News Round-Up: June 2026

TELECOM AND BROADBAND NEWS

Fierce Network: Telecom Act at 30: How deregulation reshaped telecom
June 24 —February 8, 2026 marked 30 years since the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the first major overhaul of U.S. communications law since 1934. Designed to deregulate the industry and open markets to competition, the legislation aimed to break up entrenched monopolies and lower costs for consumers.
https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/telecom-act-30-how-deregulation-reshaped-telecom

Streamable: Streamers defeat Texas cities in court in broadband fees case
June 24 — Disney streamers and Netflix have beaten back a proposed fee sought by 31 Texas municipalities
https://thestreamable.com/disney-netflix-win-appeal-texas-broadband-fees-court

Benton Institute: A Central Texas Library Closing the Digital Divide
June 23 — In Caldwell County (TX), some residents are still struggling to keep up in an increasingly digital world. With broadband access lagging behind neighboring metro counties, older residents in particular are feeling the strain. Now, the Martindale Community Library is stepping in to help close that gap.
https://www.benton.org/headlines/central-texas-library-closing-digital-divide

The City of San Antonio: Library Pilot Program Aims to Bridge Digital Divide
June 23 — The San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) is launching a new pilot program to provide free Wi-Fi Hotspots to residents in areas of the city where broadband access is limited. SAPL was awarded a $200,000 grant by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. to develop a Wi-Fi hotspot lending program to increase digital equity and provide better access to education, workforce development, and healthcare services online.
https://www.sa.gov/Directory/News-Releases/Library-Pilot-Program-Aims-to-Bridge-Digital-Divide

Competitive Enterprise Institute: The oasis in America’s affordability desert: Broadband gets faster while prices fall
June 24 — Broadband is becoming more affordable even as the quality of service continues to improve. In an economy where consumers often pay more for less, broadband stands out as a notable outlier.
https://cei.org/blog/the-oasis-in-americas-affordability-desert-broadband-gets-faster-while-prices-fall/

The Verge: Elon Musk and the plot to hijack America’s broadband
June 23 — At 9PM ET on the night of May 28th, a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket sat on the launchpad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The craft was in the middle of a hot-fire test awaiting the arrival of Amazon Leo satellites, the first of 24 batches to be shuttled into low Earth orbit for an ambitious satellite internet venture. The effort was backed by hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, leveraging a Biden-era law meant to address America’s digital divide.
https://www.theverge.com/policy/953944/bead-broadband-funding-trump-musk-bezos

The Hill: (Commentary) Affordable internet is a cost-of-living success story
June 22 — Broadband access is no small matter in our increasingly digital world, where high-speed internet is essential infrastructure for everyday work, education, healthcare, and social life. And unlike so many sectors where consumers have watched prices climb year after year, broadband has quietly become both faster and more affordable.
https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/5932080-internet-service-affordability-improves/

Broadband Breakfast: Senate Passes Bill Requiring Review of Broadband Funding Map
June 22 — Measure would require FCC and GAO reviews of federal tool used to track broadband deployment spending.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/senate-passes-bill-requiring-review-of-broadband-funding-map/

Benton Institute: Walking Away from BEAD
June 22 — The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has released all but four states to begin signing Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment contracts with grant winners. NTIA has still not approved the grant proposals from California and Illinois.
https://www.benton.org/headlines/walking-away-bead

Benton Institute: Data centers become the face of AI backlash
June 22 — Only a small fraction of data center opponents actually live near one, according to new polling by a consulting firm that counsels leading AI labs and tech startups. The findings by Milltown Partners highlight how data centers have become a stand-in for broader anger at an AI future many Americans don’t want but fear they’ll have to pay for.
https://www.benton.org/headlines/data-centers-become-face-ai-backlash

Inside Towers: Senate Approves Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Broadband Funding Map Oversight
June 22 — The legislation aims to ensure federal broadband funding is accurately tracked and directed to communities most in need while preventing duplicate spending. It requires the FCC to review the map’s accuracy and usability and directs the Government Accountability Office to assess whether federal agencies are reporting broadband funding data correctly.
https://insidetowers.com/senate-approves-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-broadband-funding-map-oversight/

Street Insider: Nextlink expands Aviat Networks deal for rural broadband buildout
June 22 — The deployment is tied to Nextlink’s participation in the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, for which the company has secured more than $180 million in funding. Nextlink has also previously received $429.2 million through the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). The company recently activated what it described as the first wireless tower funded under the BEAD program.
https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Nextlink+expands+Aviat+Networks+deal+for+rural+broadband+buildout/26670903.html

Benton Institute: A New Blueprint for Digital Equity Policy
June 18 — Moving beyond the scarcity framework that has constrained digital equity efforts requires embracing one that better recognizes the wealth of knowledge, relationships, and soft resources already present within marginalized communities.
https://www.benton.org/blog/new-blueprint-digital-equity-policy

Governing Magazine: States Have Broadband Money. Now They Need Workers.
June 18 — Federal funding is flowing, but many states lack enough trained workers to build and maintain broadband infrastructure.
https://www.governing.com/infrastructure/states-have-broadband-money-now-they-need-workers

Fierce Network: America’s AI ambitions have a broadband problem
June 18 — The U.S. wants to lead the world in AI. It wants AI-powered industries, AI-powered healthcare, AI-powered government services and AI-driven economic growth. Yet the networks that must support that future remain unfinished, unevenly distributed and increasingly entangled in political uncertainty.
https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/americas-ai-ambitions-have-broadband-problem

Broadband Breakfast: (Commentary) The Connection is Coming. The Question is Whether We’re Ready.
June 18 — From education to healthcare, the ripple effects on our economy and daily lives will be monumental. But there’s a catch.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/tom-ferree-the-connection-is-coming-the-question-is-whether-were-ready/

Benton Institute: NTIA Announces Two New Funding Opportunities to Expand Broadband Connectivity on Tribal Lands
June 17 —The National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the Department of Commerce announced two new notices of funding opportunity: one for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program and one for the Native Entities Grant Program, the native entity set-aside under the Digital Equity Act.
https://www.benton.org/headlines/ntia-announces-two-new-funding-opportunities-expand-broadband-connectivity-tribal-lands

Telecompetitor: Rise Internet announces start of construction in Texas communities
June 16 — Over the past year, Rise has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to strengthen and expand its network to ensure it delivers the speed, reliability, and value that households depend on today and for years to come. These investments reflect the ongoing commitment to provide a best-in-class internet experience for current and future customers.
https://www.telecompetitor.com/rise-internet-announces-start-of-construction-in-texas-communities/

Pew: How States Can Address Broadband Worker Shortages
June 16 — After several years of planning, states and territories are receiving final approval of their plans for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a federal initiative that aims to connect all Americans to high-speed internet.
https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2026/06/16/how-states-can-address-broadband-worker-shortages

Telecompetitor: LOGIX announces Texas long-haul route as demand drives more network expansion
June 16 — LOGIX said that its network spans more than 300,000 fiber miles and connects to thousands of enterprise locations and more than 80 data centers in the Lonestar State.
https://www.telecompetitor.com/logix-announces-texas-long-haul-route-as-demand-drives-more-network-expansion/

Broadband Breakfast: Companies Might Consider Nonpayment After Supreme Court Upheld FCC Fine Powers, say experts
June 15 — The Supreme Court upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to issue fines earlier this month. But companies might weigh nonpayment as an option going forward, according to experts and analysts.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/companies-might-consider-nonpayment-after-supreme-court-upheld-fcc-fine-powers-experts/

Communications Daily: NTIA Believes BEAD Will Be the Last Broadband Deployment Program the US Needs
June 15 — NTIA sees the current BEAD program as the “last broadband subsidy program” the U.S. will need, said David Brodian, the agency’s chief counsel, during an FCBA webinar Thursday. Brodian’s comments were at odds with those from other officials who questioned whether the current program will lead to universal coverage.
https://communicationsdaily.com/article/2026/06/15/ntia-believes-bead-will-be-the-last-broadband-deployment-program-the-us-needs-2606120047?BC=bc_6a2cbbf008659

JD Supra: FCC Seeks Comment on Whether Certified States Are Effectively Regulating Pole Attachments
June 15 — Under Section 224 of the Communications Act, the FCC regulates the rates, terms, and conditions of pole attachments unless a state certifies under 224(c) that it regulates those matters itself. Twenty‑three states and the District of Columbia have filed such certifications, which allow them to assume jurisdiction over pole attachment regulation within their borders.
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/fcc-seeks-comment-on-whether-certified-6481940/

Broadband Breakfast: One Year After DOGE Cuts, Cybersecurity Agency Struggles Over Staffing
June 13 — Lawmakers and experts question whether the federal government’s cyber defense agency can recover from losing roughly one-third of its workforce.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/one-year-after-doge-cuts-cybersecurity-agency-struggles-over-staffing/

Broadband Breakfast: NTIA Defends BEAD Pole Rules
June 12 — The Commerce Department wants to expand federal pole attachment rules as part of its flagship broadband grant program. Electric cooperatives, which are usually exempt from the regime, aren’t happy about it.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/ntia-defends-bead-pole-rules/

Davis Wright Tremaine: FCC Seeks Comment on Whether Certified States Are Effectively Regulating Pole Attachments
June 12 — Reverse-preempted states must “effectively and clearly regulate pole attachments” and facilitate “faster and cheaper” broadband deployment or face possible revocation of their certification to regulate.
https://www.dwt.com/blogs/broadband-advisor/2026/06/fcc-certified-state-pole-attachment-regulation

Communications Workers of America: Statement on Elon Musk’s SpaceX IPO
June 12 — Musk’s Starlink, which is a part of SpaceX, successfully lobbied the federal government to redirect funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act’s $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to subsidize satellite broadband, an inferior technology compared to fiber-to-the-home, which leaves rural communities behind.
https://cwa-union.org/news/releases/cwa-statement-elon-musks-spacex-ipo

Broadband Breakfast: FCC Taking a Look at State Pole Attachment Laws
June 11 — An inquiry asked how the agency could make state rules ‘more transparent and effective’
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/fcc-taking-a-look-at-state-pole-attachment-laws/

Broadband Breakfast: Lawmakers Press Commerce over Withholding of Billions in Broadband Funds
June 11 — House Democrats dispute characterization of $21 billion in unspent funds as ‘taxpayer savings.’
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/lawmakers-press-commerce-over-withholding-of-billions-in-broadband-funds/

