Which CDR Zones can absorb Large Load
Each card mixes three datasets and says which geography it actually has (LLWG Split, CDR Zone, Settlement Zone). The Mark is a simple average rank, not a Clearance Band.
West
BCDR Zone West · LLWG Split west · Settlement Zone LZ_WEST
Large-Load Queue waiting to connect82.2 GW
How long it's taken othersERCOT doesn't publish how long large loads like data centers take yet. This uses power-plant interconnection times in the same zone as the closest real-world stand-in.
Full ProcessFull Process: Screening Start to Approved for Energization. Not Commercial Operation.2.92 yr
Build PhaseBuild Phase: IA Signed to Approved for Energization.1.72 yr
COD SlipProjected Commercial Operation versus actual Commercial Operation. Not Full Process.0.28 yr
Generation Queue ahead196.5 GW · 791 projects
Years of generation-side pending MW at this CDR Zone's throughput58 yr
Generation-side pending MW over this CDR Zone's own Approved for Energization throughput: 3.4 GW per year on average.
Grid stress signal (from electricity prices)
Expensive hoursShare of 15-minute periods in the past 12 months where wholesale power cost more than $100/MWh. A sign the local grid was strained.3.6%
Oversupplied hoursShare of 15-minute periods where power prices went below $0. Usually means too much wind and solar for the local demand to soak up.10.5%
Mark is the average rank across 3 of 3 factors (interconnection timeline, backlog vs. throughput, price stress). Relative CDR Zone rank, not a Clearance Band.
North
BCDR Zone North · LLWG Split north · Settlement Zone LZ_NORTH
Large-Load Queue waiting to connect56.8 GW
How long it's taken othersERCOT doesn't publish how long large loads like data centers take yet. This uses power-plant interconnection times in the same zone as the closest real-world stand-in.
Full ProcessFull Process: Screening Start to Approved for Energization. Not Commercial Operation.3.63 yr
Build PhaseBuild Phase: IA Signed to Approved for Energization.1.79 yr
COD SlipProjected Commercial Operation versus actual Commercial Operation. Not Full Process.1.01 yr
Generation Queue ahead151.3 GW · 687 projects
Years of generation-side pending MW at this CDR Zone's throughput49 yr
Generation-side pending MW over this CDR Zone's own Approved for Energization throughput: 3.1 GW per year on average.
Grid stress signal (from electricity prices)
Expensive hoursShare of 15-minute periods in the past 12 months where wholesale power cost more than $100/MWh. A sign the local grid was strained.3.0%
Oversupplied hoursShare of 15-minute periods where power prices went below $0. Usually means too much wind and solar for the local demand to soak up.3.1%
Mark is the average rank across 3 of 3 factors (interconnection timeline, backlog vs. throughput, price stress). Relative CDR Zone rank, not a Clearance Band.
South
CCDR Zone South · no own LLWG Split (lumped into Other) · Settlement Zone LZ_SOUTH
Large-Load Queue waiting to connect60.9 GW
No own LLWG Split. This CDR Zone is lumped into Other in the decks.
How long it's taken othersERCOT doesn't publish how long large loads like data centers take yet. This uses power-plant interconnection times in the same zone as the closest real-world stand-in.
Full ProcessFull Process: Screening Start to Approved for Energization. Not Commercial Operation.3.65 yr
Build PhaseBuild Phase: IA Signed to Approved for Energization.2.03 yr
COD SlipProjected Commercial Operation versus actual Commercial Operation. Not Full Process.1.23 yr
Generation Queue ahead151.0 GW · 762 projects
Years of generation-side pending MW at this CDR Zone's throughput72 yr
Generation-side pending MW over this CDR Zone's own Approved for Energization throughput: 2.1 GW per year on average.
Grid stress signal (from electricity prices)
Expensive hoursShare of 15-minute periods in the past 12 months where wholesale power cost more than $100/MWh. A sign the local grid was strained.2.4%
Oversupplied hoursShare of 15-minute periods where power prices went below $0. Usually means too much wind and solar for the local demand to soak up.2.3%
Mark is the average rank across 3 of 3 factors (interconnection timeline, backlog vs. throughput, price stress). Relative CDR Zone rank, not a Clearance Band.
