ERCOT has requested Texans to conserve electricity usage today between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Due to low wind-power generation and high demand, operating reserves for ERCOT are expected to be low for several hours this afternoon into the evening. As a result, ERCOT is asking Texans to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so.
ERCOT is requesting all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.
ERCOT is not experiencing emergency conditions at this time, but forecasts are showing a high potential to enter emergency operations this evening because of expected low wind-power generation and high demand. Help from Texans to conserve electricity use will assist grid reliability.
ERCOT is using additional tools to manage the grid reliably, including using reserve power, calling upon reductions by large electric customers that have volunteered to lower their energy use, and bringing more generation online sooner. ERCOT is also working with out-of-state Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Market Participants to obtain additional power generation capacity.
Conservation is a widely used industry tool that can help lower demand for a specific period of peak demand time, which is typically late afternoon into the evening hours. Energy-saving tips can be found on the TXANS webpage at ercot.com/txans.
If you are experiencing an outage at this time, it is local in nature and not related to overall grid reliability. Please check with your local electric provider for more information.
Why the request to reduce usage?
ERCOT officials have given the following reasons for the importance of energy conservation:
- Extreme Heat. Continued statewide extreme temperatures today.
- Record Demand. Texas continues to experience near-record demand due to the heat.
- Wind. Wind generation is forecasted to be low this afternoon during peak demand time and does not increase until very late in the evening.
- Solar. Solar generation declines into the evening hours, before completely going offline at sunset.
- Switchable Capacity. Independent System Operators (ISOs) in other states are going through similar extreme heat conditions and have asked for switchable generation resource capacity back to assist their regions. These switchable generation resources are within the primary control of other ISOs.