Benton Institute: FCC Working with States to Facilitate High-Speed Broadband Deployment and Effective Pole Attachment Regulation
June 11 — While the FCC has taken significant steps in recent years to accelerate the buildout of next-generation infrastructure on which high-speed broadband deployment depends, including through targeted changes to its pole attachment rules, such actions pertaining to pole attachments may not apply in the 23 states and the District of Columbia that have certified to the FCC that they regulate pole attachments in their jurisdictions and have thus reverse-preempted FCC jurisdiction.
https://www.benton.org/headlines/fcc-working-states-facilitate-high-speed-broadband-deployment-and-effective-pole

Broadband Breakfast: Conference of Mayors Urges Congress to Reject American Broadband Deployment Act
June 11 — Resolution warns that the legislation would limit local oversight of broadband deployment and public rights-of-way.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/conference-of-mayors-urges-congress-to-reject-american-broadband-deployment-act/

Broadband Communities: BEAD delays continue to frustrate but how’d we get here?
June 10 — This month officially marks three months since NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth postponed a planned release of guidance about the program’s non-deployment funds, which would direct states and territories how to spend more than $20 billion of the BEAD program’s $42.45 billion that was not spent on broadband deployment.
https://bbcmag.com/bead-delays-continue-to-frustrate-but-howd-we-get-here/

Davis Wright Tremaine: FCC Proposes National Standards for Wireline Access to Rights-of-Way
June 10 — The FCC’s draft NPRM in its Section 253 wireline docket proposes nationwide timelines and cost-based limits for rights-of-way approvals, fees, and in-kind requirements that could significantly affect fiber and other wireline network construction
https://www.dwt.com/blogs/broadband-advisor/2026/06/fcc-wireline-rights-of-way-standards-nprm

Rio Grande Guardian: Cardenas: When it comes to fiber optic, the Rio Grande Valley has to think regionally
June 9 — The lightning-fast fiber optic broadband Brownsville now enjoys could and should be extended across the Rio Grande Valley.
https://riograndeguardian.com/stories/cardenas-when-it-comes-to-fiber-optic-the-rio-grande-valley-has-to-think-regionally,71072

Broadband Breakfast: House Dems’ Bill Would Provide Broadband Discounts in Public Housing
June 9 — The Department of Housing and Urban development would cover up to the lowest cost broadband plan available in the area.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/house-dems-bill-would-provide-broadband-discounts-in-public-housing/

Rio Grande Guardian: Cardenas: When it comes to fiber optic, the Rio Grande Valley has to think regionally
June 9 — The lightning-fast fiber optic broadband Brownsville now enjoys could and should be extended across the Rio Grande Valley.
https://riograndeguardian.com/stories/rgv-broadband-coalition-holds-workshop-in-weslaco,71072

Broadband Breakfast: One Year After BEAD Restructured, Some States Still Can’t Access Infrastructure Funding
June 9 — Despite federal promises to accelerate deployment, states are still waiting on approvals to access broadband funds.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/one-year-after-bead-restructured-some-states-still-cant-access-infrastructure-funding/

Ars Technica: Starlink charges $10 monthly hardware fee in move away from one-time purchases
June 9 — Starlink residential ordering pages now show an upfront hardware cost of $0 and a monthly kit fee of $10, similar to the hardware rental fees long charged by cable and telecom companies. Starlink hardware includes a terminal to receive satellite signals and a router to place in a user’s home.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/06/starlink-takes-page-from-cable-firms-with-10-monthly-rental-fee-for-hardware/

Fierce Network: AT&T CFO addresses ‘elephant’ in the room: SpaceX
June 9 — Appearing at the Mizuho Technology Conference in New York this morning, AT&T CFO Pascal Desroches was asked about what some may call the “elephant in the room,” i.e., SpaceX’s increasingly aggressive moves to chip away at the broadband market.
https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/att-cfo-addresses-elephant-room-spacex

Fierce Network: Amazon and Corning announce multi-billion-dollar deal for fiber supply
June 9 — The demand for fiber optic supply is reaching a fever pitch as hyperscalers scramble to keep pace with predicted demand for AI and data center capacity. Today, Amazon has announced a multi-billion-dollar deal to expand fiber supply manufacturing in North Carolina. This is on top of its existing $10 billion investment in North Carolina to expand cloud computing infrastructure announced last year.
https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/amazon-and-corning-announce-multibillion-dollar-deal-fiber-supply

Roll Call: Supreme Court sides with FCC power in forfeiture process
June 4 — The 8-1 decision found that the FCC’s forfeiture process does not run afoul of the Constitution because it requires going to court for enforcement. The opinion cuts against a series of recent decisions from the conservative-controlled high court that had rolled back the authority of federal agencies.
https://rollcall.com/2026/06/04/supreme-court-sides-with-fcc-power-in-forfeiture-process/

Fierce Network: (Commentary) Rural innovation is just beginning, thanks to broadband
June 4 — In today’s interconnected world where American competitiveness on the global stage turns more than ever on the nationwide quality and capability of connections, “good enough” isn’t good enough when it comes to internet access, whether at home, at work or on the go. A robust, reliable and affordable broadband connection is a necessity to participate in an increasingly online world.
https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/opinion-rural-innovation-agenda-just-beginning-thanks-rural-broadband

Fierce Network: Ericsson cranks out massive MIMO radios at its Texas factory
June 3 — Even though Ericsson executives indicated on their most recent earnings call that the company plans to put less focus on its U.S. wireless business, the Swedish vendor’s manufacturing plant in Lewisville, Texas, is humming along at full speed.
https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/ericsson-cranks-out-massive-mimo-radios-its-texas-factory

Broadband Communities: FCC eyes concrete steps to streamline broadband deployments
June 3 — Chairman Brendan Carr, who has been spearheading a broader deregulation effort during his chairmanship, is behind the new proposal.
https://bbcmag.com/fcc-eyes-concrete-steps-to-streamline-broadband-deployments/

Rio Grande Guardian: A community’s negotiating power is at its highest before a date center developer has secured a permit
June 2 — The Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition discussed AI data centers and public benefit agreements at a recent workshop in Weslaco.
https://riograndeguardian.com/stories/rgvbc-a-communitys-negotiating-power-is-at-its-highest-before-a-date-center-developer-has,71502

Rio Grande Guardian: RGV Broadband Coalition discusses what communities should ask for from data center developers
June 2 — Part of the workshop featured a discussion on what communities should ask for before allowing hyperscale data center developers to build in their area. RGV Broadband Coalition Director Jordana Barton-Garcia moderated the discussion.
https://riograndeguardian.com/stories/rgv-broadband-coalition,71501

Benton Institute: AI is going to transform our networks
June 1 — There are a lot of unanswered questions about AI and telecommunications, but one thing is for certain—AI is going to change networks. For starters, inferencing traffic behaves differently.
https://www.benton.org/headlines/ai-going-transform-our-networks

Broadband Breakfast: Justice Department Advises FCC to Strengthen Lifeline Verification
June 1 — Opinion arrives as FCC reviews changes to enrollment procedures, including federal database checks.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/justice-department-advises-fcc-to-strengthen-lifeline-verification/

Route Fifty: Federal broadband policy is increasingly being recast around satellite
June 1 — Another federal broadband subsidy may soon be restructured to account for the growing role of SpaceX’s Starlink.
https://www.route-fifty.com/infrastructure/2026/06/federal-broadband-policy-increasingly-being-recast-around-satellite/413878/?oref=rf-homepage-river

Broadband Breakfast: Electric Co-ops Finding BEAD Rules Onerous, Especially on Poles
May 29 — Local electric cooperatives are finding some rules for a $42.45 billion broadband grant program difficult to navigate, they told reporters Thursday.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/electric-co-ops-finding-bead-rules-onerous-especially-on-poles/

Benton Institute: The Digital Divide Grows Wider Unless We Take Action
May 28 — If the U.S. wants to lead in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, we need a connected, digitally skilled public. Building infrastructure is only half the equation—people need the tools, training and support to actually use it.
https://www.benton.org/headlines/digital-divide-grows-wider-unless-we-take-action

ELECTRIC UTILITY AND ERCOT NEWS

Utility Dive: Texas landowners seek pause in $2B, 765-kV transmission line case over notice concerns
June 25 — The Permian Basin power line request says property owners were not properly notified after route changes. The build-out is tied to growing ERCOT grid needs.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-landowners-transmission-line-puc-oncor-lcra/823657/

KPRC TV: Check your zip code: Houston power outages surge after months of progress
June 24 — New data from Whisker Labs shows Houston had more power outages than any other city in the country in May, reversing months of improvement and raising fresh questions about CenterPoint Energy’s multi-billion-dollar infrastructure upgrades.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/06/24/centerpoint-energy-outages-spike-in-may-after-months-of-improvement/

Renewable Energy World: Can ERCOT’s new ‘Batch Zero’ process alleviate the burden of 438,000 MW of large load requests?
June 24 — The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) recently approved ERCOT’s Batch Zero process for large-user connection requests, which ERCOT says is meant to ensure large electricity users like data centers “only connect in quantities and locations the Texas grid can reliably support.”
https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/energy-business/policy-and-regulation/can-ercots-new-batch-zero-process-alleviate-the-burden-of-438000-mw-of-large-load-requests/

Office of the Texas Governor: (Press Release) Governor Abbott Announces Texas Energy Fund Loan For 860 MW Of New Power In West Texas
June 24 — Governor Greg Abbott today announced the eighth Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) loan for 860 megawatts (MW) of new, reliable power in Ward County, enough electricity to power approximately 215,000 Texas homes. Vistra is building the project, which consists of two new natural gas units at its Permian Basin Power Plant, more than tripling the site’s current capacity.
https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-texas-energy-fund-loan-for-860-mw-of-new-power-in-west-texas

American Public Power Association: Texas Governor Announces Texas Energy Fund Loan For 860 MW Of New Power In West Texas
June 24 — Vistra is building the project, which consists of two new natural gas units at its Permian Basin Power Plant, more than tripling the site’s current capacity.
https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/texas-governor-announces-texas-energy-fund-loan-860-mw-new-power-west-texas

The Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: Why PJM is looking at the Texas grid
June 23 — ERCOT made a choice years ago that most of the country is now reconsidering. Texas runs an energy-only market with no capacity payments, connects generation through connect-and-manage, sorts out delivery in dispatch, and pushes interconnection risk onto developers. That design is a big part of why Texas has added generation faster than any other U.S. grid.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/why-pjm-is-looking-at-the-texas-grid

