PUCT opens the first five year review of the ERCOT system-wide offer caps, with comments due September 17th
The Public Utility Commission of Texas has opened Project 59550, the quinquennial review of the system-wide offer cap programs under 16 TAC Section 25.509(d). Commission staff filed a memorandum on August 20th, 2026 asking interested parties to answer questions about whether the caps and the emergency pricing program should change. The memorandum states that calendar year 2026 marks the first review period for these programs. It also states that ERCOT has never activated the emergency pricing program since it was adopted. Comments are due by September 17th, 2026 and anyone may file one through the commission's Interchange.
How to take part
Anyone may file comments under control number 59550 through the commission's Interchange filer, or send a paper copy to Central Records in Austin. No lawyer and no standing are required. The memorandum asks each filer to attach a standalone executive summary as the last page. Comments must be in by the September 17th, 2026 deadline.
Where
Statewide. This decision applies across Texas rather than to a named county.
Timeline
- filed
Market Analysis requests a new control number for the review
- comment opens
Staff memorandum asking for comments filed as item 2
- Today
- comment closes
Comment deadline stated in the staff memorandum
12 days out
How this decision moved
One dated line per check, oldest first. A line that says nothing changed means somebody looked and it had not.
- 2026-08-28
Admitted on the staff memorandum filed August 20th and the commission's own calendar entry. The comment window is open and closes September 17th.
- 2026-09-01
The offer-cap review still contains only the opening request and staff memorandum, so its public comment window remains open.
- 2026-09-02
The five year review of the ERCOT system wide offer caps is still open and the staff memo asking for comments is the most recent thing on it. Nothing has been filed in answer yet.
- 2026-09-05
The five year review of the ERCOT offer caps is still open and the comment door has not shut. A reader can still file in it.
The evidence
Every fact above rests on one of these. The words are the source's own.
QUINQUENNIAL REVIEW OF SYSTEM-WIDE OFFER CAP PROGRAM UNDER 16 TAC 25.509(d)PUCT Interchange, Filings for 59550, Case Style Primary source, official · interchange.puc.texas.gov
Every five years, the Commission will review each of the system-wide offer cap programs to determine whether updates may be warranted.PUCT Interchange, control number 59550 item 2, Staff Questions for Comments, filed by PUC Market Analysis, file stamp 8/20/2026 Primary source, official · interchange.puc.texas.gov
Calendar year 2026 marks the first review period for these programs.PUCT Interchange, control number 59550 item 2, Staff Questions for Comments Primary source, official · interchange.puc.texas.gov
Comments are due by September 17, 2026.PUCT Interchange, control number 59550 item 2, Staff Questions for Comments Primary source, official · interchange.puc.texas.gov
The current Low System-Wide Offer Cap (LCAP) is $2,000 per MWh for energy offers and $2,000 per MW per hour for ancillary service (AS) offers. The current High System-Wide Offer Cap (HCAP) is $5,000 per MWh for energy offers and $5,000 per MW per hour for ancillary service offers.PUCT Interchange, control number 59550 item 2, Staff Questions for Comments Primary source, official · interchange.puc.texas.gov
Since its adoption in December 2023, ERCOT has never activated the EPP.PUCT Interchange, control number 59550 item 2, Staff Questions for Comments Primary source, official · interchange.puc.texas.gov
Comments may be filed through the Interchange on the Commission's websitePUCT Interchange, control number 59550 item 2, Staff Questions for Comments Primary source, official · interchange.puc.texas.gov
Public Comment Deadline - Thursday, September 17, 2026PUCT calendar RSS, entry title Primary source, official · puc.texas.gov
Staff memo asking for commentsPUCT Interchange, Project 59550 filings Primary source, official · interchange.puc.texas.gov
Questions about this decision
Answered from the record itself. Every answer is assembled from stored fields, so an answer the record has no basis for is left out rather than guessed.
What is this decision?
The Public Utility Commission of Texas has opened Project 59550, the quinquennial review of the system-wide offer cap programs under 16 TAC Section 25.509(d). Commission staff filed a memorandum on August 20th, 2026 asking interested parties to answer questions about whether the caps and the emergency pricing program should change. The memorandum states that calendar year 2026 marks the first review period for these programs. It also states that ERCOT has never activated the emergency pricing program since it was adopted. Comments are due by September 17th, 2026 and anyone may file one through the commission's Interchange.
Who decides it?
Public Utility Commission of Texas decides. The record names the deciding body for every entry it carries.
Can the public comment on it?
Anyone may file comments under control number 59550 through the commission's Interchange filer, or send a paper copy to Central Records in Austin. No lawyer and no standing are required. The memorandum asks each filer to attach a standalone executive summary as the last page. Comments must be in by the September 17th, 2026 deadline.
Where in Texas does it apply?
It applies statewide.
Has it been decided?
Its status on the record is open.
What happens next?
A comment closes is set for September 17th, in twelve days.
When did it start?
The earliest date on its record is March 23rd, 2026.
What kind of decision is it?
It is filed under power and the grid.
What sources back it?
Four sources back it. Four of them are primary.
Is it on the ERCOT grid?
Yes. It sits inside the ERCOT interconnection.
When was it last checked?
Every fact on it was last verified against its source on September 5th, 2026.
Cite this
Texas AI Docket, PUCT opens the first five year review of the ERCOT system-wide offer caps, with comments due September 17th. Tracked since March 23rd, 2026. Last verified September 5th, 2026. https://texasaidocket.com/item/tx-2026-0107/. Reuse permitted under CC BY 4.0 with attribution. The same entry is in the docket JSON as item tx-2026-0107.
Beat
Filed under Power and the grid, with every other decision on that beat.