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Ellis County joins public power purchasing pool to seek lower electricity rates
Summary
The Commissioners Court adopted a resolution to join the Public Power Pool (P3) aggregation program to solicit competitive electricity pricing and authorize P3 to pursue power supply agreements beginning January 2026.
Ellis County commissioners voted to adopt a resolution allowing the county to join the Public Power Pool (P3) aggregation program and to authorize P3 to solicit competitive bids for electricity on the county’s behalf, with potential power supply agreements to begin Jan. 1, 2026.
David Quinn, program manager for P3, told the court P3 aggregates electricity demand for political subdivisions across Texas to negotiate lower rates and contract terms that are tailored for public entities. Quinn said P3 represents nearly 99 political subdivisions and manages about 2 million megawatt‑hours; the group reports aggregate savings of roughly $205.5 million compared with daily spot market prices since the program’s inception.
P3 described a procurement strategy that establishes annual ceiling rates and seeks to book forward purchases when market prices meet thresholds the P3 board and technical committee deem acceptable. For Ellis County, Quinn said P3’s initial ceiling for 2026 would be 7.25 cents per kWh with an expected target nearer 6.38 cents per kWh; procurement would be flexible and allow members to opt out of executed contracts at certain stages.
Commissioners asked about contract length and competitive participation by retail electric providers; Quinn said retail providers statewide will be invited to bid and that P3’s aggregation model achieves lower effective prices through bulk buying. The court adopted the resolution by voice vote.
Why it matters Ellis County’s electricity contract expires Nov. 30, and joining an established aggregation group could reduce supply costs, stabilize budgeting and provide contract protections (adds/deletes, change‑of‑use, no minimum‑use penalties) that P3 negotiates for public entities.
Next steps P3 will include Ellis County’s load in its upcoming solicitations for 2026–2027; the county will receive ongoing updates through the P3 technical committee and board as indicative pricing becomes available. The court retains decision authority before executing any final power supply agreement.
