Flexible Loads in ERCOT = Provisional CLRs
Solar, gas, inference workload shifting - everything gets unlocked to serve compute load faster if this policy proposal goes through in June 2026.
Welcome to the new era of the Texas “energy frontier,” where the sheer volume of proposed data centers and industrial loads has forced ERCOT to get creative. Well, we helped a little:
Provisional Controllable Load Resources (PCLRs) will be the voluntary “connect and manage” “flexible” heavy hitters of Batch Zero Loads. Batch Zero is the first tranche of Texas grid-approved firm loads that will get allocated power to connect in 2028 and beyond to the ERCOT grid, based on strict maturity critiera that are getting dished out in rules promulgated by ERCOT and the PUC of Texas.
For a state of play on everything happening at once, check this out:
The piece below is the deep dive on flex. It explains the meat of the details and information we have unique access to and the best understanding of.
For example, we explain how the formula applied for provisional CLRs actually enables Connect and Manage for AI Loads. The formula basically ensures that the PCLR pays a price that reflects its impact on the grid’s local traffic jams. It’s a market-based “tether” that keeps these massive loads from destabilizing local power prices, but, dispatches loads after generators. When loads receive a signal flag to curtail, they are responsible to manage their consumption differential with any private solution - batteries, flex, backup run, prime power switchover, etc. There’s even more to it, and the nuance matters.
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A.S.F.
