ERCOT, the agency responsible for managing Texas’ power grid, has issued a notice asking Texans to voluntarily reduce their electricity usage on Thursday. The warning comes as tight grid conditions this afternoon and evening could potentially lead to an energy emergency. The notice will be in effect from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, August 24.
According to ERCOT, the demand for electricity is forecasted to reach nearly 85,000 MW on Thursday afternoon and evening. The demand forecast dashboard has shown a narrowing gap between demand and expected available capacity, which becomes dangerously close after 6 p.m. as solar generation tends to drop off.
While ERCOT is not currently experiencing emergency conditions, forecasts indicate a high potential for entering emergency operations this evening due to expected 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 urging Texans to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so.
In addition to asking individuals to reduce their energy consumption, ERCOT has also requested all government agencies, including city and county offices, to implement programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.
To address the potential energy shortage, ERCOT is working with out-of-state Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Market Participants to secure additional power generation capacity.
This warning comes after ERCOT issued a Weather Watch on Monday for Wednesday through Sunday, August 24-27. The watch warned of higher temperatures leading to increased electrical demand and the potential for lower power reserves. When the gap between available supply and demand narrows, ERCOT will ask Texans to reduce electricity use in order to prevent overloading the grid.
Texans can help conserve energy by raising their thermostats by a degree or two, avoiding the use of large appliances, turning off and unplugging non-essential lights and appliances, and shutting off pool pumps during peak hours. More energy-saving tips can be found at ercot.com/txans.
The request to voluntarily reduce electricity usage is necessary due to several factors. Firstly, much of Texas is experiencing extreme heat, which increases the demand for electricity. Secondly, Texas is currently seeing near-record demand due to the heat. Additionally, solar generation declines into the evening hours and completely goes offline at sunset. Lastly, lower wind generation is forecasted for this afternoon and evening during peak demand times.
Texans are encouraged to take these measures to help alleviate the strain on the power grid and prevent an energy emergency. By conserving electricity, individuals can contribute to maintaining a stable and reliable power supply for the state.
How is ERCOT urging Texans to conserve electricity during the evening to maintain power grid stability?
The evening.
As a result, ERCOT is urging Texans to conserve electricity during this time period to help maintain the stability of the power grid. They are asking residents and businesses to reduce their energy usage, particularly during the peak hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. By voluntarily cutting back on electricity consumption, Texans can potentially avoid the need for emergency actions such as rotating outages.
The notice from ERCOT comes as Texas is experiencing hot summer weather, which increases the demand for electricity as people use more air conditioning to stay cool. Combined with the anticipated drop in solar energy production later in the day, there is a concern about the strain on the power grid.
To help reduce electricity usage, ERCOT suggests setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher during the peak hours, turning off unnecessary lights and appliances, and avoiding the use of large appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers. Businesses are also encouraged to minimize non-essential lighting and power usage.
The agency will be closely monitoring the grid conditions throughout the day and evening, and will provide updates as necessary. They are also coordinating with power generators and utilities to ensure the reliability of the electricity supply.
ERCOT is responsible for managing the flow of electric power to 26 million Texas customers, representing around 90% of the state’s electric load. By issuing this notice and calling for voluntary conservation, they are hoping to avoid any potential energy emergency and ensure the reliable delivery of electricity to all Texans.
I hope everyone does their part in conserving electricity to help alleviate the strain on the grid.