As electric demand grows across Texas, utilities across the state—including electric cooperatives—are receiving requests from very large power users such as data centers or industrial facilities. These types of projects are often referred to as megaloads.
Here are a few facts about how these requests are handled and what they mean for our members.
How does Big Country Electric Cooperative evaluate requests for high-demand electric service (megaloads)?
Electric cooperatives are required to provide service fairly and without discrimination, meaning BCEC cannot refuse a consumer based solely on their electrical volume or demand. However, very large projects—such as data centers or major industrial facilities—go through a far more extensive technical, engineering, risk assessment and regulatory review process than a typical residential, agricultural or small commercial service request due to the size of the load. These additional studies and requirements help ensure the electric system can safely and reliably support the requested load, as well as established member loads, before a project can move forward.
How does BCEC make sure the electric system can support a large facility?
Before any large facility can be energized, projects are carefully examined at the local, regional and state levels to evaluate their potential impact on the electric system. These reviews include detailed cooperative engineering analysis as well as broader transmission and grid-level studies coordinated through the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Projects must meet all system requirements and reliability standards before they can interconnect.
Do large facilities still have to follow BCEC’s service requirements?
Yes. Large facilities must adhere to the cooperative’s terms and conditions of service, which include stipulations to ensure that reliability standards and cost responsibilities are met. These requirements help protect the integrity of the electric system and ensure fair treatment for all consumers.
Providing service without discrimination is one of the core principles of the cooperative business model and is also governed by state requirements. If the large facility cannot or will not meet our terms of service, the project cannot interconnect until those issues are resolved.
What about rolling outages?
In very rare emergency situations, ERCOT may mandate that utilities temporarily reduce electric demand to protect the stability of the Texas power grid. When this occurs, utilities are instructed to shed a percentage of their load, which can result in temporary rolling outages. These statewide emergency orders are issued by ERCOT and are not determined by local cooperatives.
Exceptionally large loads, such as data centers or other transmission-level consumers, are subject to ERCOT reliability requirements and participate in separate curtailment programs designed to reduce their usage during grid emergencies.
During any required load-shed or curtailment event, BCEC follows established procedures designed to reduce demand while minimizing impact to residential consumers whenever possible. Curtailment decisions follow an approved priority structure for emergency operations, and residential service is typically among the last categories considered, though emergency conditions can vary and outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Read more about our established load-shedding procedures at bigcountry.coop/load-shedding.
Looking Ahead
As electric demand continues to grow across the region, BCEC remains committed to thoughtful planning, responsible system management and reliable service for all of our members. The co-op maintains a long-standing focus on keeping native, or established member loads, central to system planning, with all electric service subject to established co-op and regulatory requirements that safeguard long-term system reliability.
