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Nov 19, 2023

Texas resident selling energy to grid in PUC pilot program

AUSTIN, Texas — Scott Stambush sells excess power to the Texas grid. He’s participating in a pilot program that allows customers to sell surplus energy in the ERCOT market. ERCOT is the Electric

AUSTIN, Texas — Scott Stambush sells excess power to the Texas grid. He’s participating in a pilot program that allows customers to sell surplus energy in the ERCOT market. ERCOT is the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which oversees the state’s grid.

“I’ve had this system since June of 2021,” Stambush said. “I got it after Storm Uri when we realized that we needed power.”

The grid failed during a winter storm two years ago. Hundreds of Texans died when they were left in the cold without power. Stambush says he and his family used his Tesla to stay safe during that storm.

“The car kept my family and myself warm for two and a half days, since we were without any electricity, any warmth whatsoever,” Stambush said.

Now, he’s helping power the grid. One way the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) is trying to make the grid more reliable during extreme weather events is through its virtual power plant pilot program. Texans who have small energy resources, like backup generators or solar panels that are connected to a battery storage system, can sell their surplus power to the grid when called upon.

“I do feel like I’m making a difference,” Stambush said. “I also know there are sick people who are dependent on electricity for their devices. And if the grid goes down on those people, they’re in very big trouble. So I am helping everybody try to stay cool in the summer, in the heat.”

Stambush says the solar panels feed his Tesla Powerwall. When the grid needs power, it automatically sells the extra energy back to the grid.

“Last month, my electric bill was negative $124,” he said. “So I not only had free electricity, but now I have a credit of $124. The month before that, I had a credit of $24.”

Stambush is one of two consumers that’s participating so far. Six more are in the process of joining.

“They’ve produced about 1.6 megawatts on a daily basis,” said PUC Commissioner Will McAdams. “If 80 megawatts of consumers are engaging with the pilot, we can power over 18,000 homes with that energy.”

Right now, the program is allowing consumers to put 80 megawatts onto the grid. This is just a fraction of ERCOT’s peak capacity, but the PUC is testing the program with a small group of people before developing a permanent plan.

“It’s a great tool to have in the toolbox moving forward,” McAdams said.

For the eighth time this summer, ERCOT on Wednesday asked Texans to conserve energy. ERCOT says it avoided taking emergency measures so far this summer, but more than once the demand for energy has come close to overtaking the supply. The grid’s operator partly credits conservation efforts from homeowners and renewable energy for keeping reserves from running out.

As for Stambush, he’s pleased to participate in a new program that’s already having a positive impact on the grid.

“It makes me feel great that I am helping people, and it makes me feel even better that I’m making money doing it,” Stambush said. “So really, what else is there when you make money and help people at the same time?”

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