Policy Goals

Assist ERCOT staff and stakeholders to identify barriers to energy storage participation in the ERCOT energy and ancillary service markets today and under the planned nodal market slated to begin by January of 2011;
Participate in the stakeholder process and relevant committees in ERCOT (including the Wholesale Markets Subcommittee and the Renewable Technology Working Group) to open ancillary services markets to energy storage, recognize unique operational characteristics, and fairly compensate storage for the services and system benefits it provides, and develop detailed protocols;
Participate in the PUCT non-wind renewable portfolio standard rule proceeding (Project 35792) to obtain or clarify the eligibility of energy storage:
Participate in the PUCT proposed energy efficiency rule amendments proceeding (Project 37632) to encourage increased funding for incentives, continuing eligibility for energy storage technologies, and customer choice program format;
Advise the PUC of Texas and state leadership regarding storage technologies and their benefits, as well as the barriers to commercial deployment at scale, and clarify the role of storage in the ERCOT market in terms of ownership and access to markets for various market participants through the PUCT;
Advocate the adoption of measures to create a supportive legal and regulatory environment, and energy storage specific incentive program(s), in the next Texas legislative session, sunset commission review of the PUC, and other relevant interim hearings and studies;
Help explore the opportunities for market penetration in the vertically integrated service territories (approximately 150 municipal and cooperative utilities).
Assist the workforce training agencies and institutions of the state to incorporate appropriate training on energy storage technologies, applications, and regulations in educational programming for audiences including technicians, contractors, engineers, facility managers and building owners, utility managers and systems operators.