August 25, 2020

Fiscal Notes: Texas’ Electricity Resources

(AUSTIN) — In the recently released August issue of Fiscal Notes, the Comptroller's office examines Texas' electricity; its sources, production and usage; and the regulatory structure that governs it.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Texas both produces and consumes more electricity than any other state. And in most of Texas, the electricity produced is managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).

"It's a constant challenge to keep the system up and running and yielding enough power to meet the needs of our fast-growing state," Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said. "Summers with record-breaking energy use have become common. The pandemic and the impacts of lower energy prices have reduced overall demand, but as we recover, demand will continue to rise. Managing how our state meets that demand is critical for our continued economic success."

This issue of Fiscal Notes also features a Q&A with Kenan Ögelman, ERCOT's vice president of commercial operations, who discusses ERCOT's role in managing the Texas energy grid and its power markets.

Fiscal Notes furthers the Comptroller’s constitutional responsibility to monitor the state’s economy and estimate state government revenues. It has been published since 1975, featuring in-depth analysis concerning state finances and original research by subject-matter experts in the Comptroller’s office.

For questions about how our agency functions are continuing during the outbreak, visit our COVID-19 News page or our Virtual Field Office. Fiscal Notes is available online and can be received by subscribing via the Comptroller's website.

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