The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) aims to address critical technical and operational challenges following the successful deployment of real-time co-optimization (RTC) in December 2025, and to solidify its position as a global leader in grid innovation.
One important challenge for ERCOT is the queue for large-load interconnection requests, that rose from 63 GW in 2025 to over 233 GW in 2026 (+269%), with data centers accounting for 77% of the load. To streamline this, ERCOT introduced a batch study process, grouping projects to allocate transmission capacity efficiently.
ERCOT will also conduct its first triennial reliability assessment in 2026, evaluating capacity deficiency risks based on frequency, magnitude, and duration metrics. This aligns with post-Winter Storm Uri reforms to ensure grid resilience.