'Queue' the Load Growth: FERC/ERCOT Advance Large Load Interconnection Efforts

Research evidence excerpt

'Queue' the Load Growth: FERC/ERCOT Advance Large Load Interconnection Efforts

actions favorably as FERC, ERCOT and PJM advance/improve

market structures that should facilitate incremental large load contracting over

time. FERC’s actions Thursday respond to the DOE's ANOPR in October 2025, filing

individualized show cause orders that require each RTO/ISO to propose large load

interconnection reforms or to defend existing tariff structures as sufficiently just and

reasonable. Specifically, the orders focus on five categories of reform: 1) development of

clear large load application/study processes; 2) safeguards against cost shifting/greater

network upgrade cost transparency; 3) co-location and BTM generation rules/structures;

4) new transmission services for flexible large loads (in line with their previous mandate

to PJM); and 5) the creation of pathways to study generation serving co-located or

"electrically proximate" load. In their commentary Commissioners acknowledged SPP's

recent work addressing many of these issues, with PJM also advantaged given the

overlap to FERC’s December co-location order. Importantly, these actions initiate

these processes rather than resolve them, leaving tariff design, cost allocation,

readiness standards, curtailment rules, and timing to RTOs/ISOs' subsequent

filings.

ERCOT also saw positive progress on Thursday, with the PUCT advancing Batch

Zero, SB6 implementation, and improved long-term load forecasting through

a series of approvals. The key unresolved items remain implementation-oriented,

including refund mechanics, qualifying study requirements, financial commitments,

and ensuring subsequent forecasting incorporates these ongoing efforts to reduce

speculative projects effectively shopping multiple interconnection paths.