From the Desk of the CEO

Maintaining the reliability of the Bulk Power System (BPS) is a job that requires the diligence and expertise of tens of thousands of subject matter experts and professionals all working together. Coordination is as much the backbone of our grid as electrons are, because it doesn’t matter how many megawatts a generation facility produces if there isn’t a Balancing Authority to maintain frequency, or Transmission Operator to get electricity where it needs to go. Effective collaboration between individuals and across sectors is vital, and Texas RE’s governance model is set up to reflect that.

Texas RE is a member-based organization. Each year starting on the first business day in October we hold a membership registration and renewal period to encourage NERC-registered entities in our Region to join and participate in Texas RE’s governance. Membership is not required, but it can serve as an important link between a registered entity and oversight of the industry in a few key ways.

Each quarter, Texas RE holds meetings of its Board of Directors (Board) and Member Representatives Committee (MRC). These meetings are open to the public, but the primary intended audience is BPS stakeholders. Texas RE’s MRC is comprised of 11 representatives elected by each member sector (more details are available under Membership here), and the meetings are a forum for the representatives to raise matters important to the industry for discussion and collaboration. In the past couple of years MRC meetings have covered topics as diverse as cybersecurity events like Cloudstrike, the Interregional Transfer Capability Study (ITCS), large loads, artificial intelligence, and grid winterization. These are issues that confront every sector of our industry and the Texas RE MRC meetings are a valuable platform for cross-sector coordination that we encourage all members to attend and participate in.

In addition to meeting quarterly to discuss important topics facing the industry, they also have a role in governing Texas RE and as a voice at the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) Enterprise level. After the 2026 membership roster is finalized at the end of October, in November members will vote within their respective sectors on the 2026-2027 Member Representatives Committee. Then in January, the MRC will vote among its 11 members to elect a chair and vice chair who will then represent the MRC as affiliated directors on the Texas RE Board.

Every new MRC term I get the chance to meet talented, dedicated individuals in our industry and the 2024-2025 MRC was no exception. I appreciate the industry leaders willing to serve on the MRC and play a key role in ensuring the reliability and security of the electric grid in the Texas Interconnection. Just like the BPS, Texas RE is an organization built by every sector in our industry working together toward a common goal. Our leadership team and staff look forward to working with the new 2026-2027 MRC members.

Reliably,
Jim Albright