Entergy’s 993-MW natural gas-fired Montgomery County Power Station is nearing commercial operation earlier than expected north of Houston in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator system, and Texas regulators decided Nov. 19 to expedite the hearing process to allow Entergy to recover the project’s cost from ratepayers. “Subject to the outcome of project testing and completion of the remaining work, [Entergy Texas Inc.] currently expects MCPS will be placed in service in early January 2020,” according to a generation cost recovery rider application filed Oct. 5. During the open meeting of the Public Utility Commission of Texas Nov. 19, Chairman DeAnn Walker said she believes the plant may start operating in February or March. “MCPS was originally expected to be placed in service in June 2021,” the application states. “However, the construction phase of this project has proceeded expeditiously, notwithstanding major obstacles such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the bankruptcy of ETI’s Engineering, Procurement & Construction contractor.”
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