Houston
ACDR Zone Houston · no own LLWG Split (lumped into Other) · Settlement Zone LZ_HOUSTON
Large-Load Queue waiting to connect60.9 GW
No own LLWG Split. This CDR Zone is lumped into Other in the decks.
How long it's taken othersERCOT doesn't publish how long large loads like data centers take yet. This uses power-plant interconnection times in the same zone as the closest real-world stand-in.
Full ProcessFull Process: Screening Start to Approved for Energization. Not Commercial Operation.2.8 yr
Build PhaseBuild Phase: IA Signed to Approved for Energization.1.67 yr
COD SlipProjected Commercial Operation versus actual Commercial Operation. Not Full Process.0.88 yr
Generation Queue ahead25.9 GW · 106 projects
Years of generation-side pending MW at this CDR Zone's throughput29 yr
Generation-side pending MW over this CDR Zone's own Approved for Energization throughput: 889 MW per year on average.
Grid stress signal (from electricity prices)
Expensive hoursShare of 15-minute periods in the past 12 months where wholesale power cost more than $100/MWh. A sign the local grid was strained.2.1%
Oversupplied hoursShare of 15-minute periods where power prices went below $0. Usually means too much wind and solar for the local demand to soak up.1.6%
Mark is the average rank across 3 of 3 factors (interconnection timeline, backlog vs. throughput, price stress). Relative CDR Zone rank, not a Clearance Band.
Coastal
BCDR Zone Coastal · no own LLWG Split (lumped into Other) · no Settlement Zone LMP series
Large-Load Queue waiting to connect60.9 GW
No own LLWG Split. This CDR Zone is lumped into Other in the decks.
How long it's taken othersERCOT doesn't publish how long large loads like data centers take yet. This uses power-plant interconnection times in the same zone as the closest real-world stand-in.
Full ProcessFull Process: Screening Start to Approved for Energization. Not Commercial Operation.3.82 yr
Build PhaseBuild Phase: IA Signed to Approved for Energization.1.87 yr
COD SlipProjected Commercial Operation versus actual Commercial Operation. Not Full Process.0.68 yr
Generation Queue ahead52.2 GW · 256 projects
Years of generation-side pending MW at this CDR Zone's throughput40 yr
Generation-side pending MW over this CDR Zone's own Approved for Energization throughput: 1.3 GW per year on average.
Grid stress signal (from electricity prices)
No Settlement Zone LMP series for this CDR Zone (Coastal and Panhandle have none).
Mark is the average rank across 2 of 3 factors (interconnection timeline, backlog vs. throughput). Relative CDR Zone rank, not a Clearance Band.
Panhandle
DCDR Zone Panhandle · no own LLWG Split (lumped into Other) · no Settlement Zone LMP series
Large-Load Queue waiting to connect60.9 GW
No own LLWG Split. This CDR Zone is lumped into Other in the decks.
How long it's taken othersERCOT doesn't publish how long large loads like data centers take yet. This uses power-plant interconnection times in the same zone as the closest real-world stand-in.
Full ProcessFull Process: Screening Start to Approved for Energization. Not Commercial Operation.3.93 yr
Build PhaseBuild Phase: IA Signed to Approved for Energization.2.5 yr
COD SlipProjected Commercial Operation versus actual Commercial Operation. Not Full Process.0.99 yr
Generation Queue ahead37.6 GW · 108 projects
Years of generation-side pending MW at this CDR Zone's throughput84 yr
Generation-side pending MW over this CDR Zone's own Approved for Energization throughput: 446 MW per year on average.
Grid stress signal (from electricity prices)
No Settlement Zone LMP series for this CDR Zone (Coastal and Panhandle have none).
Mark is the average rank across 2 of 3 factors (interconnection timeline, backlog vs. throughput). Relative CDR Zone rank, not a Clearance Band.
ERCOT splits the grid into CDR Zones, Settlement Zones, and LLWG Splits. They don't always line up. When a card says a number isn't available, that's real, not a bug. See methodology.