Daily Energy Insider: Public Utility Commission of Texas approves ERCOT’s new process for large connections
June 23 — The new batch framework groups qualified large projects that are 75 megawatts (MW) and greater into a single study. This will allow ERCOT to assess the full picture of future electricity demand at once, allocate available grid capacity fairly, and identify needed transmission upgrades.
https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/52762-public-utility-commission-of-texas-approves-ercots-new-process-for-large-connections/

Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: A Tale of Three Performance Reviews
June 23 — The three reports tell a consistent story of progress and continued growth. ERCOT had a strong operating year in 2025. The grid operator continued implementing major state policy priorities and avoided emergency conditions. Together, the reports provide a framework for how Texas can continue to maintain reliability without undermining the market signals needed to support long-term investment.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/a-tale-of-three-performance-reviews

Natural Gas Intelligence: Renewables Roaring Back in ERCOT as Natural Gas Generation Softens
June 23 — A sharp week/week increase in renewable generation could take a substantial bite out of natural gas power burn in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market this week, even as overall power load climbs.
https://www.naturalgasintel.com/news/renewables-roaring-back-in-ercot-as-natural-gas-generation-softens/

American Public Power Association: Texas PUC Enters Agreement for Fifth Texas Energy Fund Completion Bonus Grant
June 23 — The Public Utility Commission of Texas on June 23 entered into the fifth agreement under the Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) Completion Bonus Grant (CBG) Program, with Tejas Power Generation, LLC, a subsidiary of Shell Energy North America (US) L.P.
https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/texas-puc-enters-agreement-fifth-texas-energy-fund-completion-bonus-grant

Data Center Dynamics: Texas PUC approves ERCOT’s new grid connection rules for large load users
June 22 — Under the new framework, projects will enter a batch, with ERCOT studying the eligible projects to determine grid needs and capacity. Subsequently, transmission capacity will be allocated based on what the grid can support, with ERCOT then developing and publishing a transmission plan identifying necessary upgrades.
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/texas-puc-approves-ercots-new-grid-connection-rules-for-large-load-users/

E&E News: Meta Solar Deal Expands Sabanci’s Texas Solar Pipeline Plans
June 23 — Under the agreement, Meta will purchase 100% of the environmental attributes from Sabanci Renewables’ Lucky 7 and Pepper solar projects. The projects together represent 220 MWac, or 286 MWdc, of planned solar capacity in the ERCOT market.
https://environmentenergyleader.com/stories/meta-solar-deal-expands-sabancis-texas-solar-pipeline-plans,130805

Utility Dive: Texas, facing 438 GW queue, approves initial large-load interconnection process
June 22 — The first projects to navigate the process will be called “Batch Zero.” The Electric Reliability Council of Texas says its large-load queue is almost 90% data centers.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-facing-438-gw-queue-approves-initial-large-load-interconnection-pro/823367/

Business Wire: (Press Release) Dataprana acquires 92 MW in Houston-metro for planned AI development
June 23 — As demand for AI infrastructure continues to outpace available power, Dataprana (“Dataprana” or “the Company”) announced that it has secured two sites in the Houston-metro area, with a combined capacity of 92 megawatts (MW). Both parcels are expected to be energized within 12 months, creating an ideal opportunity for operators seeking near-term deployment.
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/dataprana-acquires-92-mw-in-houston-metro-for-planned-ai-development-1036268078

KWTX: Texas state legislators sign off on motion to pause major power line project set to cut through Bell County
June 22 — More than 40 state legislators have joined together demanding a comprehensive review of the proposed 765kV power lines projected to stretch through Bell County, while Oncor is publicly defending the project and the regulatory process behind it.
https://www.kwtx.com/2026/06/23/more-than-40-state-legislators-sign-off-motion-pause-major-power-line-project-set-cut-through-bell-county/F

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Plans to upgrade Oncor substation in Fort Worth progress
June 22 — A plan to upgrade and expand an Oncor substation in southeast Fort Worth is moving forward, records show.
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article316220686.html

San Antonio Express-News: (Commentary) Abbott data center order faces legal limits
June 21 — Gov. Greg Abbott gave Texas regulators a month to propose new rules to stop data centers from driving up electricity and water bills for average Texans, but his order is little more than a campaign stunt and cannot change the state’s complicated utility laws.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/san-antonio-express-news-sunday/20260621/281968909397414

Austin American-Statesman: Abbott data center order faces legal limits
June 21 — Gov. Greg Abbott gave Texas regulators a month to propose new rules to stop data centers from driving up electricity and water bills for average Texans, but his order is little more than a campaign stunt and cannot change the state’s complicated utility laws.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/austin-american-statesman/20260621/283094190828342

The Invading Sea: Blackout risks are rising – why neighboring power grids can’t just send extra electricity where it’s needed
June 21 — Beyond the immediate human and economic toll, major blackouts like these often leave behind the same unsettling contrast: One region goes dark while nearby places still have power.
https://www.theinvadingsea.com/2026/06/21/blackouts-extreme-weather-power-grid-hardening-interconnections-electricity-hurricanes/

Binance Square: Texas Targets Data Center Grid Costs as 6.5 GW of Capacity Is Built
June 20 — Texas has about 6.5 gigawatts of data center capacity under construction as Governor Greg Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to shift more grid-related costs toward data center operators.
https://www.binance.com/en-PH/square/post/06-20-2026-texas-targets-data-center-grid-costs-as-6-5-gw-of-capacity-is-built-336180619782177

Sweetwater Reporter: PUCT Approves New ERCOT Process to Manage Electricity Requests from Data Centers, Large Power Users
June 20 — The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) today approved changes to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ (ERCOT) process for evaluating requests from data centers and other large power users seeking to connect to the Texas grid. The new process more effectively manages the rapid growth in grid interconnection requests while ensuring electric reliability for Texas homes and businesses.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/sweetwater-reporter/20260620/281487873057525

The Cross Timbers Gazette: Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth on Denton’s two data center projects
June 20 — These days, it can be difficult to turn on the news without hearing these two words: Data Centers. With two data centers under development in Denton, Core Scientific and Qumulus, it’s understandable that our community has questions about how these facilities will interact with our electric and water systems.
https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2026/06/20/hudspeth-dentons-two-data-center-projects/https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2026/06/20/hudspeth-dentons-two-data-center-projects/

Dallas Morning News: Thousands across North Texas without power amid Juneteenth thunderstorms
June 19 —Over 40,000 Oncor customers are without power across Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant and Wise counties, according to the company’s outage map. The company is reporting over 943 power outages across the region.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/thousands-across-north-texas-without-134736681.html

KVUE: Texas greenlights ERCOT’s new grid process for large electricity users like data centers
June 19 — Under the framework, projects will enter a batch, ERCOT will study eligible projects to assess grid needs and capacity, and transmission capacity will be allocated based on what the grid can support. ERCOT will then develop and publish a transmission plan identifying necessary upgrades, allowing large users to connect while maintaining reliability for homes, businesses and communities.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/texas-greenlights-ercots-new-grid-process-for-large-electricity-users-like-data-centers/ar-AA25ZEQX?

The Texan: ERCOT Discusses ‘Batch Zero’ Study at Large Load Meeting Following PUC Approval
June 19 —ERCOT’s Batch Zero structure simultaneously studies proposed projects that hope to connect to Texas’ ever-popular electricity grid. On Thursday, ERCOT reported that they are currently tracking more than 438,000 megawatts of “new connection requests from large users,” and that nearly 90 percent of those requests come from data centers.
https://thetexan.news/issues/energy/ercot-discusses-batch-zero-study-at-large-load-meeting-following-puc-approval/article_9879057b-cc55-4c61-9d24-bf3c6a2d51b6.html

BIC Magazine: Texas regulators pass plan to manage massive power use by data centers
June 19 — The new process more effectively manages the rapid growth in grid interconnection requests while ensuring electric reliability for Texas homes and businesses. “Texas is leading the nation in developing innovative solutions for the rapid growth in electricity demand from data centers and other large power users,” PUCT Chairman Thomas Gleeson said.
https://www.bicmagazine.com/industry/regulations/texas-regulators-pass-plan-to-manage-massive-power-use-data-centers/

WFAA: Texas officials change how ERCOT evaluates data center requests
June 19 — Officials say the new process is meant to be more efficient.
https://www.wfaa.com/video/news/state/texas-officials-change-how-ercot-evaluates-data-center-requests/287-6d50a0ce-8eeb-4c62-ba43-4ea999925a16

Inside Climate New: Federal Regulators Tell Electric Grid Operators to Fix Their Rules on Data Centers
June 18 — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission stops short of fulfilling the Trump administration’s wishes but puts regional grid operators on a “short leash.”
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/18062026/federal-energy-regulatory-commission-data-center-orders/

KRWG Public Media: New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to host public comment hearing on El Paso Electric rate change
June 18 — The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission will hold a public comment hearing at The Doña Ana Government Center on Monday June 22 to discuss a possible rate increase for El Paso Electric. KRWG’s Noah Raess spoke with former New Mexico State Senator and former New Mexico Public Commissioner Stephan Fischmann.
https://www.krwg.org/krwg-news/2026-06-18/public-regulation-commission-to-host-public-comment-hearing-on-el-paso-electric-rate-change

Houston Public Media: Salt from Tropical Storm Arthur triggers power problems for thousands in Galveston
June 18 — City of Galveston officials said the outages happened after CenterPoint equipment was impacted by salt from Tropical Storm Arthur. Officials said crews might need to turn off power to upgrade or repair their equipment from the storm, but customers will be notified ahead of time.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/galveston/2026/06/18/554964/salt-from-tropical-storm-arthur-triggers-power-outages-for-11000-galveston-customers/

ERCOT: (News Release): PUCT Approves ERCOT’s Batch Zero Process for Connecting Large Electricity Users While Protecting System Reliability for Texans
June 18 — The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) today approved ERCOT’s Batch Zero process for large-user connection requests, ensuring large electricity users like data centers only connect in quantities and locations the Texas grid can reliably support. ERCOT is the first Independent System Operator (ISO) in the nation to use a batch process to assess large electricity users wanting to connect to the grid.
https://www.ercot.com/news/release/06182026-puct-approves-ercots

KVUE: Texas greenlights ERCOT’s new grid process for large electricity users like data centers
June 18 —The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) on Thursday approved the Electric Reliabilty Council of Texas’ (ERCOT) “Batch Zero” process, a new framework designed to ensure large electricity users connect to parts of the grid that can fully support their demand.
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-ercot-grid-large-electricity-data-centers-puc/269-172357d5-5ad3-4d10-95ce-92a0c6430366

