{"id":"8ba6f866-bc8a-4a39-bc51-184ef1af92ab","slug":"texas-data-center-interconnection-audit-2026","kind":"operational_restriction","headline":"Texas pauses new data-center grid connections pending a statewide PUCT and ERCOT audit","summary":"On August 3, 2026 Governor Greg Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT to conduct a comprehensive verification and audit of every data-center project moving through ERCOT's interconnection process before any new project can be approved to connect. ERCOT is weighing roughly 474 GW of interconnection requests, more than five times its record peak demand, with data centers about 90 percent of the new requests; the state expects to audit up to about 300 projects. Developers must disclose the tax breaks they receive, their power use and on-site generation, water use and cooling, community-impact mitigation, and facility ownership; projects that fail to comply are denied grid connection. ERCOT suspended the Batch Zero large-load classification notifications scheduled for August 7, 2026 and planned to seek a good-cause exception at the PUCT's August 20, 2026 open meeting.","locationId":"45f67762-10f4-4255-be84-45c73efe25f9","effectiveAt":"2026-08-03T12:00:00.000Z","expiresAt":null,"reviewStatus":"unreviewed","formFactors":[],"jurisdiction":"Texas","complianceDeadline":null,"enforcementEvents":null,"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"none","reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-17T15:56:33.462Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-17T15:56:33.462Z","location":{"id":"45f67762-10f4-4255-be84-45c73efe25f9","name":"Texas","slug":"texas","kind":"state","parentLocationId":"aa8b9c05-c836-4021-801f-59801970401e","region":null,"lat":31.9686,"lng":-99.9018,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","aliases":["TX","texas-usa","Texas, USA"],"collisionRisk":"high","reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-31T04:22:22.644Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-08T16:40:41.381Z"},"derived":{"status":"in_effect"},"sources":[{"id":"a5ebbf74-0025-4b6a-8cd8-5bc5efd9c778","regulationId":"8ba6f866-bc8a-4a39-bc51-184ef1af92ab","url":"https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-directs-comprehensive-data-center-audit","label":null,"publishedAt":null,"notes":null,"title":"Governor Abbott Directs Comprehensive Data Center Audit","sourceName":"Office of the Texas Governor","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-17T15:56:33.462Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-17T15:56:33.462Z"},{"id":"d1cf883d-0b9a-46af-87f4-378b4cd48bef","regulationId":"8ba6f866-bc8a-4a39-bc51-184ef1af92ab","url":"https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/14/texas-data-center-approval-pause-ercot-power-grid/","label":null,"publishedAt":null,"notes":null,"title":"Texas will audit up to 300 projects, mostly data centers, after Gov. Greg Abbott's order","sourceName":"The Texas Tribune","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-17T15:56:33.462Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-17T15:56:33.462Z"},{"id":"49c61ba6-d601-40c3-8996-e8044b66dd1a","regulationId":"8ba6f866-bc8a-4a39-bc51-184ef1af92ab","url":"https://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-hits-pause-data-center-interconnections/827046/","label":null,"publishedAt":null,"notes":null,"title":"Facing an estimated 474 GW of interconnection requests, Texas hits pause on data centers","sourceName":"Utility Dive","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-17T15:56:33.462Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-17T15:56:33.462Z"}],"statusEvents":[],"jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Legislation","@id":"https://registry.deploy.report/regulations/texas-data-center-interconnection-audit-2026","url":"https://registry.deploy.report/regulations/texas-data-center-interconnection-audit-2026","name":"Texas pauses new data-center grid connections pending a statewide PUCT and ERCOT audit","description":"On August 3, 2026 Governor Greg Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT to conduct a comprehensive verification and audit of every data-center project moving through ERCOT's interconnection process before any new project can be approved to connect. ERCOT is weighing roughly 474 GW of interconnection requests, more than five times its record peak demand, with data centers about 90 percent of the new requests; the state expects to audit up to about 300 projects. Developers must disclose the tax breaks they receive, their power use and on-site generation, water use and cooling, community-impact mitigation, and facility ownership; projects that fail to comply are denied grid connection. ERCOT suspended the Batch Zero large-load classification notifications scheduled for August 7, 2026 and planned to seek a good-cause exception at the PUCT's August 20, 2026 open meeting.","identifier":"8ba6f866-bc8a-4a39-bc51-184ef1af92ab","legislationDate":"2026-08-03T12:00:00.000Z","legislationApplies":{"@type":"Place","name":"Texas"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"}},"framework_metadata":{"framework_schema_version":"0.1.0","verification_status":"unreviewed","maturity_stage":null,"lifecycle_state":null,"architectural_position":{"cohort":null,"sub_cohorts":[]},"within_cohort_verified_vs_claimed_pair":null,"cap_flags":[],"verification_depth":{"sources_count":3,"primary_source_types":[]}}}