AUSTIN The Public Utility Commission of Texas has announced Jeff McDonald as the director of the Independent Market Monitor (IMM) for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market. As IMM Director, McDonald will collaborate with the PUCT to detect and prevent market manipulation and identify potential design improvements for the ERCOT market.
“Jeff is uniquely qualified for this role, having led market monitoring efforts in major wholesale electricity markets across the country,” PUCT Interim Executive Director Connie Corona said in a news release. “His experience working with other large grid operators around the country will give us an expert perspective on the ERCOT region and how we can continue to improve reliability and affordability for Texas energy customers.”
Created by statute in 2005, the IMM plays a critical role in the operation and design of the ERCOT wholesale electricity market. The IMM works with PUCT staff to monitor the ERCOT market, identify areas for improvement, and protect against market manipulation or other activity that could hurt Texas consumers. Potomac Economics has served as the ERCOT IMM for nearly 20 years and was recently re‑awarded the IMM contract following a required competitive bidding process.
“We are very proud to continue serving the State of Texas and the ERCOT market in this important role,” said David Patton, president of Potomac Economics. “Jeff’s deep expertise and decades of experience make him the perfect person to lead the IMM team in Texas and ensure the market is operating efficiently, fairly, and competitively.”
McDonald has worked in the monitoring of wholesale electricity markets for more than 20 years. He has served as the Vice President and Head of Internal Market Monitoring Unit at Independent System Operator (ISO) New England and Senior Manager of the Market Monitoring Unit at the California ISO. Prior to joining Potomac Economics, McDonald was vice president of Concentric Energy Advisors and principal of Libertas Market Analysis.
McDonald has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Davis, a master of science in natural resource economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a bachelor of science in agricultural and managerial economics from the University of California, Davis.