Houston Public Media: Public Utility Commission of Texas finalizes new data center standards
June 18 — The state’s grid operators are trying to sort through a backlog of data centers and other large energy consumers looking to connect to the grid.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2026/06/18/554972/public-utility-commission-of-texas-finalizes-new-data-center-standards/

Texas Scorecard: Public Utility Commissioners Deny Request for Hearing on Extra-High-Voltage Routes
June 18 — Critics have argued that the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and electricity delivery company Oncor transformed a regional reliability directive into a de facto statewide 765‑kV grid plan without an explicit vote by state lawmakers. A pro-landowner group likened the project “to hauling water to the sea.”
https://texasscorecard.com/state/public-utility-commissioners-deny-request-for-hearing-on-extra-high-voltage-routes/

E&E News: Texas slows electric transmission review process
June 18 — The state Public Utility Commission moved Wednesday to push back a decision on a project that would cut through rural areas.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/texas-slows-electric-transmission-review-process/

KXAN: Texas regulators put massive transmission line project decision on hold
June 18 — The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Wednesday delayed action on a proposed route for a new 765-kilovolt transmission line in West Texas, putting one of the state’s first ultra-high-voltage transmission projects on pause.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-regulators-put-massive-transmission-line-project-decision-on-hold/ar-AA25TY2q?ocid=Peregrine

Texas Tribune: As data centers seek to tap Texas’ energy, grid regulators are close to approving a new way of vetting requests
June 17 —The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Thursday will weigh and vote on ERCOT’s proposal to streamline the power approval process for data centers.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/17/texas-ercot-data-center-energy-grid/

Daily Energy Insider: Entergy Texas nabs $200M in state funds for storm resilience efforts
June 17 — The company received the award through the Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) Outside‑ERCOT Grant Program, which will help bolster the grid for more than 538,000 customers. For communities that regularly face hurricanes, tropical storms, and other severe weather, the TxEF funding will permit Entergy Texas to move faster on its grid improvements without adding costs to customer bills, the company said.
https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/52706-entergy-texas-nabs-200m-in-state-funds-for-storm-resilience-efforts/

Houston Public Media: NRG Energy opens first new power plant in more than 10 years
June 17 —The Houston-based company received a $216 million loan from the state’s Texas Energy Fund
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2026/06/17/554798/nrg-power-plant-houston-texas-energy-fund/

Business Wire: (Press Release) ONE Nuclear Announces Strategic Collaboration with Sunshine Partners to Develop Joint Power Projects in West Texas
June 16 — The expansive portfolio, known as the “West Texas Platform,” spans five key counties within the ERCOT West market, representing a significant energy infrastructure development opportunity.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260616182991/en/ONE-Nuclear-Announces-Strategic-Collaboration-with-Sunshine-Partners-to-Develop-Joint-Power-Projects-in-West-Texas

Tech Policy: How State Utility Regulators Are Shaping AI Infrastructure Deployment
June 18 — State public utility commission (PUC) regulators are now active participants in shaping the deployment of AI infrastructure. As of early 2026, 27 states have legislation pending to govern how new large loads (a category that encompasses most modern data centers) are evaluated, priced, and connected to the electric grid.
https://www.techpolicy.press/how-state-utility-regulators-are-shaping-ai-infrastructure-deployment/

Texas Scorecard: Utility Commissioners Hit Pause on Extra-High-Voltage Line Case
June 17 — Commissioners will wait until administrative law judges offer their recommendation on the third of the five segments.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/utility-commissioners-hit-pause-on-extra-high-voltage-line-case/

Blockspace: Cipher Digital hires former ERCOT director Bill Blevins to lead grid strategy
June 16 — The hire places a senior grid-operations executive inside the AI infrastructure developer at a time when power-market access and load flexibility are among the hardest operational constraints faced by data centers in Texas.
https://finance.yahoo.com/energy/articles/cipher-digital-hires-former-ercot-120720897.html

Willkie: ERCOT Approves Implementing New “Batch Zero Process” for Large Load Interconnection
June 16 — On June 2, 2026, the ERCOT Board of Directors voted unanimously to recommend approval of Nodal Protocol Revision Request 1325 (“NPRR 1325”) and Planning Guide Revision Request 145 (“PGRR 145”),1 two filings that collectively establish the “Batch Zero Process” implementing a one-time, transitional framework ERCOT will use to evaluate qualifying Large Load interconnection requests on a system-wide basis.
https://www.willkie.com/-/media/files/publications/2026/06/ercot-approves-implementing-new-batch-zero-process-for-large-load-interconnections.pdf

KSST: Gov Abbott Celebrates $200M Grant to Improve East Texas Power Grid
June 16 — Governor Greg Abbott announced a massive $200 million grant funded by the Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) aimed at aggressively reinforcing electric reliability and weather resilience for more than 538,000 Entergy Texas customers across Southeast Texas.
https://www.ksstradio.com/2026/06/gov-abbott-celebrates-200m-grant-to-improve-east-texas-power-grid/

Sierra Club: Texas Transmission Series Part 1: The Future of Texas Electricity Demand
June 16 — This is if all the proposed data centers, AI facilities, crypto-mines, and other medium and large industrial loads came on-line. Realistically of course, not even ERCOT believes that 367 GWs of total demand could be on our system in 2032 because we don’t have either the generation to provide that level of power nor the transmission capacity to move that amount of power around the state, but it is still a startling “what if” prediction.
https://www.sierraclub.org/texas/blog/2026/06/texas-transmission-series-part-1-future-texas-electricity-demand

Texas Public Policy Foundation: Texas Legislators Urge PUC to Delay Vote on 765-kV Transmission Facilities
June 16 —The brief cites research from TPPF’s Life:Powered initiative which demonstrates that there are cost-effective alternatives to building these new transmission lines. TPPF notes that the 765-kV STEP would impose nearly $100 billion in lifetime costs on Texas ratepayers and result in irreversible property losses for thousands of landowners across the state.
https://www.texaspolicy.com/press/texas-legislators-urge-puc-to-delay-vote-on-765-kv-transmission-facilities

Texas Scorecard: Lawmakers Join Push to Pause Transmission Lines
June 16 — Forty-three state representatives and senators cite concerns about ratepayer costs and private property rights.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/lawmakers-join-push-to-pause-transmission-lines/

Simply Wall Street: Data Center-Driven Industrial Load Pipeline Might Change The Case For Investing In CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
June 16 — The company has disclosed more than 12 gigawatts of firmly committed industrial load and aims to energize 8 gigawatts of projects in Greater Houston by 2029, including 3.5 gigawatts already under construction, underscoring how data center and industrial demand are reshaping its growth profile.
https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/utilities/nyse-cnp/centerpoint-energy/news/data-center-driven-industrial-load-pipeline-might-change-the/amp

KPRC: Your electric bill is rising — here’s how CenterPoint Energy turns that into investor profit
June 15 — CenterPoint Energy made $1 billion in 2025; but the investor-owned utility says it doesn’t profit from the rates customers pay on their electric bills. If that’s true, how does the Fortune 500 company actually make money?
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/06/15/centerpoint-made-dollar1b-last-year-heres-how-it-profits-from-your-electric-bill/

Office of the Governor: Governor Abbott Announces $200 Million Grant For Electric Reliability In Southeast Texas
June 15 — Governor Greg Abbott today announced a Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) grant to strengthen electric reliability for more than 538,000 Entergy Texas customers in Southeast Texas. The grant will support Entergy Texas projects to strengthen power lines, upgrade utility poles, and better protect electric equipment from severe weather and flooding.
https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-200-million-grant-for-electric-reliability-in-southeast-texas

Crypto Briefing: PJM and ERCOT face grid connection requests exceeding US power capacity
June 15 — Bitcoin miners are classified as large flexible loads in ERCOT and have become active participants in curtailment programs, agreeing to power down during peak demand in exchange for grid access.
https://cryptobriefing.com/pjm-ercot-grid-requests-exceed-us-power-capacity/

Reuters: Most businesses expect operations to go electric by 2035, survey finds
June 14 — Most businesses expect their operations to be largely electrified by 2035 as they shift from fossil fuels, ‌a survey of corporate leaders from 18 countries released on Monday showed.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/most-businesses-expect-operations-go-electric-by-2035-survey-finds-2026-06-15/

The Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: New Rules for Data Centers
June 14 — ERCOT in the last two years received 519 requests to connect large electricity users, compared to 24 such requests the year before that, according to its records as of May.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/new-rules-for-data-centers-reading

Rio Grande Guardian: Hinojosa: Count on my vote to repeal the sales tax exemption for data centers
June 12 — Our residential electric bills should not be negatively impacted as a result of data center expansion. Many Texas families are already struggling with high fuel, food, medical, and other costs, and should not be asked to subsidize the infrastructure costs of data centers. If they want to do business in Texas, they should pay their own way.
https://riograndeguardian.com/stories/hinojosa-count-on-my-vote-to-repeal-the-sales-tax-exemption-for-data-centers,72755

GreentechLead: US Energy Costs Could Rise by $121 bn if New Solar and Wind Projects Are Restricted: CEBA Study
June 13 —The report highlights that U.S. households could face an additional $81.2 billion in combined electricity and natural gas costs over the seven-year period, equivalent to $11.6 billion annually. Commercial and industrial (C&I) customers are projected to incur another $40 billion in electricity costs, or approximately $5.7 billion per year.
https://greentechlead.com/power/us-energy-costs-could-rise-by-121-bn-if-new-solar-and-wind-projects-are-restricted-ceba-study-53728/amp

American Public Power Association: Texas Governor Announces that Natural Gas Units Totaling 456 MW Have Come Online
June 13 — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on June 10 announced that 456 megawatts of new, dispatchable natural gas power generation units at NRG Energy’s TH Wharton Generating Station in Houston have come online.
https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/texas-governor-announces-natural-gas-units-totaling-456-mw-have-come-online

Data Center Richness: Texas Outlines Sweeping Data Center Regulation Plan
June 13 — On Wednesday Gov. Greg Abbott called on the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT grid to take immediate steps to protect the state’s residents and electric infrastructure, while outlining a legislative agenda for data center regulation in 2027.
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/p/5-notable-data-center-links-june

Axios Houston: Texas grid braces for record summer demand
June 12 — The Texas power grid may experience record electricity demand this summer, per the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/06/12/texas-power-grid-summer-demand-ercot-forecast

KVUE: Texas Gov. Abbott calls for data center regulations
June 12 — Gov. Greg Abbott directed ERCOT, PUC to take immediate steps to protect Texans from having to pay electric costs related to data center expansion.
https://www.kvue.com/video/news/local/texas/texas-gov-abbott-calls-for-data-centers-regulations/269-c38828bb-03dd-436e-ac91-83077a64d77f

