The state of Texas is offering a temporary, voluntary blackout program for “large flexible loads (LFLs),” encouraging bitcoin miners to reduce electricity consumption during periods of high electricity demand.
The move will help the state’s grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), ease concerns that mining will put additional strain on the system during times of high demand. In a statement, ERCOT said that in anticipation of the increasing interconnection of large flexible loads in the ERCOT region, ERCOT is establishing a temporary voluntary curtailment program to allow these loads to assist ERCOT in ensuring reliability during periods of high system demand.
This interim scheme is expected to go live around 1 January 2023, but may be terminated at any time as ERCOT plans to develop a permanent reliability framework for LFL in the future.