AUSTIN The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) is now accepting virtual currency mining facility registrations through an online portal hosted on the PUCT website.
Facilities with a total demand of more than 75 megawatts are required to register. Existing facilities must register by Feb. 1. Future facilities must register no later than one working day after the facility begins receiving retail electric service. Further information regarding the types of facilities that must register, registration requirements, and a link to the online portal is available on the PUCT’s website.
Facilities registering with the PUCT must provide information annually about the facility’s location, ownership, and demand for electricity.
On Nov. 21, 2024, the PUCT adopted a new rule requiring virtual currency mining facilities located within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region to register with the PUCT. The rule implements Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) §39.360, enacted by Senate Bill 1929, which was passed by the 88th Texas Legislature and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023.
Virtual currency mining facilities are considered “flexible loads,” meaning they can quickly adjust their power consumption in response to certain factors, like changes in the wholesale price of electricity. These characteristics can impact wholesale electricity prices or the frequency of the grid. The information provided in the registration will help the PUCT and ERCOT manage the grid reliably as more virtual currency mining facilities connect to the grid.
Qualifying facilities failing to register will face a Class A violation which, according to Chapter §25.8 of the PUCT’s rules, could result in up to a $25,000 penalty per violation per day.