Daily Energy Insider: Sempra initiates new projects in Texas following ERCOT endorsement
June 12 — These and other high voltage upgrades in the southern Dallas–Fort Worth area endorsed by ERCOT are expected to require new investment of over $7 billion. When placed in service between 2026 and 2034, these projects will support approximately 16 gigawatts of new electric demand.
https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/52657-sempra-initiates-new-projects-in-texas-following-ercot-endorsement/

Spectrum News: Democrats hopeful their candidate can pull ahead in race for Texas Railroad CommissionerDemocrats hopeful their candidate can pull ahead in race for Texas Railroad Commissioner
June 11 — He’s running against Republican candidate Bo French, who drew heavy criticism from his own party for provocative social media posts and made anti-Muslim statements during most of his campaign thus far. The commission regulates and sets rules for the oil and gas industry, and Rosenthal wants to focus on the issues.
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2026/06/11/democrats-have-hope-in-race-for-texas-railroad-commissioner

NewsWest9: Gov. Greg Abbott speaks out about data center guidelines
June 11 — Gov. Abbott is urging the PUC and ERCOT to take action on data center growth. It will be a main topic of the next Legislative session.
https://www.newswest9.com/video/news/local/texas/gov-greg-abbott-speaks-out-about-data-center-guidelines/513-f97c332f-7535-4a7e-8caf-5362427a327c

Times Record News: Texas data center boom bringing new challenges
June 11 — Texas is seeing 248 planned data centers and 519 ERCOT grid requests. Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered protections for rates and water
https://www.timesrecordnews.com/videos/news/texasregion/2026/06/11/texas-data-center-boom-brings-new-challenges/90506834007/

Axios Houston: NRG Energy opens first new power plant in a decade
June 11 — A new natural gas plant in the Houston area is coming online for the Texas grid in time to meet the sweltering summer’s power demand, NRG announced this week.
https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/06/11/nrg-energy-opens-first-new-power-plant-in-a-decade

The Hill: Abbott seeks new limits on Texas data centers
June 11 — The Republican governor directed the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) on Wednesday to “take immediate steps” to safeguard state residents from economic ramifications resulting from these projects.
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5920754-abbott-texas-data-center-limits/

TCD: Texas grid slammed by 519 power-hungry AI data center requests in just two years
June 10 — Most of those requests reportedly came from data centers linked to the artificial intelligence boom. ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas framed it as “an unprecedented change in the pace of growth” in an interview with the publication.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/texas-grid-slammed-519-power-003400280.html

KXAN: Texas landowners fight massive transmission line project at Austin hearing
June 10 — The Bell County East to Big Hill 765-kV transmission project, proposed by Oncor and the Lower Colorado River Authority, is designed to move power across Texas and strengthen the state grid as demand rises from population growth, data centers and industrial expansion.
https://www.kxan.com/energy-crossroads/texas-landowners-fight-massive-transmission-line-project-at-austin-hearing/

KCBD: Texas utility commission launches resiliency webpage, Abbott orders data centers to fund own infrastructure
June 10 — System resiliency plans typically span multiple years and can include system and technical upgrades as well as operational improvements to prevent or reduce outages for customers.
https://www.kcbd.com/2026/06/11/texas-utility-commission-launches-resiliency-webpage-abbott-orders-data-centers-fund-own-infrastructure/

KBTX: Gov. Abbott orders data centers to pay own power grid costs as rural counties face limited authority
June 10 — Abbott ordered the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and ERCOT to ensure data centers pay their own infrastructure costs. He is also pledging to push the state legislature to repeal tax breaks for data centers and require them to reduce noise and community impacts.
https://www.kbtx.com/2026/06/10/gov-abbott-orders-data-centers-pay-own-power-grid-costs-rural-counties-face-limited-authority/

Fox44: Robinson PD: Scammers spotted posing as Oncor employees
June 10 — The Robinson Police Department says it has received reports of solicitors going door to door wearing reflective vests indicating they are with Oncor. There have also been several posts from residents about this.
https://www.fox44news.com/news/local-news/mclennan-county/robinson-pd-scammers-spotted-posing-as-oncor-employees/

Street Insider: Sempra subsidiary Oncor to construct majority of $7 billion Texas grid projects
June 10 — The estimated capital expenditures through 2030 for these new investments fall within Oncor’s previously identified $10 billion incremental capital opportunity beyond its base capital plan. Some investment is projected to extend beyond the current five-year planning period.
https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Sempra+subsidiary+Oncor+to+construct+majority+of+%247+billion+Texas+grid+projects/26626835.html

Simply Wall Street: Is Activist Push For Oncor Spin Off And New Debt Deal Altering The Investment Case For Sempra
June 10 — To own Sempra, you need to believe in the long-term value of regulated utility and infrastructure assets in California and Texas, despite regulatory, wildfire and capital-intensity pressures. The Voss Capital campaign to spin off Oncor, alongside Sempra’s new US$1,000,000,000 floating-rate note due 2028, does not yet change the key near-term catalyst around how management prioritizes capital across utilities and LNG, or the central risk from potential regulatory and wildfire-related outcomes in California.
https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/utilities/nyse-sre/sempra/news/is-activist-push-for-oncor-spin-off-and-new-debt-deal-alteri/amp

Sempra: Sempra Announces New Growth Opportunities in Texas
June 10 — Sempra today announced new developments in Texas relating to last week’s endorsement by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) of several new transmission projects serving the southern Dallas–Fort Worth area and the I-35 corridor. Together with a series of other high voltage upgrades in the southern Dallas-Fort Worth area endorsed by ERCOT in April, these projects are expected to require new investment of over $7 billion.
https://www.sempra.com/newsroom/press-releases/sempra-announces-new-growth-opportunities-texas#

Texas Tribune: Abbott recommends sweeping data center regulation, including eliminating sales tax exemption
June 10 — The recommendations for legislative action amount to a striking call for industry regulation by the Republican governor in a state that has long prided itself on being a favorable environment for business.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/10/texas-greg-abbott-data-centers-regulation-sales-tax/

Houston Public Media: Gov. Greg Abbott calls for Texas energy regulators to rein in data centers
June 10 — The governor said the PUCT and ERCOT must take steps to prevent the cost of data center infrastructure from being passed on to electricity customers.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2026/06/10/554138/data-center-texas-energy-grid-electricity-regulation-greg-abbott/?amp=1

The Texan: Abbott Issues Directive to ERCOT, Public Utility Commission to Control Rising Data Center Costs
June 10 — As data centers expand readily in the state, Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to take steps to ensure that “residential electric bills are not negatively affected.”
https://thetexan.news/issues/energy/abbott-issues-directive-to-ercot-public-utility-commission-to-control-rising-data-center-costs/article_85be0409-65c1-4abe-a4eb-5e8e0b9675c0.html

KVUE: Texas Gov. Abbott pushes PUC, ERCOT to block data center costs from ratepayers
June 10 — In a letter to Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Thomas Gleeson and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) CEO Pablo Vegas, Abbott called for requiring data centers to fully fund the electric infrastructure needed for their operations, rather than passing those costs on to residential customers.
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-abbott-puc-ercot-data-centers/269-3788a3a5-ed74-4802-b758-816ae6f76441

Office of the Governor: Governor Abbott Directs PUC And ERCOT To Shield Texans From Data Center Infrastructure Costs
June 10 — Governor Greg Abbott today directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to take immediate steps to protect residential ratepayers from the costs of data center expansion.
https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-directs-puc-and-ercot-to-shield-texans-from-data-center-infrastructure-costs

KPRC: Will Houston’s power grid hold up during the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
June 10 — With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Houston this summer, CenterPoint Energy says it has spent more than a year preparing the region’s electric and natural gas infrastructure for the global event.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/06/10/will-houstons-power-grid-hold-up-during-the-2026-fifa-world-cup/

CW39: CenterPoint finishes 700 electric projects for World Cup
June 9 — With FIFA World Cup 2026 matches set to bring massive crowds to Houston, CenterPoint Energy says it has spent the last year strengthening electric and natural gas infrastructure around key venues, hotels, airports and transportation corridors as the city prepares to welcome visitors from around the globe.
https://cw39.com/sports/world-cup-2026/centerpoint-energy-houston-world-cup/

Borger News-Herald: Sparklight Invests More than $9 Million to Enhance Connectivity across the Texas Panhandle
June 9 — As part of its continued network evolution, Sparklight has expanded fiber deeper into its service areas to build a future-ready network that supports long-term growth and economic development. With a fiber-rich network spanning more than 31,000 route miles, Sparklight’s investments help create the infrastructure needed to support emerging technologies, increasing digital demands and the evolving connectivity needs of homes and businesses.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/borger-news-herald/20260611/281573772385471

KCENTV: Texas landowners push back against proposed $2 billion Oncor transmission line during state hearings
June 9 — Opponents questioned impacts on historic family ranches, state parks and rivers, while Oncor maintains the project is needed to improve grid reliability.
https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/landowners-push-back-against-proposed-2-billion-oncor-transmission-line-state-hearings/500-db06ad83-1213-4fac-bb63-85f6eb75d751

Power: Texas Utility Building New 570-MW Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant
June 9 — A Texas-based power producer has broken ground on a new natural gas-fired power plant that is part of the state’s plan to increase its supply of dispatchable electricity.
https://www.powermag.com/texas-utility-building-new-570-mw-natural-gas-fired-power-plant/

KXII: Texas power demand expected to hit record highs this summer
June 9 — Summer power usage in Texas is expected to reach an all-time high as temperatures rise and demand on the electric grid increases.
https://www.kxii.com/2026/06/10/texas-power-demand-expected-hit-record-highs-this-summer/?outputType=amp

San Antonio Business Journal: New Braunfels Utilities to free up $9M tied to ERCOT collateral
June 9 — New Braunfels Utilities currently has approximately $9 million in cash posted with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to participate in electricity markets.
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2026/06/09/nbu-ercot-letter-of-credit-9m-collateral.html

Culture Map Dallas: ERCOT braces for record-breaking power demand across Texas this summer
June 9 — Based on expectations for a hotter summer this year than last year, ERCOT predicts power demand will hit a peak of more than 92.2 gigawatts this summer — enough power for roughly 18.4 million homes.
https://dallas.culturemap.com/news/innovation/ercot-texas-record-summer-2026/

