Does Texas run on its own electrical grid?
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
By Eric Smith
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YES
There are three electricity-distribution networks serving the contiguous 48 states, one in the East, one in the West and one for Texas. The Texas grid is called ERCOT, and it is run by an agency of the same name, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. ERCOT provides power for around 90% of the state; relatively remote parts of the state, like El Paso and the Upper Panhandle, are still part of the other grids.
Texas has avoided interstate distribution arrangements in order to avoid federal oversight of its utilities. The federal government began to regulate interstate electricity distribution in 1935. In 1970, ERCOT was formed as a single system within Texas after a series of blackouts hit other parts of the U.S.
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