CenterPoint Sees 14 GW Eligible for Texas Large-Load Interconnection
CenterPoint Energy expects 14 GW of the more than 17 GW in large-load projects it submitted to ERCOT’s new interconnection process to qualify as base load or studied load, company officials said Tuesday on the utility’s second-quarter earnings call, Utility Dive reports. The projects fall under “Batch Zero,” the first group to move through Texas’ new large-load interconnection rules approved by regulators in June. CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells said nearly all of the qualifying projects are expected to be energized by the end of 2030, driven largely by data center demand. The 14 GW figure would mark a more than 65% jump over the company’s current 21 GW Houston-area peak demand, and the utility now projects 50% load growth by the end of 2029.
To support that growth, CenterPoint raised its 10-year capital plan by $1.2 billion, to $66.7 billion through 2035. Roughly 10 GW of the Batch Zero total already has both required ERCOT studies approved, while another 4 GW has one of two studies cleared. The projects are backed by signed facility extension agreements and about $900 million in customer cash commitments and deposits, Wells said. CenterPoint also flagged an additional 2 GW of distribution-level demand growth from manufacturing reshoring and population growth in the Houston area.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Electrical, civil, and substation contractors in the Houston area should expect accelerating bid activity tied to the 14 GW of Batch Zero projects, with CenterPoint targeting energization for nearly all qualifying load by the end of 2030.
- The $1.2 billion capital plan increase, part of a total $66.7 billion through 2035, points to sustained transmission and distribution work beyond large-load interconnection, including the Downtown Houston Revitalization project.
- Firms serving CenterPoint’s Southwestern Indiana territory should note the utility has already started construction work for a major new large-load customer there, with additional counterparties in discussion for further projects outside its current base plan.
