ERCOT Power NEXT expands on Infocast’s ERCOT Market Summit to address the ways policy developments, increasing demand, and operational strategies are driving future investments in Texas power. Through shared plenary sessions and two dedicated tracks—ERCOT Market Reforms and Investment & Asset Optimization in ERCOT—the event convenes policymakers, utilities, developers, investors and market leaders to examine the decisions shaping the infrastructure needed to meet Texas’ growing power demand.

ERCOT faces an enormous challenge: the latest Long-Term Load Forecast projects an almost unfathomable 367 GW of peak load by 2032, nearly quadrupling the expected summer peak in 2026. Propelled by an incoming wave of AI data centers, oilfield electrification, and population growth, the uncertainties surrounding the impacts of proposed data centers recently drove Gov. Abbott to mandate the collection and audit of their resource needs.

The impacts of this decision will affect multiple policy and operational areas and delay Batch Zero studies governing infrastructure investment decisions when speed to power has become a customer imperative. With virtually every challenge in the ERCOT market—transmission, generation, water, financing, reliability, resilience and security, and policy—being driven by load growth, this has increased uncertainty regarding when and how numerous major policy changes and financial risks will affect those seeking to supply power in ERCOT:

• How energy and data center issues will be addressed in the upcoming 90th Legislative Session
• How and when the new Batch Zero process for planning large load and generation interconnection across Texas will roll out
• What long-term reliability needs will need to be met, and how that will affect potential market and operational changes to address resource adequacy
• How a plethora of powered land and collocated generation projects launched to quickly provide power to data centers will be affected by potential grid interconnection delays
• Whether there are alternatives to making billions of planned investments in 765 kV transmission infrastructure, and if so, how that will affect powering a wave of new large loads
• How to optimize asset operations and investments in ERCOT
• Growing concerns regarding the impacts of FEOC requirements, cybersecurity threats, equipment costs and availability on project schedules and finance

Those seeking to take advantage of Texas-sized opportunities to deliver power supply solutions must gain the latest and most complete insights into what comes next in ERCOT.

Infocast’s ERCOT Power NEXT will provide an unparalleled deep dive into the coming year in the nation’s most vibrant energy market. Network with a stellar group of policymakers, utility executives, generation developers and IPPs, finance, cyber and energy security authorities, and trading executives to examine where the market is headed and explore winning development and operational strategies.

Attend the ERCOT Power NEXT along with 800 of your peers and take advantage of your best opportunity to connect with key players, hear their plans for the upcoming year, and discuss opportunities in today’s business environment that will lead to successful deals.

Explore the 2027 Program →