Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directs state agencies to audit data-center proposals before they can connect to the state’s power grid. Abbott tells the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to verify and audit facilities that are seeking approval to join the grid from the state’s queue. The requirements focus on assessing both electricity and water use tied to proposed data centers. The announcement indicates that the auditing process could slow approval timelines for new data centers because authorities must review the information during the pre-connection stage.
Both outlets describe the directive as part of a state-level effort to ensure new data centers meet requirements before receiving grid access. Abbott’s order calls for additional verification by the PUCT and ERCOT rather than allowing connections to proceed solely based on existing submissions. The measures apply to new facilities looking to connect to Texas’s grid, as opposed to established ones, and involve reviewing resource use before approval.
