The survey, developed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has been deployed by utilities and electricity regulators in other jurisdictions to assist in the creation of grid reliability policies and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of grid infrastructure improvements.
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A statewide survey to determine the consumer costs of power outages will be conducted this spring by the Texas Public Utility Commission, the regulatory agency has announced.
The survey, developed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has been deployed by utilities and electricity regulators in other jurisdictions to assist in the creation of grid reliability policies and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of grid infrastructure improvements.
“As we develop this next stage of reliability policy and consider what infrastructure improvements are necessary to meet growth in demand, it’s critical we hear directly from Texas consumers and understand their individual needs and financial considerations,” PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson said in a March 26 release.
Find definitions for ERCOT related terms in TCCFUI’s regulatory glossary.
statewide survey to determine the consumer costs of power outages will be conducted this spring by the Texas Public Utility Commission, the regulatory agency has announced.
The survey, developed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has been deployed by utilities and electricity regulators in other jurisdictions to assist in the creation of grid reliability policies and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of grid infrastructure improvements.
“As we develop this next stage of reliability policy and consider what infrastructure improvements are necessary to meet growth in demand, it’s critical we hear directly from Texas consumers and understand their individual needs and financial considerations,” PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson said in a March 26 release.
According to information provided by the PUC, randomly selected residential, commercial, and large industrial electricity consumers in the ERCOT region began receiving email requests to participate in the survey beginning on March 26. Those who agree to participate will receive a survey that includes questions about their electricity use, and that calls upon them to estimate the financial impact of power interruptions. The survey is voluntary, and responses will be submitted anonymously, according to the agency.
THE BACKGROUND
The PUC instructed the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to conduct the survey as part of a larger study to estimate the value of electric reliability in the ERCOT region, which analysts refer to as the Value of Lost Load, or VOLL. Analysts will include the survey results with data from other sources to calculate a VOLL specific to the ERCOT region. As such, the survey results will assist the PUC as it develops various new market design initiatives, including a reliability standard specific to the ERCOT region. Determining an ERCOT-specific VOLL also will help the PUC gauge the cost-effectiveness of infrastructure improvements proposed by transmission and distribution utilities. ERCOT contracted with two consulting firms — Brattle Group and PlanBeyond — to conduct the survey.
Additional information about the survey and a Frequently Asked Questions resource are available on the PUCT’s website, at this link. Consumers can also contact the PUCT’s Consumer Protection Division at consumer@puc.texas.gov or 1-888-782-8477 for more information.