Texas Administrative Code
Title 16 - ECONOMIC REGULATION
Part 2 - PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS
Chapter 25 - SUBSTANTIVE RULES APPLICABLE TO ELECTRIC SERVICE PROVIDERS
Subchapter C - INFRASTRUCTURE AND RELIABILITY
Section 25.57 - Power Outage Alert Criteria

Universal Citation: 16 TX Admin Code § 25.57

Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025

(a) Purpose and Applicability. This section establishes criteria for the activation, content, and termination of regional and statewide power outage alerts as required by Tex. Gov't Code § 411.301(b). This section applies to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and to transmission service providers in power regions in Texas other than the ERCOT region.

(b) Definitions.

(1) Load shed instructions--Directives given by a reliability coordinator to a transmission service provider or its agent to reduce firm load along its systems by a prescribed amount.

(2) System-wide--The entirety of a power region.

(c) Issuance and termination of a power outage alert. The executive director may recommend the Texas Department of Public Safety issue, update, or terminate a power outage alert. A designee may act on behalf of the executive director under this section.

(1) The executive director may recommend the Texas Department of Public Safety issue a power outage alert statewide or for one or more specific power regions in Texas. The issuance of a power outage alert may be recommended for power regions in which system-wide load shed instructions have been issued or are likely to be issued because the system-wide power supply is likely to be inadequate to meet demand.

(2) In determining whether to recommend the issuance of a power outage alert, the executive director will consider the likelihood of system-wide load shed instructions being issued, the expected length of time the load shed instructions will be in effect, and any other relevant information. In determining whether to recommend the issuance of a power outage alert in the ERCOT region, the executive director will consider information received from ERCOT under subsection (d) of this section. In determining whether to recommend the issuance of a power outage alert in a power region other than the ERCOT region, the executive director will consider information received from transmission service providers in that power region under subsection (e) of this section.

(3) The executive director may recommend the termination of a power outage alert when the conditions that led to the issuance of the power outage alert are no longer applicable and are unlikely to recur in the near future.

(d) Power outage alerts for the ERCOT region.

(1) ERCOT must notify the executive director when:
(A) ERCOT's forecasts indicate system-wide generation supply is likely to be insufficient to meet demand within the next 48 hours; or

(B) ERCOT issues system-wide load shed instructions.

(2) A notice under paragraph (1) of this subsection must include any available, relevant information to assist the executive director in determining whether to recommend the issuance of a power outage alert and what information should be included in the power outage alert. The notice must include, but is not limited to:
(A) Whether system-wide load shed instructions have been issued;

(B) Whether system-wide power supply is forecasted to be insufficient to meet demand and, if so, an estimated time when load shed instructions may be issued;

(C) If applicable and known, an estimated time when load shed instructions may be recalled; and

(D) If applicable and known, the initiating event or circumstances that prompted or might prompt the issuance of load shed instructions.

(3) ERCOT must notify the executive director when system-wide load shed instructions have been recalled or when, in ERCOT's judgment, there are material changes in ERCOT's forecasts. This notice must include information on any of the remaining conditions listed under paragraph (1) of this subsection that are still applicable.

(4) ERCOT must establish a procedure, in consultation with commission staff, to provide the executive director with notifications required under this subsection.

(5) Upon request by the executive director, ERCOT must provide additional information and updates.

(e) Power outage alerts for power regions other than the ERCOT region.

(1) A transmission service provider in a power region other than the ERCOT region must notify the executive director when it has received system-wide load shed instructions from the applicable reliability coordinator.

(2) The transmission service provider must notify the executive director when the applicable reliability coordinator has recalled the system-wide load shed instructions. The transmission service provider's notice must include a summary of any available information regarding power outages and the expectation for power restoration within its service territory.

(3) A transmission service provider subject to this subsection must establish a procedure, in consultation with commission staff, to provide the executive director with notifications required under this subsection. Commission staff may develop a form, internet portal, or other standardized process for providing the executive director with notifications required under this subsection. If commission staff develops such a standardized process, a transmission service provider's procedure must utilize this standardized process.

(4) Upon request by the executive director, a transmission service provider must provide additional information and updates.

(f) Power outage alert content. When known and as applicable, the power outage alert must provide the following information or instructions on how to obtain the following information:

(1) Whether system-wide load shed is occurring or expected to occur imminently;

(2) A statement that an electricity customer may experience a power outage;

(3) Where an electricity customer can seek assistance while the electricity customer's power may be out; and

(4) Any other information deemed relevant and of assistance to electricity customers.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Texas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.