Texas (TX) data center power coverage
Real, sourced large-load tariff and interconnection research on file for Texas — never inferred, never scraped, never implied beyond what's actually been checked.
Large-load tariffs
Southwestern Public Service (Xcel, SPP)
Threshold10 MW at 69 kV or below, or 50 MW above 69 kV (SPP High Impact Large Load)
StatusLoads over those thresholds follow SPP's High Impact Large Load process, targeting a 90-day study window. Smaller loads go through SPS directly.
SourceSPP High Impact Large Load (HILL) integration materials; FERC order approving the process
Oncor / ERCOT TDUs
Threshold75 MW and above (ERCOT Large Load Interconnection Study)
StatusAny facility at or above 75 MW must complete ERCOT's Large Load Interconnection Study before energizing. Submission windows are set each year.
SourceERCOT Large Load Integration; Texas PUCT large-load interconnection rule (2025)
Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO, Texas), proposed Large Load standard contract
Threshold75 MW or more of contract capacity at one facility or in aggregate (EEI summary)
StatusPENDING, WITH A SETTLEMENT FILED. PUCT Docket 58796: SWEPCO applied for a new standard form contract for large load electric service (ES-LL Contract). The docket lists a Unanimous Stipulation and Settlement Agreement. The stipulation and contract terms were not read, and no final order was confirmed.
SourcePUCT Interchange docket 58796 index; EEI list, Sept 2026.
Tri-County Electric Cooperative (Texas), large load request framework
ThresholdApplied to all large loads from 2 MW up
StatusBoard-approved process (April 2026) rather than a filed rate. Four steps, each completed before the next: (1) electric service request with an NDA, (2) a reimbursable services agreement under which the developer funds engineering, legal and consulting studies up front and replenishes the funds, (3) a construction development agreement under which the developer pays all construction, equipment and infrastructure costs up front, and (4) a long-term electric service agreement that covers transmission and energy procurement cost risk. The cooperative states members should not subsidize large loads. Texas SB 6 separately applies to loads typically above 75 MW.
SourceTri-County Electric Cooperative 'Current Conversations' article on large load risk (tcectexas.com, read in full). Specific contract terms are not published.
Austin Energy (Texas), large-load service
ThresholdNo data center tariff; Texas SB 6 defines large load at 75 MW; Austin Energy's new inquiries are mostly 20 to 74 MW
StatusLOWER CONFIDENCE. Austin Energy is a city-owned utility with no adopted data center tariff. Its stated policy is that a proposed large load pays 100% of the infrastructure needed when the utility cannot support the development. City Council members announced in August 2026 an intent to ban large and hyperscale data centers inside city limits. Older high-load-factor schedules applied to 20 MW with an 85% load factor, but the current FY2027 schedule was not confirmed.
SourceAustin Statesman coverage and City of Austin staff memo (services.austintexas.gov); FY2027 electric tariff not read.
Texas PUC large-load interconnection rule under SB 6 (Project 58481, proposed 16 TAC 25.194), all Texas utilities
ThresholdNew or expanded load of 75 MW or more at one site
StatusPENDING, NEAR FINAL (a September 2026 PUCT filing responds to comments on the rule as adopted; final text not confirmed). As proposed in April 2026: study fees of $100,000 for 75 to 250 MW and $300,000 above 250 MW; financial security of $50,000 per MW of requested peak demand, applied toward a non-refundable $50,000 per MW interconnection fee; an intermediate agreement with security and contribution in aid of construction within 180 days of the interconnection study; unused funds are not returned. Sources differ on some dollar details. This is a statewide rule that applies to every transmission and distribution utility, including CenterPoint, Oncor, AEP Texas and TNMP, on top of each utility's own tariff.
SourcePUCT Project 58481 filings (interchange.puc.texas.gov) and law-firm summaries (Foley, NatLawReview, Sidley); the final rule was not confirmed.
Interconnection & regulatory guidance
Texas — ERCOT
Contact guidanceContact the local Transmission/Distribution Utility (TDU) first (e.g. Oncor, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, AEP Texas, Texas-New Mexico Power) -- ERCOT's Large Load Interconnection Study (LLIS) process runs through the TDU, not a direct ERCOT application. IMPORTANT (as of 2026-10-08): a statewide gubernatorial directive currently pauses new data center regulatory approvals -- see below before assuming a normal timeline applies.
ThresholdAny new facility at 75 MW or more must complete ERCOT's Large Load Interconnection Study (LLIS) before energizing.
ProcessSTATEWIDE PAUSE IN EFFECT (as of 2026-10-08, no fixed end date): On Aug 3, 2026, Gov. Abbott directed PUCT/ERCOT to conduct a comprehensive audit of all data centers advancing through ERCOT's interconnection process, pausing their advancement pending completion. On Sep 21, 2026, Abbott expanded this, directing TCEQ to halt all permits (air, water, and other approvals) sought by data center projects, stating no state agency should proceed with regulatory approvals for data center development until the ERCOT/TWDB audits complete. TCEQ must report compliance to the Governor's office by Oct 19, 2026 -- that is a reporting deadline, not a stated end date for the pause itself. Six conditions are reported as required before a project can proceed: cover all electrical infrastructure costs; demonstrate the project results in lower residential electricity bills; complete the ERCOT audit; avoid using water needed by local communities; report electricity and water usage; comply with setback requirements protecting host communities. Below the pause: submission is normally cycle-based with fixed annual deadlines (e.g. Batch Zero forms due to the interconnecting TDU on specific dates each year) -- confirm the current cycle's deadlines, and whether the pause has lifted, directly with the TDU and ERCOT before relying on a specific timeline.
Deposit / costProposed, not adopted (PUCT Project 58481, 16 TAC 25.194, as of 2026-10-07): the proposal includes a security deposit and a non-refundable study fee. A search summary cites $50,000/MW and a $100,000 flat fee, but the amounts in the adopted order are not confirmed. Confirm with the TDU and the PUCT docket before quoting numbers.
Sourceercot.com/services/rq/large-load-integration; PUCT Project 58481 (proposal, March 2026; adoption not verified); Governor Abbott's Aug 3 2026 and Sep 21 2026 directives to PUCT/ERCOT/TCEQ (read via law-firm summaries -- troutman.com, dlapiper.com, gtlaw.com -- the Governor's own letter text was not directly located during this research).
Land-constraint screening
Every Kill Test automatically screens against 6 nationwide land-constraint layers, Texas included — no state-by-state gaps here.
FEMA Flood ZoneNearby WetlandsProtected / Conservation LandCritical HabitatSeismic HazardTribal Land
Related reporting
Texas Halted Data Center Permits. Its New Interconnection Deposit Is the Bigger Story.
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