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Vistra to Install New Gas-Fired Units at Permian Basin Power Plant

LCG, September 30, 2025--Vistra Corp. announced yesterday that it will proceed with the next phase of its capital plan to support grid reliability in Texas. In 2024, Vistra identified over $1 billion worth of potential capital additions in generation capacity within the Texas ERCOT market by 2028 if market conditions were supportive. Now, with West Texas' growing power requirements, particularly the state's expanding oil and natural gas industries, Vistra reached a final investment decision and confirms it will build two new advanced natural gas-fired power units on-site at its Permian Basin Power Plant.

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ERCOT Announces New Grid Research, Innovation and Transformation (GRIT) Initiative

LCG, September 24, 2025--Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc. (ERCOT) yesterday announced its new initiative to increase its efforts to fully use and apply innovation and transformation through industry collaboration to best overcome the challenges and opportunities facing future grid operations. The new Grid Research, Innovation, and Transformation (GRIT) initiative will advance research and prototyping of emerging concepts and solutions to better understand the implications of rapid grid and technology evolution and position ERCOT to lead in the future energy landscape.

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Industry News

FERC Finds Market Abuse During Western Crisis

LCG, August 14, 2002-The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission released a report today citing evidence of electricity and gas market abuse by energy companies during California's energy crisis of 2000/2001.

FERC found evidence that Enron Power Marketing Inc., Avista, and El Paso Electric may have engaged in market manipulation. The federal regulator has begun formal investigation of these three companies as well as Enron Capital and Trade Resources Corp. and Portland General Electric.

The five companies are reportedly cooperative with FERC's investigations, and Avista has asserted its participation in proper market practices.

Unlike FERC's hands-off approach to California's crisis during the state's severe electricity shortage, the regulator is now more than willing to acknowledge the possibility of market abuse. Californian officials hope that FERC will make findings that will allow for refunds to consumers. A hearing held by a FERC administrative law judge will begin sometime soon regarding exactly how much in refunds should be mandated.

According to Donald Gelinas, commission market, tarrifs, and rate office director, "[FERC] found a lot of strange behavior that affected natural gas prices."

The report asserted that gas price reporting used during the crisis was flawed. Industry surveys used to report prices did not use statistically correct methods and could be manipulated, it said.

Other reported problems with the market included the state's market structure, which FERC says allowed for prices to rise in an unreasonable way.

Although many in California are excited about the report and FERC's change of heart, Governor Gray Davis called the report a "whitewash," asserting that the agency did not do nearly enough.

"FERC is impotent. FERC is anemic. FERC is spineless," he said.

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