KEY POINTS
• Transmission costs in ERCOT rose from $1.5 billion in 2010 to over $5 billion in 2024 and could increase to over $12 billion per year by 2033.
• After adjusting for inflation and overall rising electricity demand, the average ratepayer in the ERCOT region paid 57% more in transmission charges in 2024 than in 2010.
• Texas ratepayers are paying about $1 billion per year to support transmission investments for wind and solar and have paid a total of nearly $15 billion since 2010.
• If current transmission plans are fully executed, the annual cost of transmission in ERCOT will more than double, adding at least $100 per year to the average residential ratepayer’s electric bill.
• Many new transmission projects will primarily serve new data center demand, highlighting the urgent need to revise how transmission costs are allocated among all ratepayers.
Read the Full Research Paper Here.
