PUC Wholesale Market Activities
Background
The Public Utility Commission of Texas conducts oversight of the intrastate wholesale electric market in Texas by participating in activities related to market design and by evaluating market performance and taking enforcement actions, when appropriate. Market design activities are carried out by the Competitive Markets Division. Market monitoring is conducted by an independent market monitor that is funded by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. The Commission's oversight and enforcement activities are carried out by the Oversight and Enforcement Division.
Objectives of Wholesale Market Activities
The purpose of the Commission's wholesale market activities is to facilitate competition in the Texas electricity markets by fostering a vibrant competitive market through an efficient market design and preventing the exercise of market power and other anticompetitive behavior.
Contacting the PUC
Persons who are interested in contacting the Public Utility Commission or the Independent Market Monitor in connection with wholesale market matters may contact one of the persons listed below. Email addresses for Commission staff are available at www.puc.state.tx.us/contact/contactsearch.cfm.
| Name | Position or Subject Areas | Telephone |
|---|
| Jess Totten | Director, Competitive Markets | 512-936-7235 | | Pam Whittington | Director, Oversight and Enforcement | 512-936-7245 | | Dan Jones | Independent Market Monitor | 512 225-7139 | | Evan Rowe | Director of Wholesale Markets | 512-936-7401 | | Danielle Jaussaud | Market Design Issues | 512-936-7396 | | Marshall Adair | Oversight and Enforcement | 512-936-7214 | | Richard Greffe | Generation Additions and Retirements, Reserve Margin | 512-936-7404 | | Tony Grasso | Quarterly Wholesale Reporting | 512-936-7385 | | Teresa Kirk | Administrative and Research Assistant | 512-936-7389 |
ERCOT Market Design Summary
Since July 2001, ERCOT has operated a wholesale energy market with a single control area. ERCOT uses a zonal congestion management design with a real-time balancing energy market. ERCOT procures ancillary services in a day-ahead auction for those market participants that do not self-provide their share of ancillary service requirements. ERCOT will move to a nodal market design in 2009.
Statutory Provisions Relating to Market Oversight
The Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) includes several provisions relating to oversight of the wholesale electricity market in Texas:
- Section 39.157 mandates that the Commission monitor market power associated with the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity in Texas and gives the Commission the authority to require mitigation of market power.
- Section 35.1515 requires that the Electric Reliability Council of Texas fund an independent market monitor to detect and prevent market manipulation and recommend measures to enhance the efficiency of the wholesale market.
- Section 35.004(e) requires that the Commission ensure that ancillary services necessary to facilitate the transmission of electric energy are available at reasonable prices.
- Section ยง39.155(a) gives the Commission the authority to request any information it needs to assess market power and evaluate the development of a competitive retail market in the state from each person, municipally owned utility, electric cooperative, and river authority that owns generation facilities and offers electricity for sale in Texas.
PUC Substantive Rules Pertaining to Wholesale Electricity Markets
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