The Public Utility Commission of Texas approved the state's first formal Batch Zero large-load study process on 18 June, the cohort method ERCOT will use to work through its connection requests1. ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which runs about 90% of the state grid, reported its large-load queue at 438 GW (gigawatts), roughly 90% of it data centres.
The queue climbed from 410 GW in April in about six weeks, and Texas first tried to clear it when it stood at 225 GW. It has nearly doubled since. ERCOT's final transmission plan is not due until autumn 2027, with the next application round, Batch 1, opening in summer 2027.
Intake runs at tens of gigawatts a quarter while the study meant to clear it takes years, so the backlog grows faster than any single cohort can be processed. A connection cleared through Batch Zero still cannot switch on without the transformers to serve it, and those are running years behind for new grid links. A transformer ordered today arrives after both the FERC show-cause responses and the Batch Zero plan are already on the table.
