The Texas Reliability Entity’s Member Representatives Committee has unanimously approved the entity’s 2026 business plan and budget, which is within 1% of projections.
The proposed $21.598 million budget is a $1.3 million increase (6.4%) over the 2025 budget. It adds three staffers to help handle the organization’s increasing workload and a 4% merit increase for personnel.
“We’re looking at the challenges that we’re seeing with significant growth and the complexity of the work that we’re having to do, and the changing landscape with the resource mix,” Texas RE CEO Jim Albright told the MRC during the April 17 call.
Albright said Texas RE has the lowest number of statutory full-time equivalents (72) in the ERO Enterprise but the second-highest number of registered entities (389). It has the lowest NERC ERO Enterprise Program funding per registered entity, he said.
At the same time, the increase and types of registered entities are increasing compliance-oversight engagements. New standards or requirements in compliance areas and increased expectations from NERC and FERC for new entity outreach and engagements also are taxing Texas RE’s staff, COO Joseph Younger said.
Looking ahead, Texas RE is projecting a 7.8% budget increase in 2027 from 2026 and a 5.5% increase in 2028 from 2027.
Texas RE will post the budget for members’ comments. The complete plan and budget will be presented to the board May 14 for its approval.
