Texas Republicans to introduce resolution opposing adding ERCOT to national grid

Four Texas Republicans are set to introduce a resolution opposing a bill to add the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to the federal grid.

The resolution, first shared with The Hill, is co-sponsored by Reps. Randy Weber, Troy Nehls, Pat Fallon and John Carter, and will be introduced Friday, Weber’s office told The Hill.

It says the House “recognizes the role and responsibilities the Electric Reliability Council of Texas as decided by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature, not the Federal Government; and “condemns any action by Congress or a Presidential administration to federalize Texas electricity markets.”

“In Texas, we proudly maintain our own electric grid, overseen by Texans, not the federal government, and we intend to keep it that way. Some of my Democrat colleagues had a brilliant idea to lasso the state into the national electric grid, filled with its own challenges and failures,” Weber said in a statement to The Hill. “I will continue to fight to ensure that Texas’ grid stays in the hands of Texans and not bureaucrats sitting in Washington.”

Texas’ self-contained grid made national news in early 2021 when it was knocked offline by a bout of extreme winter weather that killed hundreds of Texans. In February, Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) co-sponsored a measure with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to place ERCOT under the purview of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

In a statement to The Hill, Casar mocked the resolution’s sponsors as the “pro-blackout caucus,” and added “Texans can’t afford the status quo.”

“I’m ready to work with my colleagues — Republicans and Democrats — to prevent mass blackouts, grow our economy, and save our consumers money. That’s what connecting the grid will do,” Casar added. 

A spokesperson for Casar’s office also noted that part of Weber’s district, the 14th, is located in a part of the state’s southeastern region not covered by ERCOT.