Houston Public Media: Where new data centers hope to open (June 9, 2026)
June 9 — On Tuesday’s show: Where do large data centers plan to open across the state? Information from ERCOT shows there are some hot spots.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/houston-matters/2026/06/09/553902/where-new-data-centers-hope-to-open-june-9-2026/?amp=1

Crypto Briefing: ERCOT warns of blackout risks as data centers and crypto miners trip offline during grid disturbances
June 9 — Texas’s power grid has a new vulnerability, and it’s sitting inside air-conditioned warehouses full of servers and mining rigs. ERCOT, the operator responsible for keeping the lights on for roughly 27 million Texans, published a report on May 21 revealing that large data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities are routinely failing voltage ride-through tests.
https://cryptobriefing.com/ercot-blackout-risk-data-centers-crypto/

Houston Chronicle: Exclusive: Hundreds of large data centers want to join the Texas grid. ERCOT data shows top hot spots
June 8 — Data centers are not new to Texas, but the projects seeking to locate here in the coming years are much bigger and more numerous than ever before, according to data shared exclusively with the Houston Chronicle.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/exclusive-hundreds-large-data-centers-160000897.html

Texas Tribune: An unprecedented data center boom means new challenges for Texas. Find out what’s planned near you.
June 8 — Late last year, Texas electricity officials faced an astonishing rush of requests from data center developers wanting to connect to the state’s grid. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the grid operator, was logging dozens of new requests each quarter from companies that sought to pull more electricity than traditional data centers did — by a long shot.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/08/texas-regulation-data-centers-electricity-power-water/

KPRC: After deadly Beryl outages, CenterPoint CEO’s pay jumped to $12M
June 2 — New financial reports reveal that CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells received a 30% raise in the months following Hurricane Beryl.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/06/04/after-deadly-beryl-outages-centerpoint-ceo%27s-pay-jumped-to-dollar12m/

Reuters: Texas grid flags risks as data centers, crypto sites fail voltage tests
June 5 — Several large data centers and crypto facilities planning to connect to the Texas power grid ahead of ‌peak summer demand have failed key reliability tests, raising the risk of power outages just as electricity use hits its seasonal high, according to the state grid operator.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/texas-grid-flags-risks-data-centers-crypto-sites-fail-voltage-tests-2026-06-05/

Texas Insider: Governor Abbott Announces Texas Energy Fund Loan For 570 MW North Texas Natural Gas Power Plant
June 5 — Governor Greg Abbott announced the seventh Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) loan agreement for a 570 megawatt (MW) natural gas power plant in Sherman, Texas. Rayburn Electric Cooperative will build the plant, which is expected to begin generating power for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power region in 2028.
https://texasinsider.org/articles/governor-abbott-announces-texas-energy-fund-loan-for-570-mw-north-texas-natural-gas-power-plant

Houston Public Media; Texas may hit record energy demand: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the week
June 5 — ERCOT predicts record energy demand this summer
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/houston-matters/2026/06/05/552976/texas-may-hit-record-energy-demand-the-good-bad-and-ugly-of-the-week/?amp=1

Texas Public Radio: ERCOT predicts record summer energy demand
June 4 — That emergency came just two years after the state’s power grid failed during a historic freeze, leaving millions of Texans without power or heat.
https://www.tpr.org/environment/2026-06-04/ercot-predicts-record-summer-energy-demand

Office of the Governor: Governor Abbott Announces Texas Energy Fund Loan For 570 MW North Texas Natural Gas Power Plant
June 4 — “When Texas voters overwhelmingly approved the Texas Energy Fund, they gave us a mandate to secure new, reliable power generation for Texas,” said PUCT Chairman Thomas Gleeson. “The TxEF is delivering on that promise, and Rayburn Electric Cooperative’s new 570 MW power plant is proof. We are ensuring Texas families and businesses have power they can depend on for years to come.”
https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-texas-energy-fund-loan-for-570-mw-north-texas-natural-gas-power-plant

Lampasas Dispatch Record: Landowners denied more time in 765-kV transmission line hearing
June 4 — A panel of administrative law judges has denied a motion filed by area landowners seeking more time in the Public Utility Commission of Texas decision-making process for a proposed high-voltage transmission line sought by Oncor Electric Delivery Co. and the Lower Colorado River Authority’s Transmission Service Corp.
https://www.lampasasdispatchrecord.com/news/landowners-denied-more-time-765-kv-transmission-line-hearing

Dallas Express: First Electric Co-op Wins $411M Texas Energy Fund Loan For Sherman Power Plant
June 4 — Gov. Greg Abbott announced a Texas Energy Fund loan agreement on Thursday to support the construction of a 570-megawatt natural gas power plant in Sherman, with Rayburn Electric Cooperative slated to build and operate the facility.
https://dallasexpress.com/metroplex/first-electric-co-op-wins-411m-texas-energy-fund-loan-for-sherman-power-plant/

Texas Insider: Governor Greg Abbott Announces $200 Million Texas Energy Fund Grant for Electric Reliability in Northeast Texas
June 4 — Governor Greg Abbott announced the second agreement under the Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) Outside-ERCOT Grant Program (OEGP) with Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO). The grant, administered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), funds a project that will upgrade approximately 700 miles of power equipment in Northeast Texas, ensuring electric reliability for more than 192,000 Texas consumers.
https://texasinsider.org/articles/governor-greg-abbott-announces-200-million-texas-energy-fund-grant-for-electric-reliability-in-northeast-texas

Texas Public Radio: ERCOT predicts record summer energy demand
June 4 — Texas is once again facing record summertime demand, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which released itssummer forecastthis week. However, energy experts say the grid is much more reliable than it was just a few years ago, in large part due to the growth of renewable energy sources.
https://www.tpr.org/environment/2026-06-04/ercot-predicts-record-summer-energy-demand

***

American Public Power Association: ERCOT Board Advances Batch Study Approach to Large Loads
June 3 — “Batch Zero is necessary as ERCOT intends to transition the Large Load interconnection process from an individual study-based approach to a batch study-based approach that allocates available transmission capacity for studied and committed Large Loads,” ERCOT’s media relations department told Public Power Current.
https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/ercot-board-advances-batch-study-approach-large-loads

E&E News: Texas advances major grid rules for data centers
June 3 — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas approved changes Tuesday that could help the state connect a slew of new projects.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/texas-advances-major-grid-rules-for-data-centers/

Community Impact: ERCOT forecasts record electric demand this summer amid data center boom; says grid will hold up
June 3 — ERCOT, which operates the power grid for the majority of Texas, is forecasting high temperatures and moderate rainfall this summer. Coupled with the proliferation of data centers and other large projects, demand on the grid could surpass 92 gigawatts, officials estimated June 2.
https://communityimpact.com/austin/central-austin/government/2026/06/03/ercot-forecasts-record-electric-demand-this-summer-amid-data-center-boom-says-grid-will-hold-up/

Fox 26: Family sues City of Houston after 9-year-old allegedly shocked by light pole at F.M. Law Park
June 3 — A Houston mother is speaking out after her 9-year-old son was allegedly shocked by a light pole at a city park, weeks before another boy was hospitalized after touching the same pole. The family has filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Houston, CenterPoint Energy and other parties.
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/family-sues-city-houston-after-9-year-old-allegedly-shocked-light-pole-f-m-law-park.amp

San Diego Union-Tribune: Activist investor group wants Sempra to spin off its Texas utility company
June 3 — An activist investor group that holds stock in Sempra is calling on the company to spin off one of its biggest assets, saying the San Diego-based energy giant has an “opportunity to unlock significant value through simplification.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/activist-investor-group-wants-sempra-to-spin-off-its-texas-utility-company/ar-AA24LCcz

Daily Energy Insider: CenterPoint Energy deploys new platform to respond to extreme weather
June 2 — The company has deployed a planning and operations platform developed in collaboration with Technosylva, a leading provider of wildfire, flooding, and extreme weather modeling. The decision-support software used by utilities, insurers, and public agencies to better anticipate risk, support operational response, and deliver better outcomes for customers.
https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/52526-centerpoint-energy-deploys-new-platform-to-respond-to-extreme-weather/

Houston Public Media: ERCOT predicts record summer energy demand
June 3 — Energy experts say a growth in renewables will help the state’s power grid meet increasing demand this summer.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/2026/06/03/553633/ercot-predicts-record-summer-energy-demand/

Office of Texas Governor: Governor Greg Abbott Announces $200 Million Texas Energy Fund Grant For Electric Reliability In Northeast Texas
June 3 — Governor Greg Abbott today announced the second agreement under the Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) Outside-ERCOT Grant Program (OEGP) with Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO). The grant, administered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), funds a project that will upgrade approximately 700 miles of power equipment in Northeast Texas, ensuring electric reliability for more than 192,000 Texas consumers.
https://gov.texas.gov/es/news/post/governor-greg-abbott-announces-200-million-texas-energy-fund-grant-for-electric-reliability-in-northeast-texas

Denton Record Chronicle: Denton City Council takes first step toward a possible moratorium on AI data centers
June 2 — The Denton City Council began the process Tuesday to explore a temporary moratorium on data centers after council members voted unanimously to give staff direction to move forward with gathering information.
https://dentonrc.com/news/denton/denton-city-council-takes-first-step-toward-a-possible-moratorium-on-ai-data-centers/article_e8fd6f19-3e4c-4d4c-91b8-f54a59ba2446.html

Big Spring Herald: PUCT Executes Agreement for Second Texas Energy Fund Completion Bonus Grant
June 2 — The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) enters the second Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) Completion Bonus Grant (CBG) Program agreement. The grant agreement is with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) for Timmerman Unit 2, the 188-megawatt (MW) second unit of their Timmerman Power Plant in Caldwell County. The CBG Program awards grants for qualifying electric generation projects that will supply power to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid before June 1, 2029.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/big-spring-herald/20260602/281590952234509

CW39: Houston cooling centers open as Reliant offers bill help, free AC units
June 2 — These centers provide air-conditioned space, along with snacks, refreshments, and activities for visitors. Locations span neighborhoods across the city, including Acres Homes, Alief, Denver Harbor, Fifth Ward, Hiram Clarke, Kashmere, Magnolia, Northeast Houston, Southwest Houston, Sunnyside, Third Ward and the West End.
https://cw39.com/news/local/houston-cooling-centers-open/

Houston Public Media: There are more than 20 summertime cooling centers where Houston-area residents can escape the heat
June 2 — An $80,000 donation by Reliant Energy is helping to support 22 cooling centers in Houston and Harris County, along with another 17 sites across Texas.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/public-safety/2026/06/02/553450/houston-cooling-center-harris-county-texas-reliant-beat-the-heat/?amp=1

