All told, 176 cities or political subdivisions signed up as ERCOT members before a Nov. 7 deadline. That number exceeds last year’s total of 166 city signups and likewise exceeds the number of city signups during any year since at least 2016.
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A record number of cities have joined as ERCOT members, thereby ensuring municipalities will maintain a strong voice at the Texas grid operator during 2026.
Also known as the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, ERCOT oversees the state’s primary power grid through a stakeholder process that brings together business, consumer, and energy interests. Decisions by ERCOT stakeholders affect electric reliability and affordability and potentially the lives of tens of millions of Texans.
All told, 176 cities or political subdivisions signed up as ERCOT members. That number exceeds last year’s total of 166 city signups and likewise exceeds the number of city signups during any year since at least 2016. In addition, 26 members this year are new as compared to last year’s membership total. This year’s signup deadline was Nov. 7.
What is ERCOT?
ERCOT is a non-profit, quasi-governmental organization responsible for operating the electric grid in deregulated areas of Texas. Through a process of negotiation and deliberation within committees of interested parties, ERCOT stakeholders constantly review and revise the state’s wholesale electricity market rules, known in regulatory parlance as the ERCOT “protocols.” Most of the issues addressed in these protocols are addressed nowhere else—that is, the Public Utility Commission has largely delegated these issues to the ERCOT stakeholder process. However, ERCOT does answer to the Public Utility Commission and is subject to oversight by the Texas Legislature.
What Role do Cities Play in the ERCOT Process?
Cities and political subdivisions are represented at ERCOT under one of two stakeholder groups — either as members of its Large Commercial Consumer segment or its Small Commercial Consumer segment. Because city members comprise an overwhelming majority in both segments, they have the voting power to select those segments’ representatives to ERCOT’s important Technical Advisory Committee. That panel in turn reports to the ERCOT board of directors with recommendations that bear directly on the state’s energy markets. Cities also enjoy representation on ERCOT’s Wholesale Market Subcommittee because of the strong contingent of city members.
Next Steps
The election process for 2026 segment representatives for the Technical Advisory Committee began on Nov. 11, beginning with a nomination process. TAC nominees must furnish a TAC Qualification Affirmation and a letter of employment/agency for their nomination to be accepted. Optionally, nominees can also furnish brief bios.
The nomination process closes on Nov. 17 and is immediately followed by the distribution of ballots. Results also are expected on Nov. 17.