‘Bring your own power’ could reshape Texas data center growth
“Lawmakers pressed hard on the obvious question: Who pays? As Rep. Chris Turner asked the Public Utility Commission chairman during the hearing, “Is it the goal of the commission to make sure the data center activity does not increase the electricity cost for our constituents?”
There is a better way: Bring Your Own Power [the Texas version of CRE].
This straightforward policy would simplify off-ERCOT grids for new developments. These systems would operate completely independently of the main grid. Tech companies, other large nonresidential users and third-party power developers could finance, build and operate their own power system using their own private capital and funding their own infrastructure. No drawing from the ERCOT grid. No socializing upgrade costs onto residential ratepayers. No reliability burden on the families and small businesses who already pay the bills.”
