Rate-case process
Split oversight between a competitive ERCOT electric market and cost-based natural-gas utility regulation.
In most of ERCOT, generation and retail supply are competitive while regulated transmission and distribution utilities provide delivery service under PUCT rules. Natural-gas distribution rates are overseen separately by municipalities and the Railroad Commission, including general rate cases and infrastructure adjustments.
Read the official framework ↗Wholesale power market
Form EIA-861 2024 identifies this utility jurisdiction with ERCOT; the date records the dataset year, not the original membership start.
Market coverage source ↗Form EIA-861 2024 identifies this utility jurisdiction with MISO; the date records the dataset year, not the original membership start.
Market coverage source ↗Form EIA-861 2024 identifies this utility jurisdiction with SPP; the date records the dataset year, not the original membership start.
Market coverage source ↗State rules
Full base-rate reviews set the broad revenue and return framework. Recurring riders, clauses, and reconciliations can change narrower charges between those reviews. These are governing patterns, not filing-date forecasts.
Electric service
Full base-rate review
Electric · PUCT-regulated electric transmission and distribution utilities
At least every four years
A regulated electric utility generally must initiate a comprehensive base-rate proceeding at least once every four years, subject to the statutory waiver process.
Rate period: Historical test year in the comprehensive rate filing.
Governing rule ↗Between full reviews
Electric
Distribution Cost Recovery Factor
Up to twice per year
A DCRF updates distribution rates for eligible capital investment placed in service since the last comprehensive rate case. The investment is reconciled in a later base-rate proceeding.
Governing source ↗Natural-gas service
Full base-rate review
Natural gas · Gas utilities using an interim rate adjustment or GRIP
Annual adjustment · full case within five years
A gas utility using the interim infrastructure adjustment files annually and must complete a comprehensive cost-of-service rate case by the fifth anniversary of its first adjustment.
Rate period: The comprehensive case resets the investment, return, depreciation, tax, and allocation benchmarks used by later interim adjustments.
Governing rule ↗Between full reviews
Natural gas
Interim Rate Adjustment / GRIP
Annual
A gas utility may update base rates for incremental infrastructure without a full cost-of-service package. Annual filings and earnings monitoring continue until the required comprehensive review.
Governing source ↗Natural gas
Purchased gas adjustment
Tariff-specific pass-through
Purchased-gas clauses pass the commodity cost of gas through to customers separately from the utility's distribution base rates, with the calculation and update process set in the approved tariff.
Governing source ↗Current activity