786 and 52787, which are projects for winter readiness compliance for generation and transmission, respectively, ERCOT said its inspectors had logged more than 3,600 hours of inspections of 302 generation units and 22 transmission substations between Dec. 2 and Dec. 22.

"Of the 302 generation resources inspected, ERCOT's inspectors identified potential deficiencies at only ten resources," ERCOT said in its PUC filing. "These resources have a total capacity of 2,129 megawatts, representing about 1.7% of the total ERCOT generation fleet. Most of the deficiencies identified have already been addressed. ERCOT notes that many generation entities adopted winter weatherization measures that go above and beyond the requirements of [the relevant rule]."

ERCOT found potential deficiencies in six of the 22 transmission substations, which "were generally minor items such as cabinet heaters out of service or missing weather stripping on cabinet doors on the day of inspection," it said. "Most of these items have already been corrected."

ERCOT plans to file a final report Jan. 18, 2022.