Dallas Energy Firm Could Be Paid to Operate East Texas Units

DALLAS (AP) – The manager of the state’s electric grid says it’s considering paying a Dallas-based energy company to continue running two coal-fired East Texas power units the firm had recently indicated it would be shutting down. The Dallas Morning News reports the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is studying whether it needs the two units at the Monticello plant to stay on in order to keep power lines running properly. ERCOT will make a decision by the end of October. Energy Future Holdings had said it would idle the units this winter because power prices are too low to turn a profit. The Sierra Club is accusing the energy company of idling the units in order to get the contract from ERCOT, a claim the firm denies.