What the law does
SB 6 told the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to set standard terms for large load interconnection. The aim is to sort serious projects from speculative ones and to protect other customers from the cost of grid upgrades that are never used.
The law also deals with large loads that pair with existing power plants and with how large loads behave in grid emergencies. Read the statute and the PUCT rules for those details.
What the adopted rule asks for
The PUCT adopted its rule under SB 6 on 2026-09-18 (16 TAC 25.194, PUCT Project 58481). As adopted:
- It applies to a new or expanded interconnection of 75 MW or more at a single site.
- The customer must show site control before the study: a lease of at least five years, a deed, or a signed option to purchase or lease.
- The customer pays a flat study fee of $100,000.
- The customer posts security of $50,000 per MW of requested peak demand before the study.
- If the customer withdraws after ERCOT allocates capacity, part of the security is kept.
Rules can be amended. Check the PUCT for the current text before you rely on any figure.
What it means for siting
SB 6 raises the cost of holding a place in line for a site that is not ready. That makes early screening more useful: it is cheaper to rule a site out before fees and security are due than after.
Questions people ask
Who does Texas SB 6 apply to?
Under the adopted PUCT rule, it applies to a new or expanded interconnection of 75 MW or more at a single site in ERCOT. Check the rule for how it treats your case.
Does SB 6 apply outside ERCOT?
The large load interconnection rule is written for the ERCOT region. Parts of Texas in other grids follow the rules of those grids and their utilities.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It is a plain summary of public sources. Read the statute and the PUCT rule, and ask a lawyer about your project.
Related
More glossary
- What is time to power?
- What is powered land?
- What is a powered shell?
- What is large load interconnection?
- What is a point of interconnection?
- What is an interconnection queue?
- What is queue position?
- What is ERCOT?
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