Houston Public Media: ERCOT votes to streamline process for data centers looking to join the power grid
June 2 — The state has faced a backlog of large energy consumers who want to connect to the Texas power grid.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2026/06/02/553505/ercot-votes-to-streamline-process-for-data-centers-looking-to-join-the-power-grid/

E&E News: Texas takes aim at threat of ‘cascading’ outages
June 2 — The state’s main grid operator is poised to vote on rules that could keep data centers from tripping offline during power blips.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/texas-takes-aim-at-threat-of-cascading-outages/

Houston Chronicle: Texas data centers could face new restrictions during power outages
June 2 — Are data centers a threat to the reliability of Texas’ power grid?
https://www.chron.com/news/article/ercot-data-center-restrictions-22287481.php

Solar Quarter: Texas Solar Generation Set To Surpass Coal Power In ERCOT For The First Time In 2026 – EIA
June 2 — Solar power is set to achieve a major milestone in Texas, as electricity generation from utility-scale solar projects is expected to exceed coal-fired generation for the first time in 2026 within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid. According to the latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, solar generation is projected to reach 78 billion kilowatt-hours (BkWh) in 2026, while coal generation is expected to remain at around 60 BkWh.
https://solarquarter.com/2026/06/02/texas-solar-generation-set-to-surpass-coal-power-in-ercot-for-the-first-time-in-2026-eia/

KPRC: CenterPoint Energy kicks off 2026 hurricane season with grid resiliency upgrades in Houston
June 2 — CenterPoint Energy is gearing up for the 2026 hurricane season with 68,000 new storm-resilient poles, advanced weather tech and major grid upgrades across Houston.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/06/02/centerpoint-energy-kicks-off-2026-hurricane-season-with-major-grid-resiliency-upgrades-in-houston/

Texas Standard: As data centers flock to Texas, ERCOT tries to decide which projects are feasible
June 2 — The state’s grid operator will vote Tuesday on whether to begin a study of data centers, known as “Batch Zero,” that would use a new evaluation process for adding projects to the grid.
https://texasstandard.org/stories/texas-data-centers-ercot-energy-use/

KPRC: Looking for a job? Houston-area company hiring 300+ workers to strengthen power grid after Beryl
June 1 — Fiberglass power poles made in Humble could keep your lights on during next hurricane
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/06/01/resilient-structures-hiring-hundreds-in-humble-to-build-hurricane-resistant-power-poles/

The Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: $6.5 billion in transmission projects, batch zero closure, and the questions that follow
June 1 — Where ERCOT predicts large load interconnection and transmission are headed.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/65-billion-in-transmission-projects

Texas Observer: TEXAS NIGHTS ARE GETTING HOTTER, AND THE POWER GRID ISN’T READY
June 1 — The state grid was built on the assumption that demand would fall at night. As hotter evenings and around-the-clock power use erase that drop, the system is being pushed in ways its original design did not fully anticipate.
https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-power-grid-overnight-demand-summer/

Fortune: The U.S. power grid isn’t one big machine — it’s three. That’s a problem for blackout season
May 30 — Beyond the immediate human and economic toll, major blackouts like these often leave behind the same unsettling contrast: One region goes dark while nearby places still have power.
https://fortune.com/2026/05/30/us-grid-not-one-big-machine-three-blackouts/

Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: Interstate power companies herald ERCOT operations in 1Q earnings
May 29 — Surging Texan electricity demand (and lagging supply) was a big issue in the first-quarter earnings season for merchant power producers and utilities.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/interstate-power-companies-herald

Power Engineering: EIA: Natural gas generation to remain flat this summer, with a record peak expected in 2027
May 29 — The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has forecast that natural gas consumption in the U.S. power sector will remain “near recent highs” this summer, while a new record is expected for summer 2027.
https://www.power-eng.com/gas/eia-natural-gas-generation-to-remain-flat-this-summer-with-a-record-peak-expected-in-2027/

KWTX: Oncor responds to Bell County landowners’ claims of inadequate notification on powerline project
May 28 — Oncor Electric Delivery Company said it followed all state notification requirements for a proposed 765 kilovolt transmission line project after Bell County landowners filed a motion claiming they were not properly notified about plans that could affect their property.
https://www.kwtx.com/2026/05/29/bell-county-landowners-file-motion-put-stop-powerline-project-after-lack-notification-plans-oncor-they-say/

KTWX: “Texas is already strained”: Data center opposition builds in Waco over water, electricity concerns
May 28 — A new Gallup poll shows about 7 in 10 Americans oppose building data centers in their local area. That opposition gained momentum at a public forum hosted at the Waco Bridge, where residents and experts discussed concerns over water use, power demand and quality-of-life impacts tied to multiple proposed data centers in the area.
https://www.kwtx.com/video/2026/05/29/texas-is-already-strained-data-center-opposition-builds-waco-over-water-electricity-concerns/

KXXV: Neighbors seek to delay 765 kV transmission line hearing over notification claims
May 28 — Opponents of a 15-county high-voltage transmission line project say they were improperly notified about proposed routes and are now pushing to slow down the hearing.
https://www.kxxv.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/bell-county/neighbors-seek-to-delay-765-kv-transmission-line-hearing-over-notification-claims

ERCOT forecasts, this summer in Southeast Texas deserves the full attention of city leaders, utilities, and residents alike.
https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/73003/20260528/houston-about-cooked-ercots-grid-faces-its-most-consequential-summer-yet.htm

Energy Storage News: ERCOT incentivises grid-forming BESS with US$25 million programme
May 28 — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has initiated a programme to encourage battery energy storage systems (BESS) and other inverter-based resources to adopt grid-forming technology.
https://www.energy-storage.news/ercot-incentivises-grid-forming-bess-with-us25-million-programme/

US EIA: Natural gas for power generation flat this summer, record high expected in 2027
ay 28 — We forecast natural gas consumption by the U.S. electric power sector this summer will remain near recent highs and set a record next summer in our May Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). Despite a 2% increase in overall U.S. electricity demand this summer, we expect natural gas-fired electricity generation to be similar to last summer, primarily because of forecast increased generation from renewables.
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67725

Index Box: ERCOT Launches Grid-Forming Technology Incentive Program for Battery Storage
May 28 — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has launched a program to promote the adoption of grid-forming technology among battery energy storage systems and other inverter-based resources, according to a report from Energy-Storage.news.
https://www.indexbox.io/blog/ercot-launches-grid-forming-technology-incentive-program-for-battery-storage/

GAS UTILITY and RAILROAD COMMISSION NEWS

WAVE3: As Texas Gas pipeline proposal moves forward in Shelby County, neighbors come together to oppose it
June 23 — Texas Gas is proposing construction of a 265-mile natural gas pipeline called the Borealis Project. Company leaders said on the project website that the pipeline is needed to help meet growing energy demands.
https://www.wave3.com/2026/06/24/texas-gas-pipeline-proposal-moves-forward-shelby-county-neighbors-come-together-oppose-it/

NBC DFW: Nearly a month after deadly explosion, apartment residents still waiting for gas service
June 23 —Nearly a month after a deadly apartment explosion in Oak Cliff, residents at a neighboring apartment complex say they are still living without gas service and have received few answers about when it will be restored.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/nearly-a-month-after-deadly-explosion-apartment-residents-still-waiting-for-gas-service/4040394/

WFAA: Democrat running for Texas railroad commissioner touts his experience
June 23 — Jon Rosenthal is a four-term Democratic state Representative for District 135. He’s also a career mechanical engineer who’s worked in the oil and gas industry for more than 25 years.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/democrat-running-texas-railroad-commissioner-touts-experience/287-3e4b4274-dd3b-4257-a124-266fd68db104

Pipeline & Gas Journal: Atmos Energy Sued Over Deadly Dallas Gas Explosion
June 23 — The lawsuit, originally filed in May and updated this week, claims Atmos did not adequately address recurring gas leak issues, replace certain aging pipeline infrastructure and properly identify underground gas lines before drilling work occurred near the site. The filing also prompted a Dallas County judge to order Atmos to preserve evidence related to the explosion and subsequent investigation.
https://pgjonline.com/news/2026/june/atmos-energy-sued-over-deadly-dallas-gas-explosion

KERA News: Judge orders Atmos Energy to preserve evidence in deadly Oak Cliff explosion lawsuit
June 23 — A Dallas County judge has ordered Atmos Energy to preserve records and physical evidence connected to a deadly gas explosion that destroyed an Oak Cliff apartment complex last month, as survivors and victims’ families pursue lawsuits against the utility company.
https://www.keranews.org/news/2026-06-23/judge-atmos-energy-preserve-evidence-deadly-oak-cliff-apartment-explosion-lawsuit-dallas

WFAA: Emergency motion filed against Atmos Energy stemming from deadly Oak Cliff apartment fire
June 22 — Lawyers representing another severely injured resident from The Clyde Apartments say Atmos Energy has a history of involvement in gas explosions.
https://www.wfaa.com/video/news/local/emergency-motion-filed-against-atmos-energy-stemming-from-deadly-oak-cliff-apartment-fire/287-4c139f61-f255-4a40-b956-f6950b40b1f6

CBS: New $1 billion lawsuit filed against Atmos in Dallas apartment explosion
June 22 — A man who was badly injured in the gas explosion at a Dallas apartment building has filed a lawsuit against Atmos seeking more than $1 billion in damages. A new filing in Dallas County court alleges that the gas company’s negligence caused the explosion that left three people dead and others injured, and families without homes.
https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/new-1-billion-lawsuit-filed-against-atmos-in-dallas-apartment-explosion/

Texas Insider: Railroad Commission Directs DOGE Task Force to Further Enhance Agency’s Operational Efficiency
June 18 — Following a year of extensive stakeholder engagement, detailed agency review and comprehensive evaluation of regulatory processes, the initiative is entering an expanded implementation phase focused on advancing operational improvements and modernization efforts across the agency.
https://texasinsider.org/articles/oil-gas-regulator-wayne-christian-directs-doge-task-force-to-further-enhance-rrc-operational-efficiency

Burleson Country Tribune: A NATURAL GAS line break Tuesday morning
June 17 — An electrical contractor for the City of Caldwell accidentally ruptured the line, and the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department responded along with an Atmos crew, said Caldwell Fire Chief Harry Bowers.
https://www.bctribune.com/news/natural-gas-line-break-tuesday-morning

The Texas Tribune: Texas Railroad Commission race pits oil field engineer against energy trader running on culture wars
June 16—Republican Bo French is keeping Islam, immigration and LGBTQ+ issues at the fore of his campaign for Texas’ oil regulatory agency. Democratic foe Jon Rosenthal is betting on his technical expertise.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/16/texas-railroad-commission-general-election-bo-french-jon-rosenthal-social-issues-oil-gas/

Texas Scorecard: TCEQ Proposes Rules for Irrigating Crops With Oilfield Wastewater
June 16 — Each day, Texas generates roughly 20 million barrels of produced water—wastewater that surfaces during oil and gas extraction—and currently injects it underground. That practice is linked to induced earthquakes, well blowouts from pressure buildup, and contamination from leaking older wells.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/tceq-proposes-rules-for-irrigating-crops-with-oilfield-wastewater/

Oil & Gas: Texas regulators assess $1.1 million in oil and gas penalties
June 8 — The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) assessed more than $1.1 million in enforcement penalties against operators and businesses during its latest open meeting, continuing the agency’s oversight of the state’s oil and gas industry and intrastate pipeline systems.
https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/energy/articles/texas-regulators-assess-1-1-163005495.html

Law Commentary: ATMOS ENERGY FACES LAWSUITS AFTER DEADLY DALLAS APARTMENT EXPLOSION
June 5 — Atmos Energy is facing multiple lawsuits after a natural gas explosion at an Oak Cliff apartment complex in Dallas killed three people and injured several others.
https://www.lawcommentary.com/articles/atmos-energy-faces-lawsuits-after-deadly-dallas-apartment-explosion

Houston Chronicle: Greg Abbott and other Republicans back Bo French after warning he’d ‘wreck’ Texas oil and gas
May 29 — Gov. Greg Abbott said Bo French would “wreck” Texas oil and gas production as he urged voters to support Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/greg-abbott-other-republicans-back-170000761.html

Denton Record-Chronicle: Potentially explosive gas leaks reported thousands of times in Texas
June 3 —A KERA analysis of Railroad Commission of Texas “pipeline accident and incident reporting” data also found that many excavators had not contacted a notification center that arranges for the marking of underground utility lines free of charge
https://dentonrc.com/news/oil_and_gas/potentially-explosive-gas-leaks-reported-thousands-of-times-in-texas/article_4a48b635-83aa-49c2-9c62-c472beee33e7.html

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Atmos Energy sued in ‘gruesome’ wrongful death of Dallas apartment resident
June 2 — Atmos Energy and others were acting with “conscious indifference” when a gas explosion last week at a Dallas apartment complex killed three residents, attorneys for a victim allege in a new lawsuit.
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/dallas/article315980965.html#storylink=cpy

Simply Wall Street: Wrongful Death Lawsuit Puts Atmos Energy Safety And Earnings Outlook In Focus
June 2 — Atmos Energy is a large U.S. natural gas utility that supplies residential, commercial, and industrial customers across multiple states. For investors, incidents tied to safety and system reliability can matter as much as earnings because they can influence how regulators and customers view the company. When legal issues are tied directly to core operations, they often stay on the radar longer than routine quarterly updates.
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/wrongful-death-lawsuit-puts-atmos-031045093.html

KDFW: Dallas apartment explosion prompts wrongful death lawsuit against Atmos Energy
June 2 — The latest suits allege Atmos, a utility company, and apartment managers failed to monitor dangerous conditions and notify residents of a gas leak.
https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-apartment-explosion-prompts-wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-atmos-energy

WFAA: Daughter of Oak Cliff explosion victim sues Atmos and Barba Drilling after blast
June 2 — Collins was a community activist who routinely worked and volunteered with the Democratic party, WFAA previously reported. Just before her death, she was working on Election Day, May 26 and the day after, friends told WFAA.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/explosion-victims-daughter-suing-after-blast/287-1220ba2e-56ec-4096-82c6-507307dda22e

WFAA: Atmos Energy raising rates again with bills going up nearly $10 a month
June 1 — Atmos Energy is hiking monthly bills by $9.50, following a nearly $8 increase last year.
https://www.wfaa.com/video/news/local/atmos-energy-raising-rates-again-with-bills-going-up-nearly-10-a-month/287-054a9a00-5007-447e-aeb8-27e93bc87294

KVUE: Apartment explosion survivor sues Atmos Energy in Dallas
June 1 — A survivor of the deadly Dallas apartment explosion is suing Atmos Energy, alleging gross negligence.
https://www.kvue.com/video/news/apartment-explosion-survivor-sues-atmos-energy-in-dallas/269-bb7cea63-311c-485b-afc8-baf841d23373

Fox44: Waco FD, Atmos Energy responding to gas line break
June 1 — The Waco Fire Department said on Monday afternoon that units and its Hazmat Team responded to the corner of N. 21st Street and McKenzie Avenue. This was due to a four-inch gas line break. Travelers have been urged to avoid this area.
https://www.fox44news.com/news/local-news/mclennan-county/waco-fd-atmos-energy-responding-to-gas-line-break/

WFAA: Gas rate hike today in Dallas- your bills are about to rise
June 1 — Atmos gas bills about to rise again. Average hike expected to be about $9.50 a month.
https://www.wfaa.com/video/news/local/dallas-county/gas-rate-hike-today-in-dallas-your-bills-are-about-to-rise/287-135b3910-b82a-4215-87e3-495b237ca94e

Dallas Morning News: Republican Bo French’s upset reshapes railroad commission race, giving Democrats hope
June 1 — French had drawn heavy criticism from both parties for incendiary social media posts. Wright was backed by the governor, top legislative leaders, the commission’s other two Republicans and major energy company executives.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/republican-bo-frenchs-upset-reshapes-120900634.html

Dallas Morning News: Where in Denton County did Bo French get the most support for railroad commissioner?
June 1 — In what was a close race across Texas, former Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French handily defeated incumbent Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright in Denton County in last week’s Republican runoff election.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/map-where-denton-county-did-211341264.html

Metro News: Drill Rig Gathering Soil Samples Hit Gas Line At Site Of Dallas Explosion, Records Show
May 31 — Nicked gas line. Crew on site. Gas is leaking. Sparse but chilling details in an alert sent Thursday show that the firm overseeing a soil analysis at the site of a deadly Oak Cliff apartment explosion earlier this week reported a drilling company damaged a gas line near the building.
https://texasmetronews.com/119490/drill-rig-gathering-soil-samples-hit-gas-line-at-site-of-dallas-explosion-records-show/

WFAA: Dallas residents will soon start paying higher gas bills
May 31 — City council members approved a rate increase from Atmos Energy to raise bills by nearly $10 a month.
https://www.wfaa.com/video/news/local/dallas-county/dallas-residents-start-paying-higher-gas-bills/287-e8b17b9e-a9d1-45f2-b55c-23abbdf1b7f0

The Dallas Express: Atmos Faces Legal Fight After Deadly Oak Cliff Apartment Explosion
May 30 — A severely burned resident has sued Atmos Energy after a natural gas explosion destroyed an Oak Cliff apartment building, killing three people and injuring several others. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Onecimo Ponce Mendoza, a resident of The Clyde Apartments near East 9th Street and Patton Avenue, after the May 28 explosion.
https://dallasexpress.com/city/atmos-faces-legal-fight-after-deadly-oak-cliff-apartment-explosion/

NBC DFW: Federal investigators remain on site of deadly Oak Cliff apartment explosion
May 30 — An attorney representing the owner of the Clyde apartments told NBC 5 the property was in escrow and the buyer had hired an engineering firm for soil testing.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/federal-investigators-remain-on-site-of-deadly-explosion/4030434/

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: DALLAS First lawsuit filed in deadly Oak Cliff apartment explosion seeks $1m in damages
May 30 — A survivor of Thursday’s deadly natural gas explosion that destroyed an Oak Cliff apartment building has filed the first lawsuit in connection to the incident, his attorneys said on Friday.
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/dallas/article315949755.html#storylink=cpy

Daily Caller: Texas leads a new natural gas pipeline boom
May 30 — According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), more than 66% of planned U.S. natural gas pipeline capacity additions for 2026 and 2027 — roughly 29.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) out of a national total of 44.9 Bcf/d — originate in the Lone Star State.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/05/30/texas-leads-a-new-natural-gas-pipeline-boom-1643539/

KFOX: El Paso City Council denies Texas Gas rate hike, pauses new rates for 45 days
May 30 — The vote involves a new and separate filing under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program, or GRIP, and is distinct from the broader Texas Gas Service rate case that is already under appeal by the city.
https://kfoxtv.com/newsletter-daily/el-paso-city-council-denies-texas-gas-rate-hike-pauses-new-rates-for-45-days

WFAA: Dallas apartment explosion survivor files $1M lawsuit against Atmos Energy, citing negligence
May 29 — A Dallas apartment explosion survivor has filed a lawsuit against Atmos Energy for gross negligence, blaming it for the blast that killed 3 and injured residents.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-county/dallas-apartment-explosion-survivor-files-lawsuit-against-atmos-energy-citing-negligence/287-8fa46fd1-988c-461d-a7ee-0b68503c5e66

CBS News: Burned resident sues Atmos Energy after deadly Clyde Apartments explosion in Dallas
May 29 — Atmos Energy is facing its first lawsuit over Thursday’s Dallas apartment explosion that killed three and injured five, attorneys for a severely burned resident said Friday.
https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/dallas-apartment-explosion-lawsuit-atmos-energy-clyde-apartments/

KDFW: Dallas Apartment Explosion: 3 dead and ‘everyone is accounted for’
May 29 — The focus is shifting to recovery and an investigation after a gas explosion at an apartment building in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas.
https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-apartment-explosion-may-29

NBC News: 3 people killed, 5 injured in gas explosion at Dallas apartment building
May 28 — Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to a call about a gas leak, and the blaze soon grew into a five-alarm fire.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dallas-gas-explosion-apartment-rcna347419

Texas Standard: What does firebrand Bo French’s railroad commission nomination say about the state of the GOP?
May 28 — In a Republican primary upset, Bo French, a former chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party, defeated incumbent Jim Wright for a seat on the Railroad Commission.
https://texasstandard.org/stories/bo-french-texas-railroad-commission-nomination-statements-islam-lgbtq/

Dallas Morning News: Dallas approves Atmos deal raising average residential gas bills by $9.46 monthly, starting next Monday
May 27 — The City Council voted Wednesday to finalize an agreement with Atmos Energy that includes the increase but scales back the gas company’s initial proposal to raise bills an average of $11 a month.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/dallas-approves-atmos-deal-raising-200203613.html

News Round-Up: June 2026

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