The Shift That Changed Everything
When people hear about the deregulated energy market in Texas, they usually think about policy, economics, or headlines about electricity prices. What rarely gets discussed—but played a critical role—is the technology behind that transformation.
I had the opportunity to work at ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) during one of the most defining periods in the state’s energy history. As we transitioned from a vertically integrated electricity model to a deregulated, competitive marketplace, the pressure was immense. We weren’t just changing rules—we were rewriting how electricity was managed, priced, and delivered across a grid that serves over 26 million Texans.
But none of that could happen without technology. And behind every successful policy change was a team of engineers, IT professionals, and systems experts making it possible.
Laying the Digital Foundation for a New Market
Before deregulation, electricity was a one-way street. Power flowed from a utility-owned plant to your home, with one company handling everything from generation to billing. Deregulation split those functions apart—introducing competition in generation and retail while keeping transmission and distribution regulated.
To support that shift, we had to design systems capable of handling market transactions in real time, across dozens of companies. That meant building platforms for energy trading, demand forecasting, system balancing, and financial settlement—all while keeping the grid stable and secure.
One of our first tasks was to modernize the way we communicated across stakeholders. This required not just software upgrades, but deep integration between operations, IT, policy, and compliance. We had to ensure that every participant—generators, retailers, utilities—could interact with ERCOT’s systems in a standardized, transparent, and secure way.
In short: deregulation required us to take one of the most complex, mission-critical infrastructures in the country and make it flexible, dynamic, and fast.
Matching Policy with Platform
The policy goals of deregulation were clear: increase efficiency, foster innovation, and lower costs through competition. But policies are only as strong as the systems that support them.
One of our biggest challenges was ensuring that new market rules could be enforced through technology. That meant translating policy into logic: If a generator failed to deliver power, how would penalties be calculated and enforced? If a retail provider switched customers, how would the change be reflected in billing, forecasting, and load balancing?
This was where technology became the bridge between theory and practice. Every system we built had to account for fairness, accountability, and transparency. Every outage report, pricing signal, and load forecast had to be accurate, timely, and secure. And when we made a mistake—because mistakes happen—it had the potential to ripple across the entire market.
Resilience in the Face of Pressure
With great transformation comes great scrutiny. ERCOT operates under the microscope of regulators, market participants, media, and the public. During my time there, we navigated major storms, infrastructure stress tests, and cyber threats—all while keeping the transformation on track.
One of the proudest moments of my career was watching our systems hold steady under extreme load conditions. The resilience we built into our technology—redundancy, backup protocols, real-time visibility—was not glamorous, but it was essential.
At the same time, we knew resilience wasn’t just about machines. It was about people. We invested in training, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership that could adapt under pressure. That culture of preparedness and professionalism carried us through some of our toughest moments.
Bridging the Gap Between IT and Energy
One of the unique aspects of working at ERCOT was that it sat at the intersection of two very different worlds: traditional energy operations and fast-moving information technology. That intersection was where most of my time was spent—and where I saw the biggest opportunities and risks.
Utilities aren’t always known for moving quickly, and for good reason. Stability and safety are paramount. But IT systems, especially those supporting markets and real-time operations, require agility. As CIO, I often found myself acting as a translator—helping operations teams understand the value of new tools, while guiding IT teams to appreciate the critical nature of reliability and compliance.
This balancing act was one of the most challenging—and rewarding—parts of the job. It forced us to rethink old assumptions, find common ground, and build systems that honored both speed and safety.
What We Built Still Matters Today
Many of the systems we put in place during the early years of Texas’s deregulated market are still in use today—though constantly evolving. That speaks to the strength of the foundational work we did, and to the foresight of the teams who built it.
More importantly, it speaks to the power of collaboration. Deregulation wasn’t just a policy shift; it was a collective effort involving technologists, grid operators, legal experts, and community leaders. Everyone had a stake, and everyone had to work together.
As a technologist, it was deeply fulfilling to be part of something that combined innovation with public impact. We weren’t just building platforms—we were shaping how a state delivers one of life’s most essential services.
Lessons for the Next Generation
The energy landscape continues to evolve. Renewables, battery storage, distributed energy, and climate resilience are introducing new complexities—and new opportunities. As we look to the future, the lessons from ERCOT’s transformation still hold true: strong technology, guided by sound policy and clear leadership, can drive meaningful change.
But none of it happens in a vacuum. It takes vision, collaboration, and a deep understanding of both infrastructure and innovation.
I’m proud of the role I played in that transformation—and grateful for the people who made it possible.