DALLAS (September 30, 2012)--The manager of the state's electric grid says it's considering paying a Dallas-based energy company to continue to operate two coal-fired power units the firm recently indicated it would be shutting down.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is studying whether it needs the two units at the Monticello plant in East Texas to stay on in order to keep power lines running properly.

ERCOT will make a decision by the end of October.

Energy Future Holdings said it would idle the units this winter because power prices are too low to turn a profit.

The Sierra Club accused the energy company of idling the units in order to get the contract from ERCOT, a claim the